Beautiful autumn scenery in the Giglachkar cirque | © Gerhard Pilz/Gerhard Pilz - www.gpic.at

"Mountain lake tour" form the Ursprung Alp to lake Duisitzkarsee

moderate Hiking · Schladming

Tour characteristics
Stamina
Technique
Experience
Landscape
Tour-Infos
Distance: 9.43 km
Duration: 5:00 h
Ascent: 574 m
Descent: 983 m
Best time of year
january
february
march
april
may
juny
july
august
september
october
november
december
The tour
Beautiful alpine hike along creeks and lakes of the Schladminger Tauern range, passing through alps and partially walking along historic trade routes. From Ursprungalm to Giglachseen you follow the historic Roman trade route. From Murspitzsattel mountain saddle you enjoy the marvellous view to Landauersee Lake, from Ferchtlhöhe ridge the breathtaking view to Duisitzkarsee Lake.
Turn-by-turn directions

Ursprungalm is the starting point for this hike. From here you take trail #771 which takes you to the Giglachseen Lakes, lying in a breathtaking mountain scenery. On the way to the Lakes you walk along a historic trade route, that was already used 2,000 years ago, in the time of the Roman empire. The path back then was a trade route and alpine pass.

Once you reach the Giglachkar cirque you pass by Giglachsee Hütte chalet and walk along the Giglachseen Lakes on trail #702. You pass by Ignaz-Mattis-Hütte chalet and soon after you reach the trail junction with trail #776 at the lower end of the bigger of the two Giglachseen Lakes. You walk along trail #776 until you reach the trail crossing with trail #775 a couple of minutes later. Walking along trail #775 now you hike up along the slopes of Murspitzen, finally reaching Murspitzsattel mountain saddle at Ferchtlhöhe ridge. From there you get a first glimpse of Duisitzkarsee Lake.

The steep descent takes you down to the lake. Through a larch forest you reach Duisitzkarseehütte and Fahrlechhütte chalets at the lake. The last part of the tour takes you downhill from the lake to Eschachalm and Eschachhütt'n inn.

Getting there
We recommend to take the bus from Schladming or Rohrmoos to Ursprungalm. The end point of the tour is in the Obertal Valley from where you take the bus back to Schaldming and Rohrmoos.

With the Planai buses from Schladming (Planai stadion, Lendplatz) or Rohrmoos (Rohrmoos-Zentrum) to Preuneggtal valley - bus stop Ursprungalm. From Eschachalm in Obertal valley you take the bus back to Schladming and Rohrmoos.

Parking

Parking is available near several bus stops where you can hop-on the bus to Ursprungalm and hop-off the bus from Eschachalm:

  • valley terminal of Planai cable-car
  • valley terminal of Hochwurzen cable-car
  • Rohrmoos village center
Start
Hiking trail head Ursprungalm
Destination
Hiking trail head Eschachalm, Obertal
Security

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
Equipment
A well-packed backpack is helpful and especially when touring Alpine terrain a tuque, gloves, a windproof jacket and pants are standard equipment. Good, waterproof shoes, sun glasses, sun cream and sufficient beverages are essential too. Torch light, a map of the area, knie and a small first-aid kit should also be in the backpack.

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Weather forecast

Date
in the morning
2°C
at noon
4°C
in the evening
2°C
A mixture of sunny periods and scattered snow showers.
in the morning
0°C
at noon
5°C
in the evening
3°C
Frequent snowfall, maybe mixed with rain around noon.
in the morning
-1°C
at noon
7°C
in the evening
4°C
The day will be dry, but mostly cloudy with occasional sunny spells.

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