Hochschwab Massif

Overview

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

Hochschwab + Kl. Schwab South Face
Overview
Hochschwab Massif (from east - Veitsch summit)

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 in the Hochschwab Massif

Pfaffenstein

near Eisenerz

Pfaffenstein

near Präbichl

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

Fledermausgrat - Griesmauer	Fledermausgrat - Griesmauer	Fledermausgrat - Griesmauer	Hochturm

Sonnschienalm

Schaufelwand

Schaufelwand

Bodenbauer - Trawiestal

Hundswand, Beilstein, Wetzsteinkogel

Hundswand	Hundswand	Hundswand
Beilstein East Ridge	Beilstein East Ridge
Wetzsteinplatte	Wetzsteinplatte

Hochschwab, kleiner Schwab

several long climbing routes

Hochschwab Southface

near Voisthaler Hütte

Edelspitzen, Karlmauer, Höllmauer

Untere Dullwitz

near Fölzalm

Mitteralmturm, Schartenspitz, Winkelkogel

Mitteralmturm	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	Hochschwab from Ringkamp	Dullwitz
Rauchtal	Hochwart	Zagerlkar

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	Alpine Ibex
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 (usually open from May to October)
  
• 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
  

Fölzalm - Herzerhütte	Fölzalm - Grasserhütte
Florlhütte	Voisthaler Hütte
Schiestlhaus	Fleischer Biwak
Häuslalm	Sonnschienhütte	Androthalm

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

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

• Präbichl
  
• Schiestlhaus
  
• Aflenzer Bürgeralm
  
• Webbcams Turnau (Mürzsteger Alps)
  

Images

View Hochschwab Massif Image Gallery - 68 Images