Golden moments in late summer

Not far from Filzmoos lie the Schladminger Tauern – a paradise for nature lovers, hikers, and adventurers. Recently, I ventured into the region for a sunrise hike. The weather forecast promised perfect hiking conditions, so I seized the late summer for one more beautiful tour. I want to share my experience with you.

My alarm goes off at 4:00 AM. It’s early, and still dark outside. I pack my things and leave at 4:30 AM, driving to Reiteralm in Schladming. The drive takes about 40 minutes – plenty of time to mentally prepare for the adventure ahead.

Arriving at the parking lot, I begin my hike in the darkness. But soon, I realize I’ve made a critical mistake: my headlamp isn’t charged. You can imagine how challenging those first few meters in the dark were. Luckily, dawn doesn’t take long to break, gradually bathing the path in a soft, golden light.

After about 50 minutes, I reach the first summit cross on Gasselhöhe. At this hour, there aren’t many people wandering the mountain, so I’m completely alone – something I love about sunrise hikes! According to Google, the sun is set to rise at 6:37 AM. I still have a few minutes, so I follow the ridge toward my second goal. Halfway there, I pass a small summit cross belonging to a via ferrata. I take a break here, unpack my coffee, and wait for the first rays of sunlight.

The intense orange hues of the sunrise light the sky on fire. On the other side, the clouds shimmer in soft pink tones, like they’re made of cotton candy. Absolutely breathtaking!

After finishing my coffee, I continue toward my second goal of the day – the summit cross on Rippeteck. The hike from the first to the second summit takes about 40 minutes. Since I’d already covered half the distance before sunrise, I reach the top quite quickly. Here, I enjoy my packed lunch and the serene silence of nature. Gradually, I spot the first hikers in the distance, but I’ve had the mountain all to myself up until now.

To conclude my hike, I head toward my final destination – the famous Spiegelsee on Reiteralm. When the wind is still, the entire Dachstein massif reflects in the lake’s calm waters, giving it its name. Fortunately, I’m still alone here and can enjoy the view in complete peace. From this point, it’s about 30 more minutes to the parking lot, and eventually back to my car.