From the hiking portal at the Planai valley terminal (at the bus stops for the hiking buses), walk past the
Tauernhof through Schießstattgasse to Berggasse. Follow this to the left and after approx. 50 metres turn left onto the
WM path towards Grubegg and Planai. From here, the trail continues steadily uphill. The path is always marked as
WM-Pfad Planai.
Via Grubegg, the trail climbs up to the junction with
hiking trail #779. Through a spring protection area, you reach the lower end of the Harreiterweg trail. Continue along this - the hairpin bend is shortened via the WM trail - until the WM trail branches off to the left of the road at the next hairpin bend (after the ‘Holzhackerin’). Shortly below the road, you then cross the Fastenbergweg and shortly afterwards the Planaistraße over to the access road to the
Breilerhof. Walk up the driveway and turn right again onto the WM path before the farm. A meadow path takes you to a forest path and shortly afterwards into the forest, which you leave again just below the middle station and
Kessleralm. Here you can take a break or have a chat with the trainer.
From the middle station, continue uphill along the World Cup trail. To do this, cross the FIS downhill run slightly to the south-west up into the forest. In the forest, the trail climbs below the Lärchkogel cable car to the next forest path. Pass below a high seat and head back through the forest to the FIS downhill run and over to the
Bruckmoos reservoir. Continue along the WM trail, past the Quellbodenhütte and through the forest and up the FIS downhill run. Before a steep section, the trail branches off to the right into the forest and leads you over a few short hairpin bends to the
mountain rescue hut at Hopsiland Planai. From here, it's only a short walk up to the
Schafalm and the Planai cable car mountain station.
You've made it! You've earned a rest here. You can return to the valley by cable car or on foot - there are other options besides the WM trail:
- Hiking trail #50 via Burgstallalm and Wieslechalm to the Planai Stadium in Schladming.
- Hiking trails #53 and #779 via the Lärchkogel, Jager and Talbachklamm to Schladming.