In Hinterstoder, keep to the right at the local administrative office, where you can have a good view over the glass back of the Alpineum Museum and cross the bridge over the Steyr in the direction of "Schiederweiher". (A path also branches off left to the Schiederweiher before the bridge, but Via Alpina follows the so-called "Flötzersteig" in this case.) Immediately after the bridge, keep to the left and follow the well signposted trail mostly on tracks across the fields and through the woods, sometimes even on forest paths to the beautifully situated Schiederweiher lake. Regardless of whether it is cloudy or sunny, the Spitzmauer and the Große Priel in the Schiederweiher - two mountains that characterise the mountain panorama of Hinterstoder - are visible in all types of weather. Continue on to the "Polsterlucke", a nice, cosy little inn at the end of the valley. This marks the actual starting point for the climb to the Prielschutzhaus refuge (approx. 1h). The path is still flat until the valley station of the goods left, but then it narrows to a track and scales the first steep couloir, over which the Klinser waterfall tumbles down into the depths. Looking back, you will have a wonderful view into the Stodertal valley. After approx. 1h of steep climb, the “Gott sei Dank” bench, whose inviting seats are a welcome sight, are reached. From there, the trail leads further uphill through a beechwood, but it is by no means as steep as before. Past the "Märchenwiese" (fairytale meadow), you will come very close to the Priel and the Spitzmauer. The last stretch leads below the cable car along to the Prielschutzhaus refuge, which is a starting point for many alpine climbing trips and also a recognised training venue for alpine courses, and is accordingly well equipped (2h 15min from the Polsterlucke cave).
From the Polsterlucke, follow the signposting to the "Schiederweiher" and Hinterstoder.
(Christina Schwann, OeAV)

 

On the way to the Polsterlucke cave, the trail leads past the magnificent Schiederweiher lake. The Spitzmauer and the Große Priel peaks are reflected in the crystal-clear water of the lake. This is a place with special powers. This must also have been noticed by the Court Architect of Vienna, Herr von Schieder. For when in August 1887 he acquired the Klinser and Stegbauer estates, once purchased by Count Dürkheim, he converted the dilapidated buildings into magnificent residences. He had the little lake, which originally lay at the foot of the Klinserstock, expanded and later added an island. Moreover, he had a driveway through the Klinserau area built and planted the pastureland with woodland trees. Today, the Schiederweiher lake is owned by the Duke of Württemberg, who rightfully says that "this lake is the pearl of the Stodertal valley". The Große Priel at 2,515m and the Spitzmauer at 2,446m are the highest elevations in the Tote Gebirge range. An eight-metre high iron cross has been towering over the summit of the Große Priel since 1870. The inscription on the cross, which weighs 2,240 kilograms, says that it was carried voluntarily by the strong Vorderstoder and Hinterstoder sons to the mountain peak. Both peaks can also be reached by via ferrata. The easy Stodertal via ferrata leads to the Spitzmauer, while the Große Priel can be climbed along the very difficult and long Bert-Rinesch via ferrata. One man played a substantial role in the opening of the Tote Gebirge range: Karl Kral. He found a cave below the Große Priel summit that in 1875 was prepared as a provisional overnight shelter. The Karl Kral refuge was then built in 1884. In 1904, the Linz Tourist Club section had the construction torn down and built the Prielschutzhaus hut in its place. The attic was extended in 1958 and in the years 1970-75, the extended building reached the size it is today. The Prielschutzhaus hut also has a constructed wetland area and a UV-irradiation system to sterilise the drinking water. In addition to this, part of the required electricity is gained from solar energy. The hut was justifiably awarded the environmental quality mark in 2001.
(Christina Schwann, OeAV)