BergeSeen Trail 13: Bad Goisern - Gosau

Description:
Stage 13 follows the “Bible Trail”, which was used by Protestants to smuggle their holy scriptures over the mountains during the time of the Counter-Reformation. The ascent to the Goiserer Hut is sometimes very rocky and demanding. However, it provides – along with the descent into the Gosau Valley – unforgettable landscape scenery.

Directions:
From the centre of Bad Goisern, walk south along Obere Marktstraße to the Unimarkt and fork to the right onto Ramsaustraße. Go past the Protestant church to the bridge over the Traun River. On the other side, continue straight and head uphill next to the Ramsaubach Stream. In the neighbourhood of Steinach (580 m), turn left in the direction of the “Goiserer Hütte” and hike uphill next to the Schüttbach Stream to the Trockentann car park. The route continues along a forestry road (no. 880/801 A) to the Trockentannalm (805 m).

 

Now hike uphill along the marked hiking trail, which is still wide at the beginning, through the Kesselgraben Ravine. Go left alongside a side ravine to the valley station of the freight cable car and then hike among mountain pines to Wallmann-Poidl-Rast. The trail continues uphill through sparse forest, past the meadow of the former Untere Schartenalm (1178 m) and over the steep slopes of the Sonnenwendkogel to the Dichterinquelle Spring. Finally, cross the slope to the saddle between the Sonnenwendkogel and the Kalmberg Mountain (1580 m). Above to the right is the hospitable Goiserer Hütte (1592 m) of the Alpine Association. 3:15 h

 

Following trail no. 880 towards “Gosau”, the descent leads briefly into a small saddle and then right to the southern meadow of the Schartenalm, where you will find several wooden huts typical of the Salzkammergut. Soon you branch off to the left. Trail no. 880 now heads – sometimes along a forest road – down to the wonderfully situated Iglmoosalm (1206 m) Meadow.

 

Below the alpine huts, you leave the forest road to descend south along a well-prepared trail over a forest ridge, where the “B’schissene Lacke’ pool is hidden. Further down at the edge of the forest, you reach the Schindereben rest stop above the Gosau community of Ramsau (800 m). There, you turn right onto the Panoramaweg Trail, which leads past an organic farm into the Kreuzgraben Ravine and over the Edlbach Stream to the Grabenbach Stream. Go left to the nearby Pass-Gschütt-Straße. From Hotel Koller, located on the opposite side of the street, the Kirchenstraße takes you to the Protestant and Catholic churches in Gosau-Vordertal (789 m). The tourism office is located a little further down at the junction of Pass-Gschütt-Straße and Gosauseestraße (bus stop). 2:30 h

Tip:

Summit detour: To the Hochkalm Mountain (1833 m) – see Tour G7, page 252.

Safety guidelines:

•  In alpine terrain, be aware of the danger of falling rocks.


• Through early summer, you may encounter steep snowfields or firn gullies – especially during icy conditions, there is an acute risk of falling and thus fatal injury!


• Due to storm damage, forestry work or construction work, individual trail sections may be difficult or impassable at times.


• Cows in the alpine meadows are often curious. Because they are nursing mothers, they develop a strong tendency to protect their calves. Therefore, move through cow pastures quietly, keep at least 20 metres of distance to the animals and never pet calves! In the case of threatening behaviour (pawing, stamping) slowly back away (do not turn your back). Keep dogs on a leash. They must not bark at or chase cows. In the case of an attack, the dog must be released from the leash.

Equipment:

For all stages, you will need hiking or mountain boots with treaded rubber soles as well as wind- and rainproof clothing. A change of clothes and a small first-aid kit should also be included in your backpack. The amount of provisions you should pack depends on the number of available rest stops. In any case, you should always take along plenty to drink. Telescopic poles are helpful, especially when walking downhill.

Additional information:

Text kindly provided by the publisher KOMPASS-Verlag and Wolfgang Heitzmann.

Further information at trail.salzkammergut.at