Approach:
Follow the forest road toward Steiner Alm. At the signpost between Maier Alm and Steiner Alm, turn left and continue to the clearing. Keep left again and initially follow a forest road. Finally, follow a faint trail to the start of the via ferrata (about one and a half hours).
Via ferrata:
The via ferrata can be divided into two sections. The easier lower section begins with an approximately 50-meter-high entry wall. Several easier sections rated A and B follow until you eventually cross the scree gully and continue along a trail without a safety cable. At the end of this trail, you’ll find the first emergency exit. Next comes a very interesting and scenic 100-meter-high vertical wall. After another short walking section, you’ll reach the final emergency exit. If you’ve had difficulty up to this point, it’s best to switch to the normal route. The via ferrata ahead becomes more difficult and physically demanding.
The second section takes you through about 200 vertical meters of exposed climbing to Panoramaweg. From there, descend slightly and cross another scree field to reach the final and most difficult section of the via ferrata: an approximately 250-meter-high vertical wall with fewer climbing aids and several strenuous sections. Once you’ve completed this wall, it’s only a few minutes to the summit and Reichenhaller Haus.
Descent:
From the summit, follow the normal route northwest until you reach the turnoff toward Piding/Urwies. Keep right and descend through the forest until you reach a forest road in a meadow near Steiner Alm. Turn right and follow the forest road downhill to Schloss Staufeneck (about two and a half hours).
