Not far from the Gemeindealm in the Eisenerzer Ramsau, the rugged rock faces of the Kaiserschild (2084 m / 6837 ft) and Hochkogel (2105 m / 6906 ft) rise steeply into the sky. The impressive view of the peaks of the Kaiserschild-Hochkogel group, a former imperial hunting ground, in the Eisenerzer Alps makes every mountaineer's heart beat faster. Climbing these mountains with their high alpine character is indeed a real pleasure, with absolute silence, lots of variety and fantastic views.
The name of the Upper Styrian town of Eisenerz reveals a lot about its history. Iron ore has been mined here since the 11th century. Even today, the open-cast mine, known as the Erzberg, mainly mines siderite and processes it further in nearby steelworks in Linz and Leoben. In fact, this is the largest iron ore open-cast mine in Central Europe and the largest known siderite deposit in the world.
Despite the industrial character of the area, the area is not lacking in beauty. The Eisernerz Alps, as the southern part of the Ennstal Alps is often referred to, impress with rugged mountains and have a lot to offer sports enthusiasts and nature lovers in both winter and summer. The starting point of the tour is Eisenerzer Ramsau, which belongs to the municipality of Eisenerz. There is a paid parking lot at the Gasthof Gemeindealm in the back part of the valley, which is now permanently closed. For 4 euros (as of 2024), the car can be parked there for a whole day.
As is often the case, many fears turn out to be unfounded. The path is very well laid out throughout and leads steeply upwards from the so-called "Bärenloch" via a rock ramp secured with steel cables. The climb up the rock face is now without any technical difficulties. Of course, you should be sure-footed and not afraid of heights.
Once the rock step has been conquered, the path becomes a little more comfortable and winds steadily upwards at the foot of the rock face, passing the entrance to the Kaiserschild via ferrata, which is rated D/E. Every now and then you should dare to look back.
The path continues up into the cirque between Kaiserschild and Hochkogel. Over steep terrain, strewn with rocks and ledges - so-called "Schrofen" - the path eventually turns to the right and now leads more or less straight up. Now the iron flag, which marks the summit, comes into view again and again.
After about three hours, the highest point of the Kaiserschild (2084 m / 6837 ft) is reached. Instead of a summit cross, an iron flag with the inscription "Berg frei", the greeting of the non-profit organization "Naturfreunde", serves as a marker for the summit.
The panoramic view from the summit is magnificent. To the east you can see the Hochschwab massif and when looking into the valley you can clearly see Eisenerz and the Erzberg. To the southwest rise the Seckauer and Rottenmanner Tauern and to the west the striking peaks of the Gesäuse mountains form a truly dreamlike backdrop.
The view to the west is dominated by the Hochkogel (2105 m / 6906 ft), on whose summit the summit cross is clearly visible. The path down into the cirque and up along its northeast flank can also be clearly seen from here.
To get to the Hochkogel, you first descend on the ascent path from the summit of the Kaiserschild and then hike along the ridge towards Kaiserwart (2033 m / 6670 ft) until a somewhat inconspicuous path turns left and leads over the small plateau of the mountain range to the Hochkogel. The path leads between dwarf pines and finally over "Schrofen" on the north-eastern flank of the Hochkogel to its summit. What is particularly striking here is the absolute silence. No human-made noise can be heard. An almost unusual state these days, but one that should definitely be consciously perceived.
After about an hour you reach the highest point of the Kaiserschild-Hochkogel group. The summit plateau at 2105 m (6906 ft) is slightly larger than the Kaiserschild opposite and definitely invites you to take a longer break to gather some strength and really enjoy the magnificent view.
In the east, the Kaiserschild dominates the view, with large parts of the ascent route and the narrow path up to the summit clearly visible. Behind it, the peaks of the Hochschwab massif can be seen.
In the morning sun, however, the view to the west is particularly impressive. The peak of the "Styrian Matterhorn" - the Lugauer - rises into the sky in the immediate vicinity. To the right of it, the entire Buchstein Group with Großer Buchstein, Kleiner Buchstein, St. Gallener Spitze, Tieflimauer and Tamischbachturm can be clearly seen. Behind the Lugauer and Buchstein groups, the Hochtor and parts of the Haller Mauern are visible.
If you let your gaze wander a little to the southwest, you can see the glittering Dachstein glacier and, slightly in front of it, the striking rock formations of the Grimming.
Now we head back to the valley via the so-called Radmerhals. The path leads steeply down the south side of the Hochkogel. The path is easy to see thanks to the large amount of gravel, but requires surefootedness and a lot of caution not to slip on the loose stones. Steep passages have to be overcome again and again, which certainly pose little problem on the ascent, but should be approached with caution on the descent.
The entire tour is characterized by great views. There is actually no section where you cannot enjoy the view. This is also the case when descending over the scree. On the left side, the imposing rock faces of the Kaiserschild and the deep views into the Bärenloch are constant companions, and on the right side, the Gesäuse mountains dominate the panorama.
Nevertheless, you should not let this distract you too much and pay due attention to the safe descent. Especially in the section that leads straight down through a gravelly gully. Here, a wrong step could have fatal consequences.
As soon as you reach the mountain pine fields again, the path becomes much more pleasant and in some sections is more like a leisurely stroll than a challenging hike. Now you have the opportunity to really enjoy the beautiful surroundings.
Above all, the view of the imposing rock faces of the Kaiserschild have still not lost any of their fascination and draw the eye almost magically.
Below the tree line, the path mostly runs on the west side of the ridge through picturesque forests. Finally, it goes uphill again to the top of the ridge and then continues down the south-eastern side into the valley. For long stretches, the narrow path leads along the slope without ever being particularly steep or having any problematic spots.
Back at the car park at the Gasthof Gemeindealm, it can be said with good reason that this tour is definitely one of my most beautiful mountain experiences to date. The tour impressed with its variety of paths and in particular the fact that there was hardly a section that did not offer extremely attractive views. Definitely recommended!
Tour Facts (Tracked with Bergfex Tours):
Distance: 13,4 km (~ 8.3 mi)
Duration: 05:30 h (without breaks)
Ascent altitude: 1302 m (4272 ft)
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