Schneeberg - Breite Ries

The ascent to Schneeberg (the highest mountain in Lower Austria) is shortened by nearly 400 vertical meters by the Losenheim chairlift to the area of the Edelweiss Hut (approx. 1200m). From there, one comfortably chooses the so-called Fadenweg. It leads from the Edelweiss Hut past the Sparbach Hut to the west through forest (soon on a forest road). With some ups and downs, one reaches a steeper forest slope from where it ascends southwards on a convenient road in switchbacks. Through the so-called Fairy Tale Forest, one soon reaches more open terrain near the mountain rescue hut Heinrich-Krempel-Hut (1561m). From there, you have a clear view of the Wurzengraben as well as the Schneegraben. Another ascent is usually best via the Wurzengraben, which leads directly to the Fischer Hut (unmanaged in winter) just below the Kaiserstein (the lower of the two Schneeberg summits).

The descent itself is reached by keeping north from the Fischerstein (often wind-blown) until you find a notch-like cut. Here begins the access gully (Normalries) to the Breite Ries. The gully itself is about 200 vertical meters long and up to about 36 degrees steep. Down through this until you reach the open steep slope (max 32 degrees) of the Breite Ries. You follow this steep slope arbitrarily until you stay at about 1300m or at the beginning of the Swiss pine zone on the orographic left and find a well-visible (individual markings) broad forest path at the forest edge. Follow this path. Soon you reach a junction of a path to the left (north). Follow this path - always crossing steep forest, partly also uphill - until a wide forest road, which leads down to the valley station of the chairlift in Losenheim.