Hiking Tour: “Nord-Süd-Weitwanderweg 05 Stage 22: From Barbarahaus (Pack) to Gösler Haus (Weinebene)”

The North-South-Long-Distance trail (Nord-Süd-Weitwanderweg, also known as the “05”) starts in the north of Austria at Nebelstein and ends in the south of Austria at Eibiswald. The trail is ~500km long, ~18 000m in ascent and the same amount in descent. The trail was initiated by Carl Hermann and officially established on the 25th September 1970. The trail is separated into 3 parts: the northern part from Nebelstein to Plankenstein via the Mühl- & Waldviertel and the Wachau, the middle part from Plankenstein to Trofaiach via the Ötscher, Hochschwab and Eisenerzer Reichenstein, and the southern part from Trofaiach to Eibiswald via the Pack and Koralpe. It normally takes 3 weeks to complete the entire trail.

	Nord-Süd-Weitwanderweg 05 – Checkpoints
	Pack: Barbarahaus (Pack 172) Hebalm (alternate checkpoint to Pack): Hotel Fichtenhof / Gifthütte (Pack 66, 9451 Hirschegg) Weinebene: Gösler Hütte (Obergösl 58, 9413 St. Gertraud)

Personal impressions:
Transportation:
I’ve planned to accomplish this stage as the sixth of an 8-day multi-day trip. As I stayed the night at the Barbarahaus, I was able to directly start the tour the next morning.

The hike:
This hike was part of an 8-day multi-day trip. After a demanding (because extended) tour the day before, I was looking forward to an easy and more relaxing stage. After an excellent breakfast and again a nice talk to Manfred (tenant of the hut), I started relaxed at 09:00. I acquired the stamp from the box in front of the hut when leaving. Actually, the stamp is broken (certain pieces of the rubber are ripped out) but I hope it is sufficient enough to verify that I was here .
The first meters on the trail were easy but boring, just following the street from the hut down to the saddle of Packsattel. After crossing there the main street, the trail still continued to be easy but boring – a forest road with no view.
Everything changes when I left the forest behind me. I got surprised by a scenic view and a nice hike through a meadow, bypassing another Alpaca farm being observed by these nice and funny animals .
After the second farm, the tour again enters the forest, this time using a small trail down to the river. The bridge across the river is in a very dangerous state , extra caution is required when using the bridge! Again the trail leads through a forest, not difficult but not scenic as well.
Once reaching the Hebalm at the Fichtenhof, I stopped for lunch at the Fichtenhof as this is the only restaurant on the trail. Although I was early, the kitchen was open and I had a good Schnitzel and one or two beers, followed by nice conversation of other guests being impressed by my project. Although it is an alternate checkpoint, I also got a stamp here. Actually the stamp is not at the hut itself but opposite the street, in a box at the big tree in front of the parking.
After my lunch I continued following the trail southwards towards See Eben. Although I planned the detour to the Panoramablick view point, I got notice by the signposts of the Hebalmsee lake. In addition, I noticed that the day got hotter and very humid and I started to get worried about the amount of water I had in my backpack. Therefore I decided to detour up to the Hebalmsee, have another beer there at the hut but also purchase water (which I got for free while buying a second beer ). The detour turned out to be an excellent idea, as the Hebalmsee is very beautiful and the trail above it is scenic. I followed the trail around the lake and then through the forest back to the official  05  trail and according to my planning further to the also very recommended Panoramablick.
After a short break there, I then continued following the trail through the forest (giving a lot of shadow) to See Eben and further up and later down into the Wildbachsattel.
At the Wildbachsattel I noticed that the weather became instable, dark cloud came up and I heard already the first signs of a potential thunderstorm. Thus I rushed up to the Weberkogel, enjoying again a great view and seeing the first time the Koralpe. At that time I realized that the next day’s stage will be demanding once again. Anyway, as the dark clouds were coming closer and closer, I speeded up, bypassing the wind generators at Handalm before steeply descending down into the Weinebene.
Just when I arrived at the Weinebene (Checkpoint), it started to rain. Luckily, I was just at the Pauluskapelle (little church), so I was able to cover from the thunderstorm that lasted only for a few minutes.
Once the rain got lighter, I decided to quickly go down the few remaining meters to the Gösler Hütte, again with the luck that the minute I entered the building, it started to rain very hard!
After my check-in, I went for dinner accompanied by two beers. After finishing my dinner and due to the fact that I was really tired, I got my desired stamp and went into my room for a hot shower and a great sleep.

Summary:
The tour is not difficult and most of the time protected from sun because it is mainly following roads and trails through the forest. This also means that it is for sure not one of the most scenic ones. However, there are some highlights: The short detour up to the Hebalmsee and the Panoramablick are beautiful highlights. Also the last bit from the Weberkogel till the Weinebene is scenic and provides great view given good weather.