MAP&W_19.3: Kirchberg/R - Mariazell

Sat, May 25, 1st day  Kirchberg/R - TakernI - Ludersdorf - Bärental - Weiz

7 pilgrims set out - Renate, Victoria + Ernst, Grete, Christine + Andrea, Franz + PB karlp6°° Pilgrim blessing with Pastor Kremser + "Curve spirit" along the Raab with a short break at the wayside shrine, Takern II to TakernI to the Gh Zur alten Mühle - resting on solid ground/bike path to Ludersdorf Gh Maurer - lunch break Cross-country skiing trail / Raab with tall nettles to St. Ruprecht - Strobl resting Schloss Stadl - strawberry snack Mitterdorf/R passing into Bärental - May devotion narrowly missed Asphalt walk through Weiz up to Weizberg, Gh Ederer - farewell to Ernstl + overnight with music - until late into the night

Distance: 40 km, 298 m ascent - 78 m descent, walking time: 11h20min

Sun, May 26, 2nd day  Weiz - Naas - Greith/Eder-Bus - St.Kathrein/O - Brandlucken - Stoakoglhütte - Haberlstall - Strassegg

Beginners: Josef - Theres + Pert - Roswitha

Pilgrim blessing in the basilica on Weizberg with Pastor Anton Herk-Pikl
Weizer Bad - up to Naas / wayside cross, snack
up to Patschasattel (with bike sprint by Josef) to Greith, Eder bus brings us ALL to St. Kathrein/O - lunch break, Andrea unfortunately must give up + Philipp picks her up ;-(
via Karlsplatz + 3-Wetterkreuz to Brandlucken, Jagawirt-Unterberger - refreshment
Stoakoglhütte with Tipper tasting - around Plankogel over to Kerschbaumgatterl + Haberlstall + Strassegg, Stroßeggwirt - with hearty dinner + Rudl's story evening

Distance: 33 km, 1,336 m ascent - 664 m descent, walking time: ~12h

Mon, May 27, 3rd day  Strassegg - Schanz - Stanglalm - Mitterdorf/M

Pilgrim blessing - wayside cross Bergbauer path on forest trails up to Knappensattel with lots of windthrow - rest at Hochsitz Schanzsattel with light rain + "Mariazell slice" with wind turbine accompaniment to Stangalm with Malakoff slice + jam + rain Forest path 2.5h down to Mitterdorf/M to the Binder confectionery, overnight cozy dinner at the Postwirt with Ernstl - Else

Distance:  33 km, 797 m ascent - 1,337 m descent  walking time:  10h

Tue, May 28, 4th day  Mitterdorf - Brunnalm - Rotsohlalm - Niederalpl

Christine + Renate leave with Ernstl at noon for Niederalpl

Taxi Pusterhofer takes us to Scheiklwirt on Brunnalm - rain Schalleralm - avalanche cone crossing and over a snow-covered stream - Theres checks the sinking depth ;-( nothing happened, thank God 19:30 Rotsohlalm - OPEN, warm up - refresh - joke - sing +++ very cozy 15:30 over Bärentalalm to Niederalpl with some obstacles on the way, Pert + karlpb Ernstl + Else meet us in the forest with "spirit" + bring us safely to Christine + Renate at the wood box cozy conclusion with Eggersdorf family + Burgenländer pilgrim group, joint evening devotion, time uncertain

Distance: 13 km? further records are "blurry" harsh tongues claim "sat as much as walked"

Wed, May 29, 5th day  Niederalpl - Wetterinalm / Weißalm - Lieglergraben - Fallenstein - Gußwerk - Mariazell

Pilgrim blessing at the wood box + up to Wetterinalm Excursion to Weißalm to high snow drifts + snow roses over the landslide Lieglergraben to Gh Eder, Fallenstein - lunch break Cozy hiking trail leads to Gußwerk + over the panorama trail + Salzklamm/Archduke Johann trail to the Basilica Mariazell, 1630 devotion Return trip with private cars to Kirchberg/R

Distance: 18 km, 435 m ascent - 434 m descent,  walking time: 6h