Oberfresen (Brendlwald) - Großer Speikkogel (Koralpe) (lower path)

Access to starting point:
We drive to the settlement Ivnik / Eibiswald in Steiermark or the neighboring settlement Aibl, which is located southwest of Ivnik, and from the roundabout we go onto the road towards Labot / Lavamünd; along this road, we drive to the settlement Sankt Oswald ob Eibiswald, where we turn right in the direction of the settlement Wiel. In the settlement Wiel St. Anna, we turn left in the direction of the waterfall Sulmwasserfall. Near the waterfall, we cross the stream Weiße Sulm, then diagonally ascend to the settlement Oberfresen, where we turn left and bypass the guesthouse Schmuckbauerwirt on the left side; after that, we drive mostly through the forest for another 2.2 km, or until the junction of the marked path towards Brendalm. We park at a suitable spot by the crossroad.

Path description:
From the starting point, we head along the path towards the cottage Brendlhütte and begin ascending on a rough macadam road. Higher up at a small crossroad, we continue straight, then soon veer slightly left onto a marked footpath, which crosses the macadam road twice more higher up. The path leads us briefly through the forest, and upon leaving the forest, we step onto the lower edge of the mountain pasture Brendlalm, then walk across the pasture to the cottage Brendlhütte, located on a scenic part of the pasture.
On the mountain pasture, several paths converge, and we follow the signs for Großer Speikkogel. Slightly above the cottages, we turn left, first crossing a grazing fence, then the path enters the forest, continuing gently uphill along a cart track. Later, an easy descent follows, and upon reaching a clearing on the right side of the path, we notice a stone chapel.
Behind the chapel, we cross a macadam road and then mostly ascend gently through sparse forest. A few minutes further, the path splits, and we choose the slightly left path marked for Glitzalm (both paths lead to the summit of Großer Speikkogel), which ascends gently for a short time before beginning a diagonal descent. Upon reaching a larger grazing area, just before crossing the high-voltage power line route, the path splits, and we continue straight towards the summit of Großer Speikkogel
(left downhill to the cottage Glitzhütte, about five minutes’ descent). We continue across the pastures, initially crossing the slopes, then a little further on, we begin a moderate ascent. A bit further, we cross to the other side of the stream, then follow the blazes, which guide us for some time along the power line route. Higher up, we cross a macadam road, and after the crossing, the footpath fades, but the blazes continue. Shortly after, we cross the road again, which has made a left hairpin turn, and we proceed along a marked hiking path, which continues along the regional border and a grazing fence. When the steepness decreases, the path turns right and, a few steps below the summit, bypasses the peak Bürgerhalt.
From here follows a short, easy descent, then we continue in a gentle ascent to a marked crossing, where the upper path from our starting point joins from the right, and we proceed slightly left toward the summit Großer Speikkogel and the mountain hut Koralpenhaus. We continue along the grazing fence, and a few sections ahead, a path leading from the hut Bodenhütte joins from the left.
The path ahead bypasses the less distinct peak Ochsenstein on the left side, then we gradually reach the slopes of the peak Kleiner Speikkogel, where a less distinct, unmarked footpath branches off slightly to the right, leading directly to the mentioned peak, but we continue straight, still following the blazes. Next follows a gentle diagonal ascent on the left side of the peak Kleiner Speikkogel, then we reach a marked crossing, from which we turn right toward the highest peak of Golica. Next follows a few minutes of steeper ascent, and we reach the ridge, located between the two highest peaks of the restricted mountain range.
Here we turn left (right leads to Kleiner Speikkogel), and in a few minutes of further walking, we arrive at the cross on the summit Großer Speikkogel.
Starting point - Brendlalm 1:00, Brendlalm - Kramerin 0:25, Kramerin - Bürgerhalt 1:50, Bürgerhalt - Großer Speikkogel 1:00.
The description and pictures (except the last seven) refer to the condition in July 2024.

On the way: Schwanberger Brendlhütte (1566m), Die Kramerin (1634m), Bürgerhalt (Golica /Koralpe) (1943m)