Climbing the Gippel peak in the Ybbstal Alps

Trek to Mount Gippel in the Ybbstalian Alps

Starting point

Free parking in the Preintal Valley near Schwarzau am Gebirge.
 

Description of the hike

I start on the Gippel from the Preintal valley, west of Schwarzau im Gebirge. By car I reach the end of the asphalt road to a small chapel, there is a free parking for about 10 cars. From the car park a blue marked trail starts towards Preinecksattel (1302 m). The first hour is a warm-up, on wider forest paths. From the almo Bärenboden at about 1100 m, a view of the two-thousand-foot Schneeberg opens up. After Bärenboden, a narrow footpath turns off the road and the next climb through mixed forest to the saddle is already quite steep. At Preinecksattel the trail to the right splits off to the Obersberg, the peak above Schwarzau, where the Waldfreundehütte hut is also located.

I take the left path following the ridge. I am lucky to have an interesting climatic phenomenon, the south side is bathed in sun, while the north side is broken by clouds. From the Preinecksattel saddle the trail continues to climb steeply. It is mostly serpentine, the path is rocky, sometimes you have to help yourself with your hands (but no climbing). From the first nameless peak at 1600 m you get a view of the rocks on the north side and the Schwarzauer Gippel (1624 m). On the way to it I kneel and cross rocky meadows. There is a simple wooden cross at the top.

The trail descends to the Gippeltörl (1533 m), to the crossroads where there used to be a decorative wooden gate. There are several commemorative plaques here and the path from Sankt Aegyd am Neuwalde is added here. Below the saddle you can see the alm with the Gippelhütte hut, where refreshments are available in summer. I pick up the lost metres again in the last section to the summit of Gippel (1669 m).

After a rest on the grassy summit I descend to the Gippelhütte. From here it is possible to take a shortcut down through the Gippelgraben ravine, but there are still remnants of snow, so I go around the forest path to the Gscheidl saddle (1132 m). Below the saddle I join the old Marian Way to Mariazell. The trees here are festooned with crosses, rosaries and memorial plaques of pilgrims heading to Mariazell for about a kilometre, it's impressive. It's only a few minutes' walk back to the car park along the Preinbach stream.
 

Difficulty

Gippel is a rocky massif in the Ybbstal Alps. It can be ascended from several directions and there are several marked routes leading up to it. The challenge is to cross the Gippel and the neighbouring Goller in one day, or a two-day trip with an overnight stay at the Göller Hütte midway. There are a few steeper passages on the route, and the trail is rocky in places.
 

Water availability

On the way there is a possibility of refreshment at the hut on Gippelalm. Off-season (approx. May - September) but closed.
 

Sleeping options

There is plenty of accommodation in the valley, a campsite in the village of Kernhof.
 

Overnight in the Austrian Alps

In Austria, sleeping in the wild is strictly regulated and the rules vary from region to region. It is generally forbidden to spend the night in forests, but arrangements can be made with the owner of a meadow, for example. For details, see the article Rules for bivouacking in Austria.
 

Mountain peaks

The peak Gippel 1 669 m above sea level offers views of the neighbouring Göller, Ybbstal Alps, Schneeberg, Raxy, Hochschwab.
 

Danger

Shorter exposed sections that can be dangerous in bad weather, wet or icy conditions. The route follows marked AV routes.
 

Food

Refreshments available at the Gippelhütte in season. Otherwise you must have your own supplies.
 

Attractions

The way back is partly along the Marienweg, around which the trees for about one kilometre are festooned with crosses, rosaries and other religious objects. These were placed here by pilgrims heading to the pilgrimage town of Mariazell.