Bike & Hike & Trails

After a thorough planning the day before and with suitable weather, we set out on an Bike and Hike tour to the Schleinitz on August 13, 2024. To keep the elevation gain a bit in check, we drove early in the morning to Zetterfsfeld. The chairlift was out of service, so we pedaled up the partly extremely steep gravel road to the Steinermandl. Upon reaching the top, we weighed whether we should continue on the high trail with our bikes. We took the risk and were rewarded with a super, partly technically challenging high trail.

After a total of one and a half hours, the altitude trail became increasingly blocked, and we decided to leave our bikes by the side of the road and hike up to the Schleinitz on foot. On the way there, we passed the beautiful Neualplsee, where we quickly treated ourselves to a snack while enjoying the great view.

After the strengthening, we continued on the normal ascent to the Schleinitz. Alternatively, there was a via ferrata, which, however, would take twice as long. So we were still one and a half hours away from the summit. The way up consisted of massive scree fields in which we hopped from rock to rock. Finally, we reached the Schleinitz safely, had a few bars as a snack there, and left our marks in the form of a summit book entry inspired by Dad's last summit haiku.

The return down to the lakes was twice as fast. Stefanie enjoyed descending so much that Mini could hardly keep up. Upon returning to the bikes, we hopped onto them and enjoyed the great high trail down to the Steinermandl. To avoid rolling down the bland forest road from there, we looked for the entrance to the hiking trail. We found it and conquered another 350 meters of technical downhill trail.

Upon arriving at the car and loading the bikes, we headed straight back to the toll booth where we experienced an unpleasant surprise. Due to the bikes on the roof, our car was mistakenly detected by the recording system as a large bus or truck, and a toll of €40 was due. Hopefully, the complaint will be accepted by the municipality and we will be refunded the difference. The normal rate would have only been €9.

Back at the campsite, Mini's head was hurting him a lot. He probably caught a mild sunstroke. So he rested in bed for the rest of the evening and slept through a thunderstorm with falling raindrops, apples, and nuts in the orchard.