Traunsee Bergmarathon

The Traunsee Bergmarathon begins and ends in Gmunden, Austria, circling the Traunsee and crossing seven summits. The complete route involves approximately 4,500 meters of climbing, positioning it more as an alpine ultra than a standard road marathon. This event originated from Willi Buchinger’s concept of ascending all peaks surrounding the lake within a single 24-hour period. Buchinger, a local endurance athlete and expedition mountaineer from Pinsdorf, conceived the idea. The event also offers two half-marathon distances: one from Gmunden to Ebensee and another in the reverse direction. For participant safety, the full course is limited to 250 runners, with each half marathon capped at 100 participants. The course has seen modifications throughout its history, yet its core remains the challenging circuit around the lake coupled with ascents above it. In earlier years, participants ascended Traunstein via the Hernlersteig, with some opting for unmarked paths over Hochkamp or Zierlersteig. Feuerkogel was not part of the route then, and Großer Sonnstein was used instead. The inaugural race saw 42 starters, and precisely half did not complete the course, highlighting the demanding nature of the terrain. Subsequent adjustments relocated the start and finish to Gmunden’s Rathausplatz, increasing spectator presence in the town center. Additionally, a children’s mountain marathon was introduced, catering to ages 2 to 15 with short, age-appropriate routes ranging from 500 to 2,200 meters. The event has also featured a charity hike supporting children’s cancer aid.