Hochschwab (demotic Schwobn or Schwab) - approx 400 km2 - is a east-west streched massif of the northern limestone alps. The Hochschwab massif is a karst plateau. Important summits are Hochschwab, Ringkamp, Aflenzer Staritzen, Zeller Staritzen and Pfaffenstein

Borders

The eastern border of the Hochschwab range is from Gußwerk - Seebergsattel - Thörlbach - Kapfenberg; southern border Mürz and Mur to Leoben, western border from Leoben to Präbichl - Hieflau - Großreifling, northern border from Großreifling following the river Salza to Gußwerk.

Getting There

Depending on the destination - important junctions on the south side of the Hochschwab massif are Bruck an der Mur and Leoben - easily reached by train - Austrian Southern Railway or by car via Semmering Schnellstraße (S 6) or Pyhrn Autobahn (A 9).

There are only small towns on the north side of the Hochschwab massif, like Hieflau and Mariazell.

Red Tape

Some areas (mainly on the north side of the Hochschwab massif) are off limits - water protection area - no littering, no camping etc. (second Vienna water supply)

Strictly No Trespassing at Prescenyklause!! (near Weichselboden)

Important climbing areas of Hochschwab

Pfaffenstein

near Eisenerz

Pfaffenstein

near Präbichl

Griesmauer, Hochturm
Oct. 2007: All bolts at Hochturm have been removed.

Fledermausgrat - Griesmauer

Hochturm

Sonnschienalm

Schaufelwand

Bodenbauer - Trawiestal

Hundswand, Beilstein, Wetzsteinkogel

Hundswand

Beilstein East Ridge

Wetzsteinplatte

Hochschwab, kleiner Schwab

several long climbing routes

Hochschwab Southface

near Voisthaler Hütte

Edelspitzen, Karlmauer

near Fölzalm

Mitteralmturm, Schartenspitz, Winkelkogel

Mitteralmturm

Ice Climbing

two waterfalls around Bodenbauer (Trawisalm, Karlgraben)

Skitouring + Skiing

Skitouring

Karlhochkogel
Lang Eibl Schlucht
Rauchtal
Ringkamp (north face) from Weichselboden
Häuselalm Skitour
Dullwitz

and several other (e.g. near Präbichl, Gschödererkar)

Ringkamp

Dullwitz

Hochwart

Ski resorts

Präbichl
Aflenzer Bürgeralm
Seewiesen/Seeberg

Viae Ferratae, Hiking, Whitewater Kayaking etc.

Viae Ferratae

Eisenerzer Klettersteig - a new via ferrata at Pfaffenstein - reopened (damages are repaired)
and two easy viae ferratae also at Pfaffenstein

a new via ferrata near Leopoldsteiner See

Hiking

A lot of marked trails

Androthalm (near Sonnschienalm)

Grüner See

Hochschwab Plateau

Seetal

near Seebergsattel

Whitewater Kayaking

The river Salza is a well known Whitewater Kayaking/Rafting area.

Places to Stay

Several B+Bs and Hotels in small towns

Alpine Huts

near Präbichl - Leobner Hütte
Bodenbauer - Trawiestal - Gasthof Bodenbauer
Hochschwab, kleiner Schwab - Schiestlhaus, Voisthaler Hütte
Fölzalm two huts: Grasserhütte; Herzerhütte
Sonnschienhütte - Summer: open from mid May to mid Sept., around Christmas and around Easter (closed from mid Sept. to mid Oct.); - Winter: open on Weekends from mid Oct to mid May
Fleischer-Biwak

Sonnschienhütte

Links, Books and Maps, Webcams

Links

www.bergsteigen.at - a lot of climbing, viae ferratae, skitouring information (only in German)

Alpenregion Hochschwab

avalanche bulletins - www.lawine-steiermark.at (in German only)

Books and Maps

GENUSS-KLETTERATLAS Österreich Ost Band 2 STEIERMARK - Topo of Griesmauer Fledermausgrat online

Hochschwab by Günter + Luise Auferbauer - ISBN 978-3-7633-1261-0 (out of print)

Hochschwab by Rudolf Ä. Lindner ISBN 3-900310-26-2

Austrian Map: ÖK 101 Eisenerz, ÖK 102 Aflenz Kurort

Webcams

Images



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