Schneeberg - Private Ries

The ascent to the Schneeberg (the highest mountain in Lower Austria) is shortened by the Losenheim chairlift to the area of the Edelweiss Hut (approx. 1200m) by almost 400 meters in altitude. From there, one comfortably chooses the so-called thread path. It leads from the Edelweiss Hut past the Sparbacher 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 southward on a comfortable road in switchbacks. Through the so-called fairy tale forest, you soon reach more open terrain in the area of the mountain rescue hut Heinrich-Krempel Hut (1561m). From there, you have a clear view of the Wurzengraben as well as the Schneegraben. As an alternative ascent, the Wurzengraben is usually the most favorable, leading directly up 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 windblown) until you find a notch-like gap. Here begins the southern variant of the broad Ries - the so-called private Ries. This is much steeper and more difficult (max approx. 45 degrees). Depending on snow conditions, there may be an interruption point (short climb down, depending on conditions). Down through this until you reach the open steep slope (maximum 32 degrees) of the Breiten Ries. You follow this steep slope as you like until you stay orographically left at about 1300m or at the beginning of the dwarf pine zone and find a well-visible (individual markings) wide 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 - to a wide forest road that leads down to the valley station of the chairlift in Losenheim.