Update (09.01.2017)! Taking into account current snow conditions and the weather forcast it is clear for me that the conditions on originally planned date (14.01.2017) will not satisfy my requirements.
The closest possible dates are: January 28 or 29 and February 11 or 12.
Update (09.01.2017)! If you consider this hike, please register for the "trying out a ferrata in winter (on Hohe Wand)" as well so we can get to know each (and make sure you we are ready to do something as serious as the Heid Steig in winter).
If you don't like crowds this is probably the only way to climb Haidsteig (topo) and avoid them.
The plan is to start nead Griesleiten Jagerhaus, approach the ferrata (~2h), climb it (~2h), take a short walk on the top of Rax (~1h) and go down trough the Preiner Shutt (~3h) or again through the Heidsteig (~4h), depending on snow conditions. I took such a route 2 years ago - you can find photos here and the gps trace here.
Until the weather is good it isn't much more difficult then in summer. Heidsteig is steep, so snow doesn't accumulate on most of the route. It has SSW exhibition, so it is warm if only the weather is sunny and there isn't much wind. But please remember even during good weather it is T3/K3 and you must feel comfortable with the winter conditions.
Participants must be experienced in winter mountaineering, and can comfortably climb an 800 m D Klettersteig in the winter (you must be able to climb it up and down in one day).
Quite a lot of equipment is required:
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climbing harness, ferrata set, helmet
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crampons and ice axe
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two pairs of gloves
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poles and snow shoes
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avalanche equipment set (avalanche transceiver, probe, shovel)
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one or two screwed carabiners are always helpful
I can borrow one set of equipment (climbing harness, ferrata set, helmet, crampons, ice axe, avalanche transceiver, probe, shovel).
I will provide a rope so we can secure ourselves in the middle of ferrata (there are short flat parts without the steel rope).
The exact date of the hike is difficult to predict as we really need a nice weather. Prerequisites are:
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no snowfall in last 48 hours and avalanche danger no greater than "3 with decreasing trend"
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weather forecasts with at least half of the sky clear and wind no stronger then 5 m/s
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my personal feeling that the conditions are safe (the above conditions maybe not enough)
As this is a difficult hike I am determined to really wait for a good conditions. I want it to be a nice experience, not a trauma.
And at the end a few words about myself as before you decide on such a hike you would probably want to know if you can feel safe with me. I am hiking in winter since 2008. I climbed in winter some summits in Tatra mountains (Czerwony Wierchy, Swinica, Koscielec). This year (2016) I was twice on the Dachstein Gletscher and Hoher Dachstein. I climbed Heidsteig in winter 2015. I went Alpenvereinssteig in winter twice (in 2014 and 2016). I organized many ferrata hikes for my friends (Hohe Wand and Rax, Totes Gebirge, Dachstein).
