Wetzsteinkogel - Zagelkogel (grade I+) - Hochwart - Rauchtal

At Bodenbauer, follow the signpost "Hochschwab summit" and at the first fork in the path, turn right on the marked trail towards "Trawiesalm/G’hacktbrunn". At the former Trawiesalm (resting place), leave the marked path and follow a clearly visible footpath diagonally to the left (cairns), which soon ascends steeply in switchbacks to a protective gully and then continues left over rocky steps to a metal ladder. Above the ladder, traverse completely left on a rock ledge and climb steeply in steps, avoiding a windbreak on the right. Afterwards, the terrain flattens and the path disappears. Proceed in a straight line through sparse trees on the right side of the cirque until you meet trail traces just below the rock base, then follow them uphill to the left along the wall to reach a wide, rocky gully leading up to the actual Bogenkar. Follow the cairns on the (uphill) right side of the gully and past the Wetzstein cave, until the gully directs again right through a short rock gorge to the north side of the Wetzsteinkogel, where a clear trail in tight switchbacks leads steeply over the meadow to the ridge. From here, the summit of Wetzsteinkogel is not far.

From Wetzsteinkogel, follow trail traces north along the rocky ridge to a small saddle with a spectacular view down into Zagelkar. Here begins the climbing ascent (grade I+) to the base of the Labenbecher wall, clearly marked with orange dots and some cairns. Reach a protective gully where you have to descend briefly to continue following the base of the wall (orange dots) on the other side, and traverse long diagonally under the vertical cliffs of Labenbecher until the terrain gradually flattens. Here, you could ascend right over rocky outcrops and scree to the summit of Labenbecher. However, it is more comfortable to climb straight up along old cairns to a distinct saddle, from which a gentle ridge leads directly right to the summit of Zagelkogel. (To the left from the saddle, you can reach Rauchtal behind the Stangenwand.)

From the summit of Zagelkogel, descend north to the marked hiking trail and follow it left to Rauchtalsattel. Shortly after, the path turns left. Here, go straight ahead and uphill, following the ridge, which turns left further up where you soon see the summit cross of Hochwart.

From Hochwart, descend along the ridge west to a flat saddle and turn left to follow a broad, initially very flat gully until it crosses the marking. Stay at the right edge of the gully until it steeply drops into Rauchtal, descending nearly to the valley floor over rocky steps, then cross right to a saddle to bypass a large sinkhole. Then follow Rauchtal downhill, initially relatively flat, soon meeting trail traces on its left edge (sporadic cairns). At a ski marking pole, the valley steepens; keep left to meet a clear trail marked with cairns that leads down the left side of Rauchkar into the valley. First descend steep rocky steps, then cross a rock gully, followed by a steep descent over three consecutive scree slopes until reaching a larch passage on the lower left (cairns). Beyond this is a steep scree gully where you descend along the edge of the slabs (cairns), reaching a narrow, steep rock gorge leading to a small scree cirque. Then proceed downhill through sparse forest on a clear path until you reach the marked trail in Trawiestal and follow it right back to the starting point.