A steep forest climb leads to a scenic summit

Statistics

2 - 3

hrs

724

m

725

m

21

max°

Difficulty

FATMAP difficulty grade

Moderate

Description

Even while we are still at the always-hospitable Michaeler Berghaus, we can enjoy beautiful views out across the Ennstal, the Dachstein and Ramsau mountains.

Our ascent on the summit, however, begins with a steep hike up a road.

Only a few flat sections interrupt the climb.

We mostly make our way through forest, occasionally punctuated by beautiful views of the Sattental deep below, finally reaching a trail crossing below the Loskögerl - we now take the left-hand trail to the Kniepass! Things become quite a bit gentler, as the trail meanders along the forested mountainside up to Kniepass, where we intersect with the trail from Kleinsölk.

The route gets steeper again.

Our trail leads us up through a gully, with numerous switchbacks, until we hike beyond the tree line and onto a rocky ridge made of Sölk marble.

We continue up to the big summit cross, rewarded by magnificent views, especially of the remote peaks of Sölktäler Nature Park. The hike down via the Loskögerl is steeper, though somewhat shorter, taking us almost exclusively down narrow forest trails, until we finally encounter the road to the Michaeler Berghaus again.

Once there, as we allow our joints to recover from the hike down, we can treat ourselves to some of their famously good pastries. equipment Sturdy shoes, rain gear