Leibnitzbachbrücke - Hochschober (via Staniskascharte)

Access to starting point:
Through the Karawanks Tunnel, we drive to Austria, and then we continue driving towards Spittal and forward towards Lienz (a little after Spittal highway ends). Further, we drive on a relatively nice and wide road through Drau valley. In the center of Lienz, at the roundabout, we continue right towards the settlement Matrei. From the roundabout we are driving for approximately 8 km through the valley by the river Isel, we then turn right towards the settlement Oberleibnig. On an ascending road we then all the time follow the signs for mountain hut Hochschoberhütte. The road is otherwise most of the time ascending on steep slopes and is quite narrow. In the last part, the asphalt ends and we continue few more kilometers on a macadam road to the parking lot by a bridge over the stream Leibnitzbach.

Path description:
From the parking lot, we continue few more meters on a macadam road which is further closed for traffic, and then signposts point us to the right on a footpath. At first, we are ascending through the forest by the left side of the stream Leibnitzbach. Later, the path named Eduard Jordan Weg brings us on a little less steep grassy terrain where we cross the bridge. Further, the path again ascends a little steeper by the stream and brings us on the mountain pasture Leibnitzalm.
On the mountain pasture path crosses a stream and then joins the mountain road. Further, we for some time walk on a macadam road along the stream and then we get to a crossing, where a macadam road turns left.
At the crossing, we continue straight where signposts by the path point us to. From the crossing, we at first walk on a wide cart track which after the crossing a stream soon passes into a footpath. The path here again starts ascending a little steeper and leads us through a short lane of a forest. The path continues to run along the stream and from the left side soon joins also a footpath from the end of the road. Further, the path turns a little to the right and increasingly beautiful views start to open up on surrounding peaks. After that, the path runs on grassy slopes past a cross, and by the path, there are also quite a few benches. When we come on little steeper slopes, the path turns to the left and then in ascent crosses slopes all the way to the mountain hut Hochschoberhütte.
At the mountain hut, we continue slightly left (towards the north) following the signs »Hochschober über Staniskascharte«. The path at first descends a little on a grassy slope and then it crosses a stream. Further, the path again starts ascending and from the path increasingly beautiful views opening up on surrounding peaks. The path is still ascending on the south slopes near the stream and it brings us to the lake Schoberlacke, which is situated below the southern slopes of the peak Hochschober.
From the lake path still runs towards the north and is ascending through the valley on the eastern side of peaks Kleines Schöberl and Langes Schöberl. Further, the path ascends a little steeper towards the notch Staniskascharte. On this part there are also in the late summer still possible snow fields so we have to use an ice axe and crampons.
On the notch where there are signposts, we continue right and we start ascending steeply by the rocky ridge. Higher, the path becomes a little less steep and on the south side bypasses the secondary peak (3185m). The path then on the ridge leads towards the main summit and then again follows a steep ascent. On the shorter part, there is also a steel cable for help. In the last part, the path becomes less steep and on a panoramic ridge we soon reach the peak.
The described path is demanding mainly because of snow fields, which stay late in the summer and for safe crossing of a snow fields are essential crampons and ice axe. And on some spots also some easy climbing is needed (1st grade).
We descend on the ascent route or on a path which runs on the east ridge of the mountain.

On the way: Leibnitzalm (1908m), Hochschoberhütte (2322m), Schoberlacke (2515m), Staniskascharte (2936m)