Article Ascent to Schafberg

From the cog railway station, I set off along the Schafberg signs through the alleys between the houses. For a while, it seems like a small maze that takes me to the woods and to the local mountain hut, where there is a small restaurant with a garden. The road is paved, initially covered with common woodpeckers, and when I come to a private cottage or mountain hut in 1000m, the road changes into a tourist trail leading mainly through a beech forest. This is how I continue to a meadow with cottages and a view of the whole area and the top of Schafberg, which seems to be within reach. Here is a sidewalk from St. Gilgen. I cross the cog railway station and the sidewalk turns into a footpath, which is being replaced by rocky terrain in places. The ascent also increases, but with regular steps I move higher and higher and the views begin to gain in beauty. Along the way, I meet mostly Czech tourists who are already descending. I learn that the cottage upstairs is closed, which wouldn't matter, I have a sleeping bag with me and the weather is nice all weekend, so I'll lie down somewhere, it just won't be with a hot dinner and a draft beer. I'm at the top before the sunset and I have plenty of time to enjoy the panoramas. I have almost all the lakes in the palm of my hand and you can also see the Dachstein massif, above which storm clouds form. The cottage opens until the beginning of the summer season, otherwise it is closed. instead of sleeping, I choose the local train station, which, unlike the cottage, is open all year round and is heated in it. I fall asleep in the morning, but it's still beautiful azure. I'll go down a bit to turn around and traverse the whole peak. I meet a herd of chamois and overcome a few cliffs before reaching a light ferrata. Although I will overcome about 50 meters almost vertically, the steel rope and stairs carved into the rock make the terrain good. The fact is that I would enjoy this place more in the opposite direction. take a narrow path back to the forest and reach Lake Mönichsee. There is still a lot of snow here, thanks to the way the lake cuts into the mountain massif. At the crossroads, I head straight down. The sidewalk descends steeply and does not allow my feet to rest until I reach the first small hut, where I connect to a paved road leading to the village of St. Wolfgang. On the way up, I had the opportunity to get water only once, at an altitude of 800 m, where the road crossed a stream, on the way down was the possibility to a small mountain hut, where you could hear a stream. Otherwise, the mountain belongs to dry places without water, especially in summer.

At first, I zigzag through the alleys, but eventually the road takes me to the forest and heads to today's destination

this three-centimeter beetle accompanied me in large numbers just outside the village.

meadow with huts, cog railway station and the top of Schafberg

chamois were visible from the meadow up

the hill on the other side falls vertically a few hundred meters, a view of Lake Attersee

view of the cable car station below the peak, Lake Wolfgangsee and the Dachstein in the background

… :-)

Lake Wolfgangsee, in the middle the pointed mountain Sparberg (which I also write about here) and in the background Dachstein

small church and luxury hotel in St. Wolfgang

thanks to the shade, there is plenty of snow by the lake even in May

final descent to the village