Hochtregist

The Hochtregist rises in the western Grazer Bergland of Styria, a limestone massif whose slopes belong partly to Bärnbach and partly to Geistthal-Södingberg. Its summit stands 761 metres above sea level, flanked by the 794-metre Hochkogel to the north-west and the 740-metre Schrapfberg to the west. South-west of the peak lies the small hamlet of Hochtregist, while the scattered farmsteads of Hieden, Pagger and Reiter cling to the slopes. The mountain’s streams feed three valleys: the Buchbach and Ranerbach join the Södingbach, and the Tregistbach flows into the Kainach. Geologists recognise the Hochtregist as part of the Kainacher Gosau group within the upper Austroalpine nappe system. North of the summit Tertiary gravels cover older layers, and the rock is predominantly calcareous sediment. The mountain’s soils support a mosaic of woodland and open ground where rare plants appear. Stachel-Lattich, Adlerfarn and Schwarzer Holunder grow among the trees and clearings. A paved road and several forest tracks reach the lower slopes, while the long-distance footpath 539 crosses the ridge. It runs from the Sandebenkreuz near Kainach bei Voitsberg northwards to Übelbach, and southwards to the hamlet of Tregist. The Voitsberg section of the Austrian Alpine Club maintains the route and its waymarks.