Planai World Cup Trail - Stick imitation track
średnio trudne Szlak turystyczny
At the middle station, training groups have the opportunity to exchange ideas with the trainers. They can use the Planai cable car (free once a day with the Sommercard). It is also possible to travel on to the mountain station.
Via Grubegg, the trail climbs up to the junction with hiking trail #779. Through a spring protection area, you reach the lower end of the Harreiterweg trail. Continue along this - the hairpin bend is shortened via the WM trail - until the WM trail branches off to the left of the road at the next hairpin bend (after the ‘Holzhackerin’). Shortly below the road, you then cross the Fastenbergweg and shortly afterwards the Planaistraße over to the access road to the Breilerhof. Walk up the driveway and turn right again onto the WM path before the farm. A meadow path takes you to a forest path and shortly afterwards into the forest, which you leave again just below the middle station and Kessleralm. Here you can take a break or have a chat with the trainer.
From the middle station, continue uphill along the World Cup trail. To do this, cross the FIS downhill run slightly to the south-west up into the forest. In the forest, the trail climbs below the Lärchkogel cable car to the next forest path. Pass below a high seat and head back through the forest to the FIS downhill run and over to the Bruckmoos reservoir. Continue along the WM trail, past the Quellbodenhütte and through the forest and up the FIS downhill run. Before a steep section, the trail branches off to the right into the forest and leads you over a few short hairpin bends to the mountain rescue hut at Hopsiland Planai. From here, it's only a short walk up to the Schafalm and the Planai cable car mountain station.
You've made it! You've earned a rest here. You can return to the valley by cable car or on foot - there are other options besides the WM trail:
- Hiking trail #50 via Burgstallalm and Wieslechalm to the Planai Stadium in Schladming.
- Hiking trails #53 and #779 via the Lärchkogel, Jager and Talbachklamm to Schladming.
In the town of Schladming you can take the Citybus. From Rohrmoos take the Planai buses to Planet Planai, from Ramsau take the buses of Ramsauer Verkehrsbetriebe.
- Citybus and buses from Rohrmoos - www.planaibus.at
- Buses from Ramsau - www.rvb.at
- Operating times of Planai cable-car: www.planai.at
You have your poles with you for a powerful ascent with a good training effect. A small trail rucksack with a power bar and drink should be included. For changeable conditions you should bring a jacket, bonnet and possibly gloves. Good, waterproof trail shoes, sunglasses and sun protection are essential.
Changes in weather patterns, quick falls in temperature, thunderstorms, wind, fog and snow are some of the dangers that can be encountered on a hiking tour. Hosts of alpine huts and mountain refuges have a lot of experience in the mountains and can give good advice about weather and the trails. Poor equipment, overestimation of one's own capabilities, carelessness, poor personal constitution and/or wrong judgement can lead to critical situations. In case of thunderstorms: avoid summits, ridges and steel ropes.
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
Infpormation about bus schedules: www.planai.at, www.rvb.at
Information about cable-car hours: www.planai.at
- Hiking map ‘Hiking WEST’ available at the information offices in the region.
- Schladming hiking map, 1:25,000, available at the Schladming information office.