The starting point Umbach is not a village, but stands for an area with a few houses or farmsteads and cannot be found on all maps. To reach this point, we drive on the L103 through the town of Kettenreith (348 m). After 1.6 kilometers, the L5244 joins the Gartling settlement (385 m), which leads over here from the nearby Texingtal. After another 1.2 kilometers we come to an intersection where the L5232 leads straight ahead via the Wetterlucke to Rabenstein an der Pielach. Here, at an altitude of 424 meters, is the beginning of the ascent to the Luftberg.
The course of the road offers us two hairpin bends in open terrain right at the beginning. After that, a deciduous forest is our constant companion, but it always allows views. The surrounding, mostly wooded hills push themselves into our field of vision.
After 1.7 kilometers we pass the third bend and then the only section that is a bit steeper with an incline of approx. 8.5%. Speaking of gradient percentages: These remain in the single-digit range over the entire course of the road and usually range between six and eight percent. If you would like to have it in double digits, we recommend the mountain road via Plankenstein, which leads from the neighboring Texingtal into the Pielachtal.
After 300 meters, however, this short interlude is over again with 8.5% and we drive through the fourth and last hairpin bend. The remaining meters to the high point then fall back into the “pleasant to drive” category. The forest thins out and after a left turn we suddenly reach the highest point. A large parking lot spreads out in front of us, which suggests past and probably better times of the now closed air inn.