Haid-Steig

Southwest view of the Preinerwand with a rough route of the Haid-Steige

The Haid-Steig is a classic via ferrata in the Eastern Alps and leads from the Reichenau side over the highest part of the Preinerwand to the Lower Austrian Rax plateau . He is one of the boldest climbing plants of Vienna's local mountains with an altitude difference of about 420 meters and a difficulty level D . It is named after the former mayor of Reichenau and former AV chairman of the Reichenau / Rax section, Hans Haid von Haidenburg .

history

The path was built by the Viennese art locksmith August Cepl , who also built the Alpine Club Path in the Großer Höllental , between 1910 and 1913. It was financed by Camillo Kronich , the long-term leaseholder of the Otto refuge . The alpinist and painter Gustav Jahn was responsible for the planning, and he also designed the two now legendary Einholm iron ladders (climbing trees). The lower part from the entrance to about the second Einholm iron ladder, known as the Neuer Haidsteig , was opened in 1921.

description

The entry at an altitude of around 1360 m is on the right side of the Holzknechtsteig, which opened on August 14, 1911, at a wall step in front ( 47 ° 42 ′ N , 15 ° 44 ′ E )47.697777777778 15.734166666667 2000 , followed by a walking area with a crossing to the first climbing tree. This is followed by an exposed crossing and a steep wall step, as well as an only partially insured walking area. A crossing under overhangs leads to the second climbing tree, followed by another crossing that leads to the large basin. Then you come to a narrow chimney, which is the key point of the path. Via a traverse and a short steep step you reach a paragraph ( 1585 m ) where there is a black Madonna shrine and the climbing book is deposited. The further path leads over easy walking terrain and a craggy ridge to a channel and then in a diagonally rising traverse to the exit, which is just below and about 100 meters west of the Preinerwand-Kreuz ( 1783 m ) ( 47 ° 42 ′ N , 15 ° 44 ′ E )47.700555555556 15.736388888889 2000 .

Approaches and descents

As a rule, the approach takes place from Griesleiten (Griesleitenhof) on approx. 840 m , but is also from Prein an der Rax to approx. 680 m or from Großau to approx. 700 m possible. From the respective starting point then to the Bachingerbründl (approx. 1280 m ) and then up the red-marked Holzknechtsteig up to a height of approx. 1360 m , where the entry is located.

Several descents are available from the Rax plateau. The closest easier descents are the Holzknechtsteig and the Göbl-Kühn-Steig, each via the Seehütte , and the more interesting Preinerwandsteig.