At the Salzstiegelhaus lodge, cross the road and follow the 05 North-South-Trail. After just approx. 500m, you have the choice of making a detour to the 1,928m high Rappoldkogel on the 05B alternative to this trail or following the forest road to the right, which leads along the sloping ridge on an even course. Via Alpina chooses the latter course. After approx. 45min, the alternative route joins again with the main trail. Continue uphill on the forest road, past the turn-off to the Zapfl Hut, still walking straight ahead, still slightly uphill and eventually reaching the Alte Almhaus lodge. After crossing the car park, a track running parallel to the road leads down through the woods. It crosses the forest path several times before the final stretch of the track leads you to the Gaberl mountain (approx. 2h).
(Christina Schwann, OeAV)
 

This short section over the Stub Alps, likewise part of the Styrian Central Alps, is embedded between the Hirschegger Sattel pass and the Gaberl area. This terrain is particularly suitable for horse grazing and is used by the Piber stud farm as summer pastures for the world-renowned Lippizan horses. This horse race owes its name to the village of Lipizza in today’s Slovenia, where in 1580 the former court stud farm was established. Only Lippizan stallions are used for the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. They are the result of century-long breeding of Spanish, Italian and Arabic-Oriental blood. These horses stand out due to their full, elegantly formed body structure, their gracious movements, their willingness to learn, temperament, goodnaturedness, resistance and duration. They for were a long time deemed to be the perfect baroque riding horse. Standing at 155 to 158cm in height, they are relatively small, but all the more muscular. The main Lippizan colour is white, but there are also always brown horses. A dark stallion is part of the tradition of the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. White horses are born dark brown to black. Their colour only changes to grey and finally white at the age of 4-10 years. The foals stay with their mother for 6 months. After this, they are separated from them and branded four times to indicate their origin and pedigree. Great care is taken with their schooling. Not all of the stallions are equally suitable for the high art of the Spanish Riding School. In the summer months, the horses enjoy their holiday around the Alte Almhaus lodge.
(Christina Schwann, OeAV)