Before we go deeper into the specifics of today’s post I’d like to say sorry for being offline for some weeks. After finishing the US train watching tour I moved to Europe and it took me some time to settle in over here. But now I am “back on track” (literally)!

Lovely Austria not only greets souls used to US pace a “life in slow-mo” but also is known for its awesome landscape. A 45 minute train ride from Vienna got me to the base of the Schneeberg which resembles the highest peak in the province of Lower Austria. It is, of course, no coincidence that I picked this mountain for my first hiking adventure. A cog railway takes hikers, tourists and folks who simply want to enjoy the fresh air in 6000 ft up to the high plane of the massive rock formation. The view from the top station is astonishing and several trails provide numerous opportunities to explore the alpine heights. I choose to tackle the peak of the Schneeberg (Mount Snow) followed by having lunch at the “Fischerhütte” cabin. The great food   and drinks taste even better after succeeding in climbing up there!

Hiking is fun but be aware that this is high alpine area with little margin for error. Know our limits and take it easy. Due to the fast changing weather conditions turning around or altering the plans for a safer option is smart up here and keeps one out of trouble.

Nevertheless, intersting operation on this well maintained (and modernized) historical railway combined with several good restaurants and cabins as well as an exciting stay at the Schneeberghaus hotel next to the upper terminal made this trip a great start for my fall train watching season this year.