Mönichkirchen - Hochwechsel (via Studentenkreuz)

Access to starting point:
We leave the highway A2 Graz - Vienna / Wien at exit Pinggau, Friedberg, after that from the nearby roundabout we go to the exit in the direction of the mentioned settlements and Vienna and Graz. Few kilometers ahead at the crossroad of regional roads we follow the signs for Vienna and Mönichkirchen. Further, we drive on Wechsel Straße, and the mentioned road which is mainly ascending we leave at the exit for Mönichkirchen. Next follows driving through the settlement, to a larger parking lot above the settlement, which is situated at the foot of the ski slope.

Path description:
On the right, eastern side of the parking lot continues the asphalt road, by which there are few parking lots, and we are ascending there by the ski slope. After few minutes, we get to a marked crossing, where the path towards Mönichkirchner-Schwaig splits into two parts.
We continue slightly left in the direction of the cross Studentenkreuz and we continue across the ski slope (carefully because the route of the track, is used for a downhill in the summer season). We continue also below the chairlift, and when the road turns left we go straight on a marked footpath which in the forest quickly splits. At the crossing at the hunting observatory we go once again left, in the direction of an earlier mentioned cross. Next follows few minutes of a little steeper ascent through the forest, and after crossing a grassy cart track, the path gradually flattens. Further, we are still ascending through the forest, and at the before mentioned cross we reach the macadam road which we follow left in the direction of Vorauer Schwaig and Hallerhaus (right - Mönichkirchner-Schwaig). The path ahead leads us on a gently sloping macadam road, and at the marked crossroad, we go straight, still in the direction of Vorauer Schwaig and Hallerhaus.
At the next marked crossing we leave the road and we continue slightly left in the direction of Vorauer Schwaig (straight - Hallerhaus). We continue lightly through the forest, where we go past a smaller religious symbol, and a little ahead we reach a cart track which we follow to the left and then we quickly reach a macadam road, on which we short time continue a light ascent. From the road, we soon go slightly right and we are then moderately ascending. Higher, we cross a wider cart track (right - Hallerhaus) and we are still ascending diagonally. A little further, we for some time step on a macadam road and we quickly leave it. A little further, we once again cross the road, and higher we continue on the road. Few minutes ahead we go from the road slightly left, and we are still ascending diagonally, this time through a thinner forest. And when we leave the forest, on a cart track, or the last part on the road, we quickly get to the mountain hut Vorauer Schwaig.
At Vorauer Schwaig from the left joins few paths, and to the right the path branches off on Niederwechsel, and we continue straight towards Hochwechsel, where on the left side we bypass the military cemetery. Next follows a longer crossing on a cart track which continues with some shorter ascents and descents, and most of the time beautiful views opening up on surrounding hills. Later, the path branches off slightly to the left towards huts Kaltwiesenhütte and Rablkreuz Hütte, and we continue slightly right, where we gradually start considerably ascending. Next follows some diagonal ascent, and at an altitude 1647 meters we reach a crossing, where we join the path which leads over the peak Niederwechsel.
We continue straight (sharply right - Niederwechsel) and we start at first gently, and then moderately ascending. This path we then follow to the mountain hut Wetterkoglerhaus am Hochwechsel, where we step on the road. At the beginning of a parking lot we cross the road and we walk to few steps distant peak.
The starting point - Vorauer Schwaig 2:30, Vorauer Schwaig - Hochwechsel 1:15.
Description and pictures refer to a condition in October 2022.

On the way: Studentenkreuz (1182m), Vorauer Schwaig (1509m)