Cross-Country skiing: Semmering / Johannesloipe (Lower Austria/Styria)

Suggested by: Peter Levenitschnig

Description:
Cross-Country skiing for all skill levels. Off the crowd in a calm valley. Route and duration can be adapted as required.

Route:
Starting from Semmering Hirschenkogel cable-car station via Johanneshütte into a valley. According to ability and wishes of participants we can plan one longer trip with stay outside over noon (little snacks and hot drinks will be a good idea) or two trips the same route, but the second one longer and including a steeper part. Anyway, all routes will lead us back to Johanneshütte, where there are served warm meals and drinks.

Meeting point and time:
Semmering, Hirschenkogel cable-car station, 10:00 a.m. In a sports shop nearby you can rent cross-country skis, if you don't have your own.
Ending point and time:
Some time in the late afternoon at Johanneshütte (depending on how often and long we have been out, on the weather, if we are in good shape, etc.)

Length of activity, grade of difficulty:
2 - 4 hours in one or two trips (don't compare this to walking hours, it's more tedious).
The first part (or first trip) is easy, nearly level. The second part (or part of the second trip) is more demanding: A steep up/downhill stretch requiring some skill especially downhill.

Eating and drinking:
I propose to bring along some snacks and hot drinks (thermos flask), so that we are flexible in our planning: If the weather is nice, warm and sunny, we could have a little picknick outside at about noon and return for a "Jause" at Johanneshütte. If the weather is not so nice and cold (or we are tired), we can have lunch at Johanneshütte. As the case may be ...

Public transport:
Trains from Wien Südbahnhof to Semmering. Not all the trains are stopping at Semmering station!

Car connections:
Wien – Südautobahn A2 - Semmering Schnellstraße S6 to Semmering. Appr. 100 km.

Car sharing:
I can offer car sharing for 3-4 people. Meeting point: Outside U1 underground station “Kaisermühlen-VIC”, exit heading to Danube. Meeting time: 8.30 a.m. Please contact me by phone 0699 135 16 232. Perhaps other members could offer car sharing as well if necessary?

Equipment:
Gear for cross-country skiing. Clothe in some layers, since during our activity you need less warm clothing than for skiing at the piste, but during breakes an additional layer is useful. - If you don't have your own equipment, this can be rented at a sports shop near our meeting point. - Plus the usual gear for winter trips: Warm cap and gloves, sun glasses, sun cream, lip gliss, hot drinks ...

If the weather report is bad, please inquire on Friday if the trip will take place!
(0699 135 16 232)