Three-Day Trek: Kaiserbachtal - Stripsenjochhaus - Ellmauer Tor - St. Johann

Stage 1: Kaiserbachtal - Feldberg - Stripsenjochhaus
Uphill/downhill: 1,184/345 vertical metres, walking time: 6 hours, distance: 11.1 kilometres, highest point: 1,813 metres, difficulty level: intermediate (red)

Take the car or bus (30 minutes) to the car park at the toll booth marking the start of the road into the Kaiserbachtal Valley. Follow this road for around one kilometre until you reach a junction. Take the right fork onto Almweg Trail to Obere Scheibenbühelalm. Having passed the Obere Scheibenbühelalm alpine pasture hut, the trail emerges onto a narrow path that crosses the long crest of the Scheibenbühelberg ridge up to the 1,813-metre-high Feldberg peak. In some sections there are cables anchored into the rock to protect you from a sheer vertical drop. After all that hard work, take a rest at the summit and admire the fabulous panorama. The walk continues along the ridge, with a steady climb taking you atop the Stripsenkopf mountain with its lookout pavilion at an elevation of 1,807 metres. A steep path brings you down to the Stripsenjochhaus lodge, your home for the night.

Stage 2: Stripsenjochhaus - Ellmauer Tor - Gaudeamushütte
Uphill/downhill: 603/914 vertical metres, walking time: 4.5 hours, distance: 5 kilometres, highest point: 1,981 metres, difficulty level: difficult (black trails)

Day two takes you into the sublime high country! From the Stripsenjochhaus lodge, walk down a few metres to Wildanger until you reach the trailhead of Eggersteig, with nothing but boulders and scree waiting to be conquered. The most difficult part of this hike, this narrow path is an exposed scramble that leads to the Steinerne Rinne, a rocky gully. There, prepare for some serious work. The incline gets steeper while the terrain gets rougher. The steep gradient will keep you warm as you follow narrow switchbacks up to Ellmauer Tor at an elevation of 2,006 metres (some sections have permanently fixed cables for protection). Pause for a well-earned rest. The final section with loose rock and boulders follows an alpine path down to the Gaudeamushütte hut.

Tip! If you would like to scale another, relatively easy mountain, head on from Ellmauer Tor and summit the Hintere Goinger Halt (2,192 metres). The ascent is a rock scramble that takes some 50 minutes to complete. Off-trail experience and sure-footedness are needed.

Stage 3: Gaudeamushütte - Schleierwasserfall - St. Johann
Uphill/downhill: 429/1,035 vertical metres, walking time: 5 hours 15 minutes, distance: 14.1 kilometres, highest point: 1,568 metres, difficulty level: intermediate (red)

As you climb from the Gaudeamushütte hut, the trees thin, first turning to stunted sub-alpine firs then disappearing into open talus slopes and scattered dwarf pine fields. At the same time, breathtaking views open around you as you climb above Baumgartnerköpfl peak, famous for its ‘Mountaineer’s Grave’. The descent to the tiny Stiegenbach waterfall has few switchbacks and winds down across scree and talus slopes. The jagged rock formations around the Schleier waterfall offer challenging routes to extreme climbers. The route continues with a slightly challenging traverse of the Diebsöfen cave. From there, a gentle forest road takes you to the Rummlerhof inn, the end of this wonderful three-day trek.

Tip! A beautiful, optional detour awaits you on the descent to the Stiegenbach waterfall at the Ackerlhütte hut. At the junction, take the upper fork towards Granderalm. Shortly before reaching this alpine hut, a short metal ladder will take you to up to the Schleier waterfall.