Kalkalpen Trail Stage 4

Description:
We leave the hospitable hut of Ebenforstalm at 1,105 m, ascend over the pasture area to the northwest to a saddle with a fence crossing, look back once more at the cheerful, pre-alpine landscape of the Reichraminger Hintergebirge, and then proceed westward down into the densely forested area towards Bodinggraben.

Shortly before we reach the small settlement of Bodinggraben, the brook below has created interesting erosions in the rocks, so-called "Bottiche" (commonly called "Bodinge", hence the name of the area). The small restaurant in the "Jagahäusl" offers a welcome place to rest. Nearby is a charming chapel dedicated to St. Anna and the rock dweller Rosalia (Anna’s Mass on July 26, Rosalia’s Mass on September 4). To the west above us looms the newly restored former Lamberg forestry house. Yes, in this forest- and game-rich landscape, one still feels transported back to the time of the Lamberg hunting lordship, which dominated here from the 17th century until the Hitler era in 1938. After the Second World War, the entire area was assigned to the Austrian Federal Forests.

Bodinggraben 641 m in the valley of the Krumme Steyrling in the municipal area of Rosenau am Hengstpass. Geographical dividing point: Reichraminger Hintergebirge to the east, Sengsengebirge to the west. Accessible by car only via Molln.

Starting point for tours into the Sengsengebirge Feichtauhütte – Hoher Nock, in winter known for the National Park wildlife feeding in Blöttenbachtal – Hillerboden.

Father Gottfried Hauenschild already wrote in 1866 the "Tour over the Bodinggraben"

... The valley is adorned with a friendly chapel dedicated to the rock dweller Rosalia, beside it stands an impressive, single-story house with outbuildings, the Kaltenbrunner Alm, where simple food and good lodging are available. The Windischgarsten people held an annual procession here, once very popular and counting hundreds of devotees ...

Soon we part from this remote mountain corner. Downstream along the creek, one would go along the road past Breitenau to Molln 21 km. But we now head south on path No. 472 up the forest road valley and after some time reach a crossroads, the so-called "Iron Lord".

The valley narrows, the mountain slopes become steeper and rockier. The landscape shifts from lovely to magnificent. After a few bends, the forest road becomes a riding path, soon we are in the gorge of the Krumme Steyrling (one of the most beautiful breakthrough valleys in the pre-alpine area in the middle of the Kalkalpen National Park). On the right, we see the east drops of the Sengsengebirge and the step-like rock face of the Größtenberg, furrowed by debris and avalanche channels (rockfall danger!!!).

We pass a wayside shrine – shortly after massive concrete walls become visible. What is this supposed to mean? Some mistakenly believe this is a relic from the Hitler era. No! In the years 1960/1961, there were plans to develop this rather lonely region for summer tourism, which was again considered in 1975 when a power plant reservoir was planned in the Bodinggraben. So concrete was diligently poured in this narrow valley gorge to realize the through road. Apparently, the financial framework was exceeded and the project was stopped. Perhaps action was taken prematurely; thus these giant walls are witnesses to a planning mistake.

The valley floor widens a little. Crystal-clear water pools invite refreshing bathing. On the left one would go to Weingartalm – Größtenberg. Shortly after we cross a concrete bridge at 946 m (formerly a wooden footbridge = Steyrsteg) and reach the National Park campsite Steyrsteg (instead of the old forestry house that served as a residence for the Lamberg foresters for centuries. At that time, the two-hour school path of the children to Windischgarsten was still a matter of course).

From the water-permeated valley floor, we follow the narrow forest road upwards in bends through the wooded valley floor (where charcoal kilns once steamed) to the idyllic alpine pasture settlement of Rumplmayrreith (unmanaged; Reith = lower alpine pasture). The beautiful spring alpine flora transforms into splendid troll flower meadows in early summer and in summer reveals at some places Turk's cap lilies, red monkshood, and the like.

From here we go up the alpine and forest road southwest into the forest saddle of Haslersgattern with hunting lodge at 1,154 m (today a forest road junction at the edge of the National Park, an ancient crossing from Windischgarsten to Molln). To the east, the Langfirst mountain bike route leads to the Hengstpass. With bad weather onset, one could reach Windischgarsten from here along the road leading south in the valley. In good weather, we ascend on the right the Senderstraße, path No. 9A, at the Leitersteig junction (see variant!), partly flat and finally steeper to the summit of Kleinerberg at 1,287 m – the viewing balcony of the Windischgarsten valley. The Kleinberg transmitter was erected in 1970. Through massive logging of the summit region, launch ramps for hang gliders and paragliders were constructed. A magnificent 360° panorama opens before our eyes: Ennstal Alps, parts of the Lower Tauern, Warscheneck and Priel groups, Höllengebirge, Kasberg, Traunstein, Sengsengebirge, Hintergebirge, Hengstpass area. From here we already overlook the splendid alpine landscape, which we will hike in the following daily stages.

From the small summit cross (summit book) on the southern edge we follow the path marked with red dots downwards. We cross a forest road several times and finally walk westwards on dust-free roads. Then follows an easy ascent to the Wurbauer snack station (mostly weekend operation), further to the top station of the Wurbauerkogel chairlift (local mountain of Windischgarsten with magnificent panoramic view) and to the mountain inn "Beim Turm".

Right next to it is the National Park Panorama Tower (entrance fee!) with information center and exhibition "Life in the Rock". From the tower, you have a view of 21 two-thousanders! (Alternative: by chairlift or summer toboggan run to Windischgarsten). Descend from the parking lot opposite the transmission tower (signpost) north along the path - here it runs partially parallel with the summer toboggan run, then along the west ridge (path No. 2 – Simberg) descending in places to a fork in the path. Then we take the Nature Friends path (path No. 5) downhill and reach via a forest road with a short counter ascent the Hans-Gmeiner-Ruhe at 715 m. Here we hike down in serpentine bends to a gravel pit and further down southwards through the Kühbergsiedlung. Past the Alpine Coaster and at the bottom station of the chairlift, it goes directly into the town center of Windischgarsten.