Scheibenberg

The Gamsstein is a striking, isolated mountain massif in the Ybbstaler Alps, straddling the border between Styria and Lower Austria. Its highest point is the Hochkogel, reaching 1774 metres. The massif stretches across several municipalities, with its slopes rising from valleys where the Enns and Ybbs rivers begin their courses. Geologically, the Gamsstein is mostly made of Wettersteinkalk limestone, with other rock layers such as Haselgebirge and Reifling-Formation exposed near its southern base. The northern side drops sharply into the Seebachtal valley, while the southern slopes feature steep meadows and small cirques.

The Gamsstein has drawn walkers and climbers since 1871, when the first routes were published by Wilhelm Schleicher in the Alpine Club yearbook. A prominent steel cross stands on a subsidiary summit just 250 metres from the Hochkogel’s main peak, marking a popular destination. The Bergbauern-Lackneralmhütte, run by the Nature Friends, sits at 1020 metres on the southern flank and serves as a base for weekend hikers in summer. In winter, the massif attracts ski tourers who follow the same route up to the cross. Marked paths lead to the summit from Palfau to the south and from Sandgraben or Promau to the north, each requiring only a little sure-footedness near the top.

From the Hochkogel, the long summit ridge runs northeast to the Gamssteineck and then to the Hochkogel’s subsidiary peak. To the east, the ridge broadens into a small high plateau with the former Moarhochalm before descending toward the Niederscheibenberg at around 1200 metres. The Scheibenberg plateau lies to the east of the Gamsstein, rising to 1400 metres at its southeastern end. The Gscheidsattel col at 1026 metres links the massif to the nearby Voralpe. Clear views extend over the surrounding Alps, making the Gamsstein a rewarding goal for those who reach its heights.