Alpine tour: Hochkar - Dürrenstein - Ötscher

Description

The last primeval forest of Central Europe is within reach and yet unreachable. The hike goes from Hochkar over alpine meadows and pristine landscape deep into a charming landscape: the retreat area of the last Ötscher bear, into forests where beetles can still gnaw unpunished. Over sharp rock ridges from one alpine authority to another. From Hochkar to Ötscher, both over 1800 meters high. In between, the Dürrenstein – a more than 40-kilometer-long mountain tour experience rarely found in the entire Northern Limestone Alps.

Scenically magnificent crossing mostly above the tree line. No climbing passages, but absolute surefootedness is required. The only escape route from Tremelsattel to the north into the Steinbachtal or as a two-day tour with overnight option at the Ybbstalerhütte (plus 4.4 km including 470 meters of depth and elevation from/to Dürrensteingipfel).

Starting point of the tour

Goestling, Hochkar shelter

Destination point of the tour

Ötscher summit

Route description Alpine tour: Hochkar - Dürrenstein - Ötscher

From the Hochkar parking lot to the alpine guesthouse Jagersberger, a short section on a forest road towards "Karl". The marked trail branches off to the right and gently ascends to the Scheinecksattel. Continue to the main ridge, to the Hochkargipfel (1808m). Along the main ridge to the Geischlägerhaus. From the exit point of the Leckerplan lift along the north descent road down to the Hochkar parking lot (1478m). From the Hochkar shelter (1491m) up to the Blachlboden. A trail leads diagonally left in several switchbacks up a meadow strip to a shallow saddle. Right through a gate in small switchbacks down, then crossing halfway up the slope to the right, finally gently ascending out of the steep terrain to the main ridge. The trail immediately turns diagonally left upwards. On the east ridge, small forest clearings open down to a flat valley floor. You cross the mountain meadows of the Munsinplan (1585m), keep right near the south-facing cliffs, descend briefly through a hollow and reach the forest saddle immediately before the summit. The trail goes up to the Ringkogel (1668m). Immediately from the summit, a steep descent to the east to a deep ridge notch, crossing to a smaller notch and then continuously following the ridge crest gently descending, finally rising briefly to the Schwarzkogel (1547m). Finally, a steep descent to the Tremelsattel (1201m). From here, you follow the ridge back to the east. In the lower part, a distinctive karst plateau is crossed, then you reach the exposed summit of the Hochkirche (1486m) along narrow forest clearings. Over steep mountain meadows, descend to shallow meadow floors and follow a stony grassy ridge for a short time, which has small rock ledges. The ascent to the Bstattkopf (1508m) leads through a forest clearing up to wide meadow curves. You mostly keep left near the edge of the drop to Steinbachkessel. The cliffs of Teufelsmäuer remain on the right. There, you immediately descend a short section through larch corridors on the Steinbach side and fight through mountain pines and battle forest along the steep western slope on trail tracks (do not descend too far!). Here begins the long steep ascent over a broad meadow ridge, east of the rock walls breaking off from the Dürrensteingipfel to the Steinbachkessel. Further up, you avoid an elongated mountain pine field to the right. Trail tracks briefly lead into the east flank of the mountain, then turn steeply left up the rock ridge and reach the Dürrensteingipfel (1878m) via the flattening ridge. Shortly after the Dürrsteingipfel, there is the possibility to branch off (1830m) to the Ybbstalerhütte (1830m) and the exit to the Steinbachtal. Those who want to complete the entire alpine tour descend via the Herrenalm (1327m) - temporarily closed! - to the Oistal (700m). A short section downhill branches off to the right the Winkelbachstraße, where you reach the Mariazellerweg. Then turn left on this path and via the Dirndlmauer and Riffelsattel (1283m) reach the Ötscher shelter (1418m). From there, you reach the Ötschergipfel (1893m) in 1.5 hours.

The descent returns to the Ötscher shelter, and then either by lift to the valley or on foot down via the Riffelsattel to Lackenhof.