Climbing the Kasberg and surrounding peaks in the Voralpen in Upper Austria

Climbing the Kasberg near the Totes Gebirge

Starting point

Village Brunnental - Steyrling, parking at the end of the valley, spacious, free of charge.
 

Description of the hike

Kasberg is a small ski resort in the Upper Austrian Foothills (Voralpen), about two hours from our border. In winter there are several lifts, in summer it is possible to use the Bergstrasse from Grünau im Almtal and drive to the parking lot of the Hochberghaus Hotel at about 1100 m. Hiking trails lead from the north from Grünau, from the east from the Brunnental valley.

I park the car at the end of the road in the quiet Brunnental valley, the marked route to Kasberg starts right from the car park. According to the signpost, 3.5 h. The sign leads through the shady Katzenbach valley on a wider, probably old wagon road. After about an hour of brisk walking, the first views of the Totes Gebirge walls, with the highest Großer Priel, appear between the trees. There is a small cross by the road - a memorial to the disaster when several schoolchildren froze to death in a snowstorm during a school trip to the Steyrer Hütte. A few hundred metres beyond, the landscape of the Ahornalm meadows opens up. The Steyrer Hütte is only a few hundred metres away along a wide supply road.

From the hut, a trail leads through the mountain cauldron to the first peak of the route, Roßschopf (1647 m). From the top you can see the whole panorama of the Totes Gebirge, in the distance you can also see Dachstein, the Höllengebirge above Traunsee and other mountains of the Salzkammergut. From Roßschopf to the Kasberg it is half an hour on grassy mountain meadows. The Kasberg (1747 m) has a circular view, the other Voralpen peaks Traunstein and Kremsmauer are visible to the north, and the Sengsengebirge and Pyhrgas to the east.

From the Kasberg an unmarked route descends towards the saddle below the Schwalbenmauer. The climb to the summit is steep but not dangerous, the route is well trodden, the cairn is cut. Those who have experience with alpine terrain will have fun, more challenging for the average hiker. There is a simple wooden cross on the Schwalbenmauer (1657 m). From the top, a path leads directly along the edge of a cliff of several hundred metres. The views down make your head spin, but the path is safe. There is a metal memorial cross about halfway up the ridge. Between the kneelers the path continues to the top of the Ahornmauer (1492 m). From Ahornmauer the path descends to the pastures of Ahornalm to the hut of the same name. At the wooden hut about 50 m at the fork there is a spring by the bench, it is possible to refill water here. The return to Brunnental by the same route takes about 1.5 hours.
 

Difficulty

An easy hiking route to the Kasberg, those who want to add a bit of alpine experience can extend the unmarked section to the Schwalbenmauer and Ahornmauer.
 

Water availability

On the route there is the possibility of refreshments at the Steyrer Hütte, a spring on the Ahornalm.
 

Sleeping options

There is a Steyrer Hütte on the route, otherwise there are options in the valley.
 

Mountain peaks

Ascent to the peaks Roßschopf, Kasberg, Schwalbenmauer and Ahornmauer, views of Totes Gebirge, Höllengebirge, Voralpen.
 

Danger

Part of the route over the Schwalbenmauer runs on unmarked paths above the steep slope. There is no climbing, just steep terrain and kneeling roots, but the trail is walkable, you won't get lost.
 

Food

Refreshments are available at the Steyrer Hütte or in the valley. Otherwise take snacks with you.