Pühringerhütte and Elm - Two Magical Days in the Heart of Totes Gebirge

Totes Gebirge... A region that still hides many exceptional places from me. I love the local rough rock that looks like solidified lava. And those lakes, literally at every step. Pure, cool, absolutely charming. Perfect companions for a hot day on a mountain trail. Today I'll take you to the very heart of these mountains, to one of the most interesting huts in the area - Pühringerhütte.  

Already while approaching the starting point, I knew it would be a beautiful hike. We were greeted by Styria's largest lake - the large and warm Grundlsee. Despite the over 30-degree heat, we didn't take advantage of this reservoir's cooling offer. The late hour motivated us to hit the trail. 

We left our car at Gasthof Veit in the very center of Gößl. The cost is about 10 euros per day, there's really no point looking for savings here - practically all spots in the area were paid from what I saw. From there, signs directed us toward today's destination - Pühringerhütte. The beginning of the route really kicked our butts - the biggest elevation gain is achieved during the first hour of hiking. Combined with over 30 degrees of heat, it was a challenge requiring large amounts of water.   

The world's most charming gene pool Fortunately, the ordeal didn't last forever and soon it started to get pleasant. After about 1.5 hours of hiking, we saw a natural wonder - Vordere Lahngangsee. A gorgeous and extremely clean lake.

It's so clean that for 60 years no fishing has been conducted here, instead it's used as a natural gene pool for the Arctic char - a local rarity caught in the lower-lying Grundlsee.

We took a quick break to eat, this time without swimming. Swimming will be on the way back. The rest of the route was very pleasant, passing through rocks typical of Totes Gebirge. Darkness was approaching with giant steps, finally we saw Rotgschirr glowing red. A sign that the hut is getting closer! After a moment we approached Elmsee and saw the hut. Beer! Pühringerhütte is a really cool place, we were served by an atmospheric mountain Spaniard. Since we had a dog with us, we got the entire Winterraum just for ourselves. In the middle of the season! So much luck! Before bed we managed to catch a summer storm. I love mountain storms. Of course when I have a roof over my head and it's not necessarily a tent.

The hut looms in the distance, high time!

Right after a delicious scrambled eggs we set off to conquer the summit. Elm is a 2128-meter-high peak, so we're facing just under 500 meters of elevation gain.   

Easy! The beginning of the route was a bit muddy and the going wasn't pleasant, but after 15 minutes that specific local rock began. Very comfortable for walking and climbing, but losing balance off the trail can be painful and bloody.

 After about an hour of pleasant hiking we stood at the summit. The view was truly worthy. The vast Dachstein with its impressive glaciers was very clearly visible, as well as the entire Totes Gebirge - a sea of rocks looking like they're melted into one mass. I love it

After a short break to soak in the view, we headed back to the hut, where after replenishing our hop deficit we set off on the return journey. Of course this time we didn't deny ourselves a swim in Vordere Lahngangsee. It was something beautiful, I literally got a second life! The descent went without problems, after reaching the car we went for a meal at Gasthof Veit, where we had parked. The food was okay, although the service wasn't among the most courteous. Next time we'll find another place to fill our stomachs   

This is a technically simple route and with two days not very demanding in terms of fitness. The lakes along the way simply knock you off your feet, and Vordere Lahngangsee is perfect for a refreshing swim, or even a longer picnic in the beautiful natural surroundings. I'll definitely return there, maybe we'll meet on the trail?   If you liked my post, share it with your friends. Thank you!