❓ Your most frequently asked questions – answered in a nutshell
Since we opened, we’ve received lots of questions about hiking – especially from people who are new to it or didn’t grow up in the mountains. Most of them are from international guests, and we totally get it – alpine hiking can be a bit different! This little guide is based on our experiences over the past few years. It’s more practical than funny – but we promise, it’s worth the read.
👉 If you’re already familiar with terms like elevation gain, microspikes, or mountain rescue memberships, you might not need this post 😉
📌 Before you set off – do you have a plan?
- Check the weather! Always check the forecast in the morning – and keep an eye on it during the hike too. Mountain weather can change quickly.
2. Bring a rain jacket & warm clothing. Even if it’s warm when you start, the summit can be 10°C colder and much windier. Functional clothing helps – especially when you’re sweating on the way up.
3. See snow on the Rax? That means it’s cold and slippery up there. Don’t go with just running shoes and a T-shirt. Microspikes are a must in that case. (Yes, if the top looks white, it is snow 😉)
4. Pack a headlamp! Especially from late autumn through winter – it gets dark early.
5. Know the emergency number: 140 That’s mountain rescue. Already a member of the Alpine Club? Or thinking of supporting mountain rescue? ➡️ It’s just €32 per year and covers you, your partner, and kids under 18. Info (choose Reichenau;)): bergrettung-nw.at
6. Essentials in your backpack: Emergency blanket, water, snacks – always.
7. Phone charged? Cold weather drains batteries faster – keep an eye on it.
8. Install a hiking app. We use mapy.cz, but there are many good ones. A helpful addition to careful tour planning. Or grab a map from our café!
9. This isn’t flat terrain. Please stay on marked trails. If you’ve gone off-track – turn back and find the path again.
10. Elevation gain – what is that? 10 km with 100 m ascent is very different from 10 km with 1,000 m ascent. Just for reference: the walk to the nearest supermarket here includes 80 m of uphill 😄 The Rax summit is at 2,007 m, Schneeberg reaches 2,076 m.
😄 By the way:
These are just 10 of the (literally) hundreds of questions we’ve been asked! Got something else on your mind? Drop us a message – we’re happy to add your question to the list!