Johannserberg round hike

SHORT ROUTE DESCRIPTION:

PP Johannserberg 4, junction: Diexer Straße L 113-Mariazeller Weg (306) (car)-north of Grabuschgupf-Gretschitz-south of Plötschkekogel-Kontscharkreuz-Leonhardtkreuz-Ferlinka-west of Sapotnigofen-Eisenwurzenweg (308)-Sapotnigkreuz-Diex (inn)-Lessiak (junction)-north of Michaeler Berg/Probstkogel-Gritzer-St. Ulrich/Johannserberg-south of L 113-PP Johannserberg 4 (car)

DETAILED ROUTE DESCRIPTION:

1.  We leave Diexer Straße L 113 heading northeast on SH 896 and hike along the Mariazeller Weg (route no. 306) and the Noric panorama trail north of Grabuschgupf/-kopf to Gretschitz – shortly before that we meet again L 113 and route no. D or 13a – we take the 1st break at the church, 2.9 km, 1,157 m.

2.  We stay approximately 2 km on L 113/D 13a/D 13 until the Kontscharkreuz (5 km, 1,172 m), then turn half-left and follow the Mariazeller Weg (route no. 306/D 7/D 11) heading east – after about 1 ½ km we reach a clearing with the Leonhardtkreuz and the Pökartkreuz (2nd break, 6.9 km, 1,230 m) [Possibly move the break to a viewpoint].

3.  We continue east to the Ferlinka farm (highest point of the circular hike), then leave the Mariazeller Weg (route no. 306) at a junction and descend (D 7a and D 11, later D 2) to the Luschnig farm – here we meet the Eisenwurzenweg (route no. 308) coming from the left – it takes us via paved and later asphalt roads to the inn Messnerwirt in Diex no. 23 (3rd, long break, 10 km, 1,153 m).

ALTERNATIVE: Hike back on Diexer Straße L 113 via Gretschitz to PP Johannserberg no. 4 and wait there.

4.  After visiting the fortified church and the village design in Diex the Eisenwurzenweg (no. 308/ D 3-6) takes us after about 1 km to the Lessiak farm – here we leave route no. 308 and continue west (D 3, D 6 and D 13), after about 700 m we leave the asphalt road at the Hribernig farm and circle around Michaeler Berg/Probstkogel north with route no. D 4 – we take the 4th break near the Probst farm, 12.4 km, 1,137 m.

5.  Now following the GPS we go sharply north and after about 260 vertical meters reach Michaeler Graben or Diexer Bach (lowest point of the circular hike, 868 m) – about 120 m before there is a hiking trail with route no. D 13a coming from the left – it leads us along the Gritzer farm always to the left towards St. Ulrich (5th break, 16.7 km, 942 m).

6.  We leave Johannserberg on St.-Ulrich-Straße, route no. D 13a, heading west and after about 1.6 km again reach a wayside shrine and then Diexer Straße L 113 – we pass the shrine on the right (signpost: Noric Panorama Trail) and shortly before the starting point again reach L 113 - approx. 2 km (18.8 km, 896 m).