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 South Face
Hochschwab + Kl. Schwab South Face |
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Overview |
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Hochschwab Massif (from east - Veitsch summit) |
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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 |
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near Präbichl
Griesmauer, Hochturm
Oct. 2007: All bolts at Hochturm have been removed.
Fledermausgrat - Griesmauer |
Fledermausgrat - Griesmauer |
Fledermausgrat - Griesmauer |
Hochturm |
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Sonnschienalm
Schaufelwand
Schaufelwand |
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Bodenbauer - Trawiestal
Hundswand, Beilstein, Wetzsteinkogel
Hundswand |
Hundswand |
Hundswand |
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Beilstein East Ridge |
Beilstein East Ridge |
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Wetzsteinplatte |
Wetzsteinplatte |
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Hochschwab, kleiner Schwab
several long climbing routes
Hochschwab Southface | |
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near Voisthaler Hütte
Edelspitzen, Karlmauer, Höllmauer
Untere Dullwitz | |
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near Fölzalm
Mitteralmturm, Schartenspitz, Winkelkogel
Mitteralmturm |
Mitteralmturm |
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Ice Climbing
two waterfalls around Bodenbauer (Trawisalm, Karlgraben)
Skitouring + Skiing
Skitouring
and several other (e.g. near Präbichl, Gschödererkar)
Ringkamp |
Hochschwab from Ringkamp |
Dullwitz |
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Rauchtal |
Hochwart |
Zagerlkar |
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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 |
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Hochschwab Plateau |
Seetal |
near Seebergsattel |
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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 |
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Florlhütte |
Voisthaler Hütte |
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Schiestlhaus |
Fleischer Biwak |
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Häuslalm |
Sonnschienhütte |
Androthalm |
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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