Uphill Diaries: Activity Report: Exploring Hochschwab Region Pt 1

Trail head: Präbichl Passhöhe (fire brigade station)

Biking to the trail head: 24 km, with 670 m of elevation gain

Weather condition: Partly cloudy, not so warm, sometimes windy (during the run to Polster had to use my wind jacket)

Food, water supply: 3 Clif bars + 2 energy bars. I had 2 lt of water with me, but since it was not too hot, I did not lose much water. So I did not need all of it. And there was also possibility to drink water on the way (and also in the worst case Leobner Hütte is close).

Mainly the trail was muddy, and not so optimal to run fast. And also, as I just started to run right after finishing an almost 2 hours ride from Leoben to Präbichl, my legs were already feeling a bit funny. The uphill run to the Leobner hut was from a different route which I would normally go. On the way there was a very short passage with chain security. During my run there was in total 3 of such passages. However none of them were really hard to pass.

Since the route after the Hirscheggsattel was totally new to me, I could not estimate how it will go. My best plan was to try to get to Brandstein. However the way until Kulmalm was already exhausting to me.

After getting back to Hirscheggsattel I decided to run to Polster. I didn't want to come back without visiting a peak. My uphill run was satisfying to me, after all. And for the first time I could see around from Polster. During my 2 previous visits everywhere was foggy. Finally, the downhill run from Polster to Hirscheggsattel is always a joy. I decided to run back to Präbichl from the "traditional" road that I normally used to do.