From Payerbach to Semmering over the mountain

From Payerbach train station, you go through the village past a nice pastry shop with an 80s flair, first on the road into the Payerbachgraben. After about 1.5 kilometers, turn right following the red marking onto beautiful forest paths uphill to the Stojerhöhe and from there continue uphill over the Kasbichl (chapel) to the Speckbacher Hut. From Payerbach to the Speckbacher Hut takes 2 to 2.5 hours of walking time with about 600 meters of elevation gain. From the hut, about half a kilometer towards Kreuzberg, then turn RIGHT. Here you need to look carefully to find the entry downhill into the forest path on the meadow, marked in blue. Steeply downhill to a small road where the entry to the Pfeffersteig is located. Attention, there is no marking here anymore; about 500 m after the road, a small trail leads left along a stream bed down to the viaduct. At the bottom at the road, turn right to the viaduct "kalte Rinne." Under the viaduct and then continue along the railway hiking trail, which is well signposted and frequented by quite a few hikers. From the Speckbacher Hut to Semmering takes about 3 hours of walking time. Repeated ascents: total about 300 meters elevation gain.

Note: Unfortunately, I only saw at the end of the Pfeffersteig at the bottom by the road that there is an option to go up from the Pfeffersteig to the Polleros Wall. The view is said to be worth it. This is not marked on the hiking maps.