Grossglockner
The highest mountain in Austria rises 3,798 m high above sea level and is therefore the highest mountain in Austria. It is the center of the largest Austrian National Park Hohe Tauern. This covers 1,800 km² in the federal states of Salzburg, Carinthia and Tyrol. The “black mountain” is covered by approx. 180 km² of glacier ice. It is believed that the name Glockner comes from Klocken, the thunder that sounds when rocks fall.
First ascent
The first attempts to climb the Großglockner took place in 1799. The Salmhütte was built in the spring of this year as an important base for step-by-step ascent to 2,644m. It was named after the Carinthian Archbishop von Salm-Reifferscheid, who ordered its construction. In June 1799, the first expedition to the summit almost succeeded, but the Klotz brothers had to turn back due to a snow storm.
In the summer of 1800 a larger society, organized by clerics and professors, tried again attempted the climb. On July 28, 1800, five mountaineers reached the summit of the Großglockner for the first time. The Döllach pastor Franz Josef Horasch with four carpenters, including the Klotz brothers, which already hurried ahead of the group from the Adlersruhe in the early hours of the morning. The first ascent in winter took place in 1953.
Standing on the highest mountain in Austria is a dream for every mountain lover. Feel the freedom at the summit, enjoy the great view and forget the efforts of the ascent. The ascent has made every climber very proud.