Activity Report: Three activities in three days (Leobner Mauer, Eisenerzer Reichenstein, Gösseck)

Thu, 11 Jun, 2020 -  Leobner Mauer (1870 m)

Trail head: somewhere on the middle of the road to Hiaslegg Gasthaus

Biking to the trail head: 17 km, 286 m elevation gain

Weather condition: in the beginning more sun, then cloudy, but no rain

How it felt: very good, but because I knew what is ahead in the next days, I did not push more. Most of the way is just forest road, so at some point it can become a bit boring, or it might not satisfy the expectations. The way is not technical at all. Only in the last kilometer to the peak the way is a bit harder to follow. It is a nice peak if one wants to do it as a part of a larger tour. The way from Präbichl might be more satisfying. But this one is also a good way, if one does not want to start from Präbichl.

The forest road in the first kilometers is not technical at all. Hochturm is visible.

Forest road. Again majestic view of Hochturm is there.

South western view of the way to Leobner Mauer. Here the trail is more technical.
Although the road is already marked, one might easily get lost.

Leobner Mauer

Fri, Jun 12, 2020 - Eisenerzer Reichenstein (2165)

Trail head: Hafning

Biking to the trail head: 13 km, 155 m of elevation gain

Weather condition: Sunny

How it felt: Just like the previous day, I did not push. And it went better than expected. In the technical passages I was careful not to trip over, as I was feeling a bit tired. I did not have a concrete plan. Depending on my own condition and the snow situation wanted to stop at Reichhals, or maybe continue until the peak. I asked some hikers about the way after Reichhals, and they said there is a small snow passage, which is not hard. So I decided to continue. But the whole thing drained more energy than expected. But I cannot complain. It was a nice experience, as it was my first time to Eisenerzer Reichenstein with running. Once before I did it by hike.

Eisenerzer Reichenstein and Krumpensee

The only passage with snow. After Reichhals.

I had to use my ice spikes for the passage. 

View to the back, from the last kilometer. Reichhals, Hieflerkogel,
Große Scharte, Hocheller are visible.

The hut, and the summit are visible. Last hard climbs are over.

The cross at the summit

Southern face of the mountain. The hut also visible. Further down is the Krumpensee.
Further away Gösseck is visible.

Sat, Jun 13, 2020 - Gösseck (2214 m)

Trail head: Kammern im Liesingtal

Biking to the trail head: 17.4 km, 240 m elevation gain

Weather condition: Sunny, hot

How it felt: The tiredness was there, I could feel it from the very beginning. I had to struggle with it the whole time. Running on the plateau that I normally used to see from Leoben was a nice feeling. However somehow it was really hard for me to run continuously, I had trouble to keep my mind only on running. It was like I was overwhelmed by the rapid increase of elevation. So as the first vertical kilometer was over and I was on the plateau the run was much slower than I expected. After summit I did not want to come back from the same route again, so I started to come run down from Jägersteig route, which ends at Schardorf, and from there I had to run on a normal asphalt road until Kammern, which was a bit boring, and the weather was hot, so I was checking my watch more often than normal.

Voluntary fire brigade of the Kammern im Liesingtal.
Can be seen from where I started my run.

During the first vertical kilometer, one can also enjoy the beautiful view towards east.

View of west from Klauen. Here first vertical kilometer is complete.

View to the back, from where I came from.

View of the east from the summit.
Hohe Zölz, and Vordernberger Mauern are visible.
Far away behind Vordernberger Mauern, Hochturm is also visible.

View of Grieskogel from the summit.
If one looks carefully can maybe also the see the trail.
(This is an alternative route, which also starts from Schardorf. It's called Jägersteig).