A fair mountain climb up the Hochturm

Hike to Hochturm via Mount Polster

Starting point

We start the trek in accommodation in Prabichl near the lower station of the single-track cable car to Polster. By coincidence, this weekend, May 27, 2023, is the first day of operation of the cable car. But this does not deter us and we go to Polster on foot.
 

Description of the hike

From our accommodation we start on the asphalt road towards the lower station of the cable car to Polster. Today, 27 May 2023, is the first day of the summer season of the cable car. We follow the red trail below the cable car, first through the forest, then through the open plain. There were quite a few people at the end of the cable car.

In the saddle below Polster there are fewer people and few people went to the top of Polster 1 910 m above sea level. So we meet only a few people on the summit. From Polster we descend along the ridge to the Hirscheggsattel 1 699 m above sea level.

From the saddle we traverse to the lower saddle Lamingsattel 1 677 m above sea level, where several marked paths cross. We take the marked route No. 873. towards Hochturm. First we follow the wide plateau. Shortly before the summit, snowfields begin on steeper slopes. 

You have to be very careful over the snow fields even at the end of May. One slip here might not pay off. I therefore recommend that you definitely take hiking poles on the hike. Beyond the snowfields, the steep ascent up the rocky path to the summit of Hochturm 2,081 m above sea level begins. The summit itself is already a pancake, where we will gladly rest.

From Hochturm we return by the same route back to the Lamingsattel saddle. From there, however, we continue towards the Leobner Hütte. The path to the hut is mostly a narrow mountain path, without any difficult spots. At the hut we have soup and sausage and bread. The choice of food here is smaller, but it is home cooking and the food was good.

From the Leobner Hütte we continue on the traverse below Polster to the trailhead under the cable car and back to our accommodation.
 

Difficulty

This is a typical alpine hike. Steep ascents on alpine paths, often rocky, await you. There are no climbing sections or chained belay points. However, even in late May there is snow just below Hochturm.

Crossing the snowfields below Hochturm is a bit of an adrenaline rush - there are often very steep sections where slipping would not be worthwhile - so I highly recommend hiking poles for this hike to increase your stability on these sections. This is certainly not a hike that one should do as a first trek in the Alps.
 

Water availability

I only needed 2 litres of water for the whole tour. You won't meet any springs along the way where you can refill the water. On the way back we went through the Leobner Hütte, where refilling water is not a problem. Polster Schutzhaus should also be open in July with August.
 

Mountain peaks

On the way we will climb two peaks: Polster 1 910 m above sea level and Hochturm 2 081 m above sea level. The Hochschwab, the Eisenerzer Alps, the High Tauern, the Totes Gebirge and the Gesause National Park can be seen from the ridge and the peaks.
 

Danger

Due to the elevation and the length of the hike, it is a more demanding trip. Technically it is only more difficult before the top of Hochturm, where there are snowfields even in summer in places of steeper slopes and narrow paths. A more experienced mountain hiker will certainly have no problem here. We also saw families with smaller children in these places, but that's borderline from my point of view. Otherwise there is no danger here - there are no places with auxiliary chains.
 

Food

I would definitely recommend taking food with you for the day - a larger snack for lunch and a classic diet and supplements for the mountains such as bars, chocolate, fruit, grape sugar or ideally liquid magnesium for fatigue and cramps. On our hike, the only time we had the option of a snack at the Leobner Hütte was just before the end of the whole strenuous hike - we were happy to take advantage of it.