Through the long alley to the Scheiblingstein

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The Haller Mauern are a mountain range in the Ennstal Alps, stretching from west to east along the border between the federal states of Upper Austria and Styria. From the eponymous town of Hall near Admont, the rugged peaks rise into the sky like a stone wall. Not far from the highest point of the Haller Mauern, the Großer Pyhrgas (2244 m / 7362 ft), lies the striking summit of the Großer Scheiblingstein (2197 m / 7208 ft). This marks the second highest point of the Haller Mauern, is an extremely popular destination for ski tourers, and in summer, is somewhat unfairly overshadowed by its mighty neighbor.

The Scheiblingstein (2197 m / 7208 ft) is accessible via hiking trails from both its north and south sides. The summit can be reached from Rosenau am Hengstpass via the north side, while the Scheiblingstein can be reached from the south from Spital am Pyhrn, Ardning, or Hall near Admont. The starting point for this tour was the parking lot at the Bosruck Hut, which is easily accessible from Spital am Pyhrn via a narrow but well-maintained road. Those looking for an even more special experience can park at the parking lot further down and climb through the beautiful, but fee-based, Dr. Vogelgesang Gorge to the Bosruck Hut.

From the car park at the Bosruck Hut, follow a forest road past the Bosruck Hut until, after about 1 km (0.62 mi), you reach a sharp bend. At this point, a signpost points to the Rohrauerhaus, the first destination of the tour. The branching path is more stony and continues up the mountain. After half a kilometer (0.32 mi), this path rejoins the forest road, which you do not leave until you reach the Rohrauerhaus. This should be reached after about 45 minutes. From here, signposts also point towards Scheiblingstein (2197 m / 7208 ft) and indicate that the climb from here takes about 3 hours, which is certainly an ambitious time estimate. A forest path leads through an enchanting forest to the Pyhrgasgatterl, which marks the pass summit (1308 m / 4291 ft) between Spital am Pyhrn and Hall near Admont and thus also the border between Upper Austria and Styria. The path through the forest leads downhill to a forest road. From there, follow the markings straight toward the rock faces of the Haller Mauern (in this case, the Grosser Phyrgas). After about a 30-minute walk (from the Rohrauerhaus), the forest road ends, and a signpost points to a narrow path that now leads to the summit of the Scheiblingstein (2197 m / 7208 ft). Initially, the path climbs through a young forest. The forest gradually becomes sparser and soon becomes completely replaced by mountain pines. 

The view also improves noticeably. You can catch glimpses of the summit every now and then, and to the south, Hall and Admont lie at your feet, while behind them, the peaks of the Gesäuse Mountains rise into the sky. The view back is also rewarding, where the Bosruck (1992 m / 6535 ft) dominates the scenery. The surroundings become increasingly alpine, with the Große Pyhrgas (2244 m / 7362 ft) repeatedly looming into view, and the climb continues steadily upwards over craggy terrain. Snowfields can persist in the many hollows and slopes here until late spring, necessitating a certain degree of caution. If you sink deep into the ground and don't have adequate equipment, your shoes could quickly become soaked. 

After just over 7 km (4.4 mi), turn right onto the so-called "Lange Gasse" (long alley). The trail climbs fairly straight up to the ridge over scree. The summit cross of the Scheiblingstein (2197 m / 7208 ft) now comes into view. Like the entire route so far, the ascent to the Scheiblingstein presents no notable technical difficulties. The challenge lies more in the length of the route and the fact that, due to the southwest orientation of the ascent path, you are heavily exposed to the sun. In the morning hours, however, you can largely avoid the blazing sun. The long alley eventually climbs steadily for about a kilometer (0.6 mi). Reaching the ridge, the trail meets the trail leading from Rosenau am Hengstpass to the Scheiblingstein. Here, follow the signpost to the right, climbing the final meters to the summit. 

The trail now leads the final 300 meters along the ridge on rocky ground to the summit cross, which is now permanently visible. To the left, the rock faces drop steeply, offering breathtaking views down below and magnificent vistas of the eastern part of the Haller Mauern. The Hexenturm (2172 m / 7126 ft) with its striking summit structure is particularly visible.

Then the summit cross comes closer with every step. The last few meters aren't particularly strenuous, but rather thrilling thanks to the magnificent view you can already enjoy. 

And yet the view from the summit is even more impressive. To the west, the peaks of the Haller Mauern range line up one after the other, and a little further south, the peaks of the Gesäuse Mountains (especially the Hochtor and Reichenstein groups) rise out of the fog. 

In the north, the Kleiner Pyhrgas (2023 m / 6637 ft) seems close enough to touch, behind it stretches the Windischgarsten Basin and a little further west, behind the Großer Pyhrgas (2244 m / 7362 ft), rise the peaks of the Totes Gebirge (dead mountains), with the Großer Priel (2515 m / 8251 ft) and the surrounding peaks clearly visible. 

The descent follows the same route as the ascent, albeit much quicker. Surefootedness is naturally a plus here, too, although the path doesn't pose any real difficulties due to the lack of steep rock steps or large scree slopes.

The descent also offers a wonderful panorama. The Enns Valley, with its towns of Admont and Hall, was still hidden in fog during the ascent, but is now clearly visible. Before reaching the Pyhrgasgatterl, there is still a small climb to be mastered and then it is only a few minutes to the Rohrauerhaus, where a cool refreshment is a must.

From here, it's another 30 minutes back to the Bosruck Hut and the nearby parking lot. If you're still hungry, thirsty, or just fancy a quick snack, you can stop here and enjoy the impressive view of the Bosruck.

In summary, climbing the Scheiblingstein is certainly a worthwhile goal. The route is as varied as the panorama, and technically by no means difficult. The challenge lies more in the length of the tour, the elevation gain, and the southerly orientation, which can make the climb considerably more strenuous, especially on hot summer days.

Tour Facts (Tracked with Bergfex Tours):

Location: Grunau, 4582, Austria

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