I had checked the map the previous evening and saw from the contour lines being close together that there were to be some steep sections: soon encountered after walking across the valley floor from the railway station! But I went up the ascent well, only being slowed when lying snow was encountered at around 1250m.

I reached my turn off from the direct route to the Heimgarten as the sun burnt off the clouds. Three German hikers heading direct for the Heimgarten passed me here, and I was to see them again much later in the day. But my chosen route was via the "three summit ridge" which culminated at the Rauheck, and that led straight into quite deep snow that had no tracks in it! But thankfully I didn't have to "post hole" in the deep snow for long, and a quick glance at my compass set me in the right direction for the snow free zig zag path up to the summit cross of the 1456m high Buchrain.

Back in amongst the trees the snow had softened, and below 1250m walking was easier as the snow line was left behind. Taking a short break at one point the three German hikers I had spoken to a few hours earlier passed. They had not succeeded in their direct route to get to the top of the Heimgarten as the snow had become too deep. So I was pleased I had decided to go via the ridge and the Rauheck, as I resumed my descent to Ohstadt and the train and bus journey back to my hotel in Farchant.