Weichtalklamm - Suedlicher Grafensteig - Knofeleben on 23 September 2017

This is quite a long one-day hike departing and ending at Payerbach train station (it's a public transport hike unless other arrangements transpire..). From Payerbach-Reichenau train station we take the bus to the starting point of the hike up the Weichtalklamm in the Hoellental. This is a lovely gorge alongside a brook, leading us almost all the way up to our first hut stop (Kienthalerhuette, ca. 1300m, ca. 3 hours). From there, we start the traverse of the southern slopes of the Schneeberg - although there is no summit included in this hike, there are some lovely views into the Hoellental an onto the Rax and the surrounding mountains from here. We'll be able to have another rest after this 3-4 hour crossing at the Naturfreundehaus Knofeleben before walking back to Payerbach Reichenau train station through the 'Eng'. PLEASE NOTE: Weichtalklamm: use of hands required, some scrambling, a number of ladders - though not exposed. Suedlicher Grafensteig - use of hands, one ladder ( a little exposed), head for heights required - I am not very much of a Klettersteig person myself, and the Suedl. Grafensteig felt a bit challenging to me in a few places, not because any technical difficulty - it is a hiking path throughout - but because the path is  narrow and, in a few places, exposed. I liked the Grafensteig, though, because it seemed quite off the beaten track.. I will only do the hike in absolutely dry weather, with the no rain on the days leading up to the hike.

train to Payerbach Reichenau & back from there. Bus from the station to Weichtalhaus (total cost for public transport if you hold a Oebb Vorteilscard - 20 Euros)