Peternpfad

At first we hike moderately steeply uphill through forest, then rocky, gravelly terrain throughout, crossing a dried-up stream bed several times, finally passing the old Haindlkarhütte, which is still used as a winter shelter, to the Haindlkarhütte. The path is lined with striking boulders, on which chamois often sunbathe if they are suitably calm, imposing views of the north faces of the Hochtor group, where with binoculars we can spot the odd climber on the classic Hochtor climbing routes or hikers on the Petern path. After 1 1/2 hours we reach the Haindlkarhütte, which is a good place to spend the night after conquering the Peternpfad, so that we can start right away in the early morning, after all we have a long and difficult tour of 4 hours ahead of us until we reach the next base, the Heßhütte. From the Haindlkarhütte, the Peternpfad also leads along a path through scree slopes, be careful, the path is often impaired by slides after thunderstorms. Finally we reach rocky terrain and come to the famous "Ennstaler Schritt", where we climb around a boulder and experience eerie views from below. Via the Peternscharte - the lowest point in the silhouette of the Hochtor - we descend on trail 663 to the Heßhütte. Since we have been walking for a good 4 hours since the Haindlkarhütte, we like to stop at the innkeeper Reini's and enjoy the local cuisine and a cool drink. Now we walk another 2 hours along the hiking trail via Stadlalm and Koderalm down to Johnsbach, where we end up at the Kölblwirt directly in the cosy guest garden.

Most beautiful from spring to autumn, in late autumn (October, November) it is already mostly shady in the Haindlkar.

You can get around the Gesäuse even without your own car

Just call +43 3613 21 000 99: during operating hours, the Gesäuse shared taxi will take you to any destination in the Gesäuse, without a timetable or fixed stops

Timetable enquiries ÖBB www.oebb.at or Verbundlinie Steiermark www.busbahnbim.at 

With the Verbundlinie BusBahnBim app, timetable information has never been easier to access: all bus, train and tram connections in Austria can be queried by entering locations and/or addresses, stops or important points. The app is available as a free app for smartphones (Android, iOS) – on Google Play and in the App Store.

2 car parks at Haindlkarhütte, one south of the main road, one north of the main road (both subject to a charge)

www.nationalpark.co.atwww.haindlkarhuette.atwww.hesshuette.atwww.gesaeuse.at carto.at / Wander-, Rad- & Schitourenkarte „Nationalpark Gesäuse“ 

Gesäuseberge – Haller Mauern – Eisenerzer Alpen West, Nr. 801 M 1: 35.000 http://www.carto.at/gesaeuse/

Kompass/ Wander-, Fahrrad- & Schitourenkarte „Nationalpark Gesäuse“, Nr. 206

M 1 : 25.000  http://www.kompass.de/touren-und-regionen/wanderkarte/dest/100148-alpenregion-nationalpark-gesaeuse/

Alpenvereinskarte „Gesäuse und Ennstaler Alpen“, Blatt 16, M 1 : 25.000

http://www.freytagberndt.com/shop/9783928777346-alpenvereinskarte-16-ennstaler-alpen-gesaeuse/

Rother Wanderführer Gesäuse, G. und L. Auferbauer (2018)