Zwergerlweg on the Vormauerstein

We set off at 5:45 a.m., which was good because it was going to be quite warm today. After three days of stomach problems, I wasn't exactly in the best shape. The very rocky and rooty uphill path (I like it that way) was really strenuous at this time of day, but it was rewarded with a wonderful view of the Schafkopf mountain from the Vormauerstein. I wouldn't do the path down again. It was a very boring gravel path through the forest, with only a few views of Lake Wolfgang, mostly just through the trees. The breakfast that followed was delicious.

Starting point: chargeable car park at the Holzerbauer snack bar, costs: €2 Up it goes over the mostly shady and wooded hiking trail, over the Alm, the dwarf path with funny sayings, past small springs and many benches. Almost at the top you reach the Vormaueralm, which is very spacious. After a last short ascent (20min) you reach the summit, which offers a 360° panoramic view. Fantastic view of the surrounding mountains and lakes! The path led us down the less varied forest path, which is also lined with many beautiful benches. If you want, you can also descend via the hiking trail. At the end of the hike you can stop off at the snack bar. 🙌 Also accessible with dogs.

Today I tried the loop. A simple gravel road down - quite easy to walk. It was a bit nippy at the top 🥶

This time I wanted to take the summit of the Sommerauerstein but the path was too muddy for me🙈

We start at the Holzerbauer car park and hike, quickly gaining altitude, across meadows and then into the forest along the forest road. Time and again, we can enjoy the panoramic view of Lake Wolfgangsee. The constantly ascending path is strenuous, but the beautiful weather and magnificent view make it great fun. Shortly before our first destination, the Vormauerstein, we have a fantastic view of the Schafberg. We continue across the still snow-covered Vormaueralm pasture towards the mountain cross. The summit is well-visited, so we first take a break a little lower down at a small wooden cross. Now begins the ascent of the Vormauerstein. The saved route leads us to the summit from the north... which is quite arduous and more like a climbing tour. We linger on the summit for a while, admiring the panoramic view. The better and easier path on the eastern side of the stone now leads us back down through the snow. We hike along the Sommerauweg to our next destination, the Sommerauerstein... or so we thought... The path eventually leads us deep into the steeply rising forest. The path is no longer recognizable as such. We climb, sometimes on all fours, climb a ladder and somehow reach the summit. Visibly exhausted and somewhat confused, we rest for a while on the Sommerauerstein with fantastic views, even over the Schwarzensee and far towards Bad Ischl. The descent is just as challenging and requires a lot of concentration... we are hikers, not mountaineers. For this reason, the Käferwandl is out of the question for us today. Now we continue down the Sommerauweg for the remaining 600 meters. The signs with the dwarves accompany us on the arduous path.

The first 500 meters in altitude were completely free of snow, but then it went well without any snow.

Lake Mönich lies at an altitude of 1,300 meters between Schafberg and Vormauer. We started from the parking lot near the tunnel in Sankt Wolfgang. Past the Holzerbauer, we climbed through the Zwergerlwald forest to the Sommeraueralm. The trail was dry, and the forest provided pleasant shade. We continued up to the Vormaueralm, where you can already see the striking rocky outcrop of the Vormauerstein. After a short rest at the alpine pasture, we headed to the mysterious Lake Mönich, which was somewhat refreshing. The descent followed the strenuous Vormaueralm path.

🅿️Holzerbauer (snack bar) Aschau near St. Wolfgang am Wolfgangsee (€2 organic P-machine) ⛰️RACKENROITERSTOLZ 897m (Mark.stein) ⛰️VORMAUERSTEIN 1450m ++ 🏚Sommeraualm ⛰️KÄFERWANDL 1320m + (T4/5 - I-II, unmarked, here: N-W AwA) ⛰️SOMMERAUSTEIN 1275m + ⛪️Mauruskapelle 742m 🅿️ Almost identical trail (in reverse) to that of V&M from December 2, 2024.