Snowshoeing in Obertal valley
Tour description
The tour
Map, elevation profile & further information
Starting point for this tour to Obertal valley is in the village of Rohrmoos (next to hotel "Das Platzl") or alternatively the valley terminal of Gipfelbahn Hochwurzen cable-car. Next to the trail head there are various rental opportunities (Ski Lenz, Sport Tritscher).
From Rohrmoos you walk uphill, from the valley terminal downhill to the meadows of "Rohrmooser Frei" (below the valley terminal of Obertalbahn cable-car). From here you start your way into Obertal valley - just follow the signs "Obertal-Tour" with the snowshoeing symbol. You pass by the farms Sonnleitner, Holzbacher, Pocher, Finsterl, Talhammer and Hochegger until you reach the charming meadows near the Rojerhof farm. A couple of minutes further you reach Windbacherstube Inn (permanently closed).
From Windbacherstube inn you follow a forest road into the valley. Walking along the Obertalbach creek you make your way towards the Bärnhofer farm and continue along the creek to the Wehrhofalm. At Wehrhofalm you take the bridge across the creek and along the pond and a small forest you reach the meadows that take you to the Hopfriesen area. At the valley head you make a small loop towards the historic nickel melting furnace (which is open as a museum in summer) and then follow the signs out of the valley. Along the Obertalbach creek you make your way back to the bridge at Wehrhofalm from where you follow the way you came back to your starting point.
Snowshoes and poles with large snow plates. Also ankle-high, warm shoes, warm clothing, gloves and a hat. Possibly a small bagpack with a warm drink in a thermos jug.
Before each and every ski tour or snow shoe walk you should check the most recent avalanche warnings which can be found at www.lawine-steiermark.at.
In winter time it is therefore important to also be careful on supposedly easy walks. Sections that are in the shadows can easily get icy, and slopes on the side of the trail may have avalanche hazard. Mountain sport is always carried out under personal responsibility - in winter even more than in summer. Tourist offices or avalanche warning services do not take any responsibility in respect to information provided.
GPS data and orienteering
Available GPS data - just like hiking maps - is only a guidance for orientation and can never depict a trail exactly with all its details. Especially at dangerous spots it is essential to judge on site how to proceed.
In an emergency please call:
- 140 - for Alpine emergencies (all over Austria)
- 112 - European GSM emergency number
- On snow shoes you have the advantage of not needing a trail all the time. However, out of respect for wildlife and its resting areas you should not just walk cross-country as you like.
- We recommend a refreshment stop at Windbacherstube inn.
You can rent equipment at one of the following places:
- Ski Lenz, Rohrmoos village
- Sport Tritscher, Rohrmoos village
- Ski Lenz, Gipfelbahn Hochwurzen valley terminal
- Windbacher Stub'n inn, Obertal
Tourist information & guided tours: www.schladming.com
Information about bus schedules: www.planaibus.at
Schladming-Dachstein Winter experience Map WEST, available at the tourist information offices in the region.
