Stage 1: Saalfelden - Saalfelden
Sightseeing in the Saalfelden Basin between the Leoganger Steinberge and the Steinernes Meer. With enormous rocks in all their glory and close enough to touch. Right into the thick of it, wow!
Saalfelden lies in a sunny, expansive valley basin surrounded by impressive mountain ranges and wonderful tracks that come very close to the steep walls. The south-western flank of the Steinernes Meer (literally „The Rocky Sea“) rises up here, with peaks that look down on the village from 2,000 metres above. The flank stores the sun's heat and creates a climate that keeps the tracks free of snow almost all year round. From Maria Alm, the route climbs up to the first peak of this varied week, close to the rock faces, so close you can almost touch them and let the first sublime feeling of the week sink in. After the descent from the Bürgerberg, you can relax and roll along the sunny cycle route for a few kilometres.
Now the Leoganger Steinberge (literally „Leogang Rocky Mountains“) show us the way. They stand there, no less impressive, and also show us their southern flank. It is no coincidence that their foothills form the Leoganger Sonnberg, and just behind this warm balcony of Leogang, a path winds its way through the forest, culminating in the Gunzi Trail with a short riding technique test on the narrow path up to the highest point. From here, after a short descent, we reach Leogang, and it would not be surprising if we were accompanied by a few mountain bikers wearing full-face helmets and protective gear. After all, one of the largest bike parks in Europe magically attracts the scene here.
The road now leads back in the flat, but between Leogang and Saalfelden, a mountain flank still extends its foothills, somewhat obstructing the clear view of Saalfelden. But that hardly bothers us, because we want to go up there and can easily do so, as a forest path climbs the shoulder at a pleasant gradient: the Biberg, one of the best panoramic spots in the region. Here, the Steinernes Meer is no longer within reach; it reveals itself in all its glory in cinema format, and the view wanders further to the right towards the Hochkönig, giving us a glimpse of what to expect over the next few days. A brisk descent leads down to the valley path, which takes us on flat ground to the small hill with the Kollingwald and the Ritzensee. Once at the top, just before reaching the lake, it's time to get out your mobile phone cameras again. There's no better place to photograph Saalfelden in front of the „Rocky Sea“ than here. An extravagant sightseeing trip comes to an end, and a starting stage that already offers everything that Gravel Peaks is all about.
