Großvenediger
3,660 m – The highest point in the Salzburgerland is located at the border with East Tyrol and is the eponym and main summit of the Venediger Group. Together with other mountain massifs, this forms the huge group of the Hohe Tauern. The appearance of the “ancient majesty” is characterized by the strong glaciation on all sides, with the individual glaciers being separated by a total of four extremely distinctive ridges.
First ascent
The Grossvenediger has always fascinated mountain enthusiasts. And yet it took a long time for the first mountaineers to set foot on the summit.
In 1828, the mountain-loving son of the Austrian Imperial House of Habsburg, Archduke Johann von Österreich failed in this ambitious project shortly before the summit. Paul Rohrgger, chosen as an accomplished local to explore the route and head of the expedition because of his work as a forester and hunter, is caught by an avalanche and seriously injured while the trail was being created. The ascent of Grossvenediger was not successful until September 3, 1841. The large-scale expedition of a 40-person team, initiated by Ignaz von Kürsinger, climbed the Venediger on the route of today’s north-facing normal route.
Since then, the Grossvenediger has been a destination on the “bucket list” for many of us. Once at the top of the summit, what a wonderful, indescribable feeling of happiness!