17^Jan Sat
06:45

Dear buddies,

It is supposed to be a nice sunny Saturday! 

Let's go for a lovely hike together crossing a lovely corner between Bavaria and Tirol!

5) please be punctual. It is important to not start late!

From the bus stop at the church in Sachrang (738 m) we start our hike heading south, crossing the valley floor and the main road. Shortly after leaving the village, the path climbs into the forest. Near Sachrang, we encounter a short rocky passage cutting through steep limestone terrain, typical of the Northern Limestone Alps, formed during the Alpine orogeny around 30–40 million years ago. Continuing uphill through mixed mountain forest, we reach the Waldbichler Alm (1,015 m). After a few meters to the left, we follow a path across open meadow and later through forested terrain, gradually gaining elevation. The landscape here is shaped by glacial erosion, with gentle hollows and wet ground indicating former ice flow and abundant alpine springs. Before reaching a wider forest road, we descend briefly through a narrow ravine (Tobel) heading south. This shaded gully channels meltwater and rain into the valley and showcases classic karst features, such as fissured limestone and moss-covered rock faces. We soon arrive at the Karspitze (1,239 m), a modest summit offering fine panoramic views across the Priental valley and toward the Kaiser mountains to the east. From here, we continue across a very wet spring area, crossing three wooden footbridges over saturated ground fed by underground karst water systems. Descending through alpine meadows and forest, we reach the Rettenbachalm (1,200 m). From here, the trail climbs steadily to the Wandberg summit cross (1,454 m). The Wandberg is a classic grass-covered limestone summit, offering excellent views of the Chiemgau Alps, the Wilder Kaiser, and, on clear days, the Hohe Tauern far to the south. We go further west till we reach Wamdberghütte (1350m) where we have a break.

From the Wandberg, we follow the alm road across the ridge, enjoying expansive views in all directions. The route continues gently over rolling alpine terrain before ascending the Lochner Horn (1,448 m), a prominent fore-summit set on a broad ridge.

Descending from the Lochner Horn, we leave the alm road and traverse down grassy slopes back toward the Kohlenriedalm (1,280 m). This area marks the transition from open almboden to forest, shaped by centuries of alpine pasture use. 

When you lose altitude, we look for signs toward the Lochner Waterfall (Lochner Wasserfall). A narrower woodland trail leads you beside the Kohlenriederbach stream down to a wooden bridge with a clear view of the waterfall’s cascade — a scenic highlight stop.

The trail continues downhill through forest, gradually losing elevation. We pass the Halbwart farm (840 m), then descend more steeply to the forest edge. Crossing the bridge near Winkl, we follow the road past the sports field back to the Walchsee Dorfplatz bus stop (659 m), completing a varied and rewarding traverse through one of the most scenic corners of the Austro-Bavarian alpine border region.