This hike brings back to many interesting historical facts. First to the Ice Age. The retreating ice created beautiful Valleys and Canyons you can explore in this area. Here in 1934 the German Alpine Road was built, following the routes of the "Güldenen Straße", which Emperor Ludwig the Bavarian had built in 1346 as the first paved trade route, as well as the "Alte Tiroler Reichsstraße" from 1485, on which mainly salt from Reichenhall was transported across the border.
We head first to Weißbach. From here we hike to the forest and immediately keep left at the next junction (the path to the Sonntagshorn leads to the right). At the next junction, after about 15 minutes, we keep left (signposted "Ristfeuchthorn"). Now you stay on this forest road crossing the Scharnbachtal until after about an hour at an altitude of approx. 1080 m (a few meters before the left-hand bend) you meet the mountain trail that branches off to the right. Up over this section and further through bushes until you cross the forest road several times further up. On a small, heated plateau you reach a crossroads. Turn left here (it would go straight ahead to the Sellarnalm).
Soon you cross the southern flank of the Ristfeuchthorn on a moderate incline. After a smaller section you reach a three-way crossing at an altitude of approx. 1470 m: Here you meet the trail that leads from Schneizlreuth. Turn left at this junction and now less steep again up to the summit regions. The path leads briefly downhill through a small hollow between mountain pines and in a few minutes to the wooden summit cross. One should not be fooled by the low summit height (1569 m). Because 2.5 hours of ascent and over 900 meters in altitude have to be mastered. After all, you start right down in the valley. At the top of the summit you are rewarded with a fantastic all-round view: the Sonntagshorn, Hochstaufen, Lattengebirge, Salzburg, Watzmann, Hochkalter, Reiteralpe and many other peaks. After a lunch break at the peak we hike down to Schnizelreuth. Caution is advised here in wet weather, as the trail is sometimes narrow and the meadow slope runs steeply down. After Maria Hilf Kirche we head to the final section of the tour.
The picturesque Weißbach canyon in the Berchtesgadener Land has been used for drifting, for transporting wood, since the 15th century. Here you quickly descend over steep stairs and steps to a signposted junction at a bridge in the bottom of the gorge.
The path, equipped with railings, wire ropes and bridges, leads slightly up and down, but always very close to the river on the left along the water. In several places, the beautifully laid out path meets the water.
We finally head to the bus stop to catch the bus back.
