Route description:
Across Ötschergräben (a nature park, sort of canyon) and over a rocky ridge ("Rauher Kamm") to the highest mountain of the "Voralpen". Very scenic hike, great views, a bit strenuous though.
Wienerbruck (795m) - Ötschergräben (622m) - Ötscher (1893m) via "Rauher Kamm" - Ötscher Schutzhaus (1418m, stay overnight).
Ötscherschutzhaus - Riffelsattel (1283m) - Ötschergräben - Vorderes Ötscherschutzhaus (optional, 888m) - Ötscherhias (in the valley) - Wienerbruck.

Length of activity in hours/kilometers, elevation (all figures approximatively):
Saturday: 1.300 m up, 700m down, 15 km, 8 hours.
Sunday: 800 (1000)m down, 200 (400)m up, 15 (20)km, 6-8 hrs.

Grade of difficulty: Difficult. Technically most of the time not so difficult, but for parts in between sure-footedness and absence of dizziness required. Also long duration of hiking per day. Over "Rauher Kamm" a few spots of easy climbing (without rope or Klettersteig gear), steep!

Meeting point and ending point: Wienerbruck, parking lot near the railway station.
Meeting time: Saturday 9 October, 8.30 a.m. sharp,
Ending Time: Sunday 10 October, appr. 5.00 p.m.

Car Connections:
Wien - St. Pölten (Westautobahn), exit St. Pölten Süd, then Bundesstraße 20 via Lilienfeld - Annaberg the direction to Mariazell. Wienerbruck is appr. 15 km before Mariazell, between Annaberg and Josefsberg.

Car sharing:
I can offer car sharing (starting from station U4 Hütteldorf) for at least 3 people. Please contact me by mobile phone: 0699 135 16 232. - Perhaps other companions could offer car sharing as well if nessecary?

Equipment needed: Usual equipment for hiking in alpine regions in the autumn with stay overnight at a hut (travelsheet!). Temperature at the summit can be mild or near 0 degree Celsius, so bring along also warm clothes. Lunchtime on Saturday will be in the open air, on Sunday possibly later in the afternoon, so bring along some food and enough drinks.

Registration required (for reservation at the hut):
At the monthly meeting or by phone: 0699 135 16 232

If the weather report is bad please inquire if the trip will take place!