Details
Trip Duration
7 days
Mountain Range
Alps
People per Guide
-
Trip Level
Intermediate
Offer Period
Jun
Type of Trip
Not specified
Join for a challenging week between glaciers and impressive peaks. The highlight of this adventure will be reaching the summit of Grossglockner (3798 m).
Grossglockner (3798 m) is a pyramid-shape peak of the Hohe Tauern range in the Central Eastern Alps. It’s the highest peak in Austria and also very popular among climbers.
Our itinerary will begin in Hinterbichl, a tiny village at the foot of Grossvenediger (3657 m). In fact, our first objective will be climbing this peak, the fourth highest in the country.
For this ascent, we’ll use crampons as it will involve crossing a glacier. From the summit, you’ll enjoy a wonderful view of Grossglockner to the east side.
Finally, we’ll reach the highest point in Austria on day 6. On our way there, we’ll cross Koednitzkees Glacier.
For further details, you can find the complete itinerary for this trip below this description.
Would you like to join this fantastic mountaineering trip? If the answer is yes, then contact me! I can assure you it will be a very rewarding experience at an almost 4000 m peak.
Price per person
Price includes
- Guiding fee
What happens if I need to cancel the trip?
If you decide to cancel, you’ll get a 100% refund (minus fees) if the cancellation is notified up to 60 days before the start of the tour, a 75% refund (minus fees) if you cancel between 59 and 30 days before the start of the tour, and a 50% refund if you cancel between 29 and 21 days before the start of the tour. If you cancel less than 21 days before the first day of the tour, you won’t receive a refund.
Take into account, however, that if accommodation, flights or transfers were included in the trip you booked, then a different policy may apply as the guide will be bound by the provider’s cancellation policy.
What happens if the guide cancels the trip because of bad weather/unsuitable conditions?
If bad weather or unsuitable conditions force the guide to cancel the trip, he or she will: a) propose a similar activity at a different place where conditions are better, or b) propose to postpone the activity until a later date, or c) cancel. If you refuse option a), our cancellation policy will apply. Please note, however, that the call to cancel a trip due to bad weather can only be made by the guide (not the client).
What happens if the guide doesn’t show up or cancels for personal reasons?
If the guide cancels for reason of injury or other, you will get a 100% refund on your trip.
Itinerary
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Day 1:
Meeting at the foot of the mountain
Early in the afternoon, we’ll meet for the climb in Hinterbichl, which is a little village at the foot of Grossvenediger.
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Day 2:
Meeting at the foot of the mountain and walking to Defreggerhaus (2962 m)
After breakfast, you can “cheat” the first half of the long hike up by taking the “Venediger Taxi” – a van service most climbers resort to – up to Johannishütte at 2121 meters. On this day there’ll be no glacier walking. From Johannishütte it’s a pretty walk up on the alpine hillside. The hike is moderately difficult; you should make it to Defreggerhaus in 2.5-3 hours. We’ll do an ice basics course and test our equipment on the glacier.
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Day 3:
Climbing Grossvenediger (3666 m), descent to Johannishütte
We will get up at dawn and ascent 700 vertical meters to reach Austria’s 4th highest peak.
We’ll start the ascent with headlamps on in the dark on a rocky trail. After about 30 minutes, we’ll enter the glacier. I will rope you up and you will put your crampons on. However, you may start to feel fatigue, because you’re above 3000 meters. Don’t be afraid if you experience a small headache – it’s normal, but it’s important that you tell me about it.
After a 2.5-3 hour climb, we’ll be on a narrow ridge leading to the summit. This is the region’s second tallest mountain, topped only by Grossglockner. In fact, we’ll have an awesome view of Grossglockner to the east and it is our next target after this peak. After summiting, we’ll descend to Defreggerhaus for a rest.
It’s quite likely that we’ll be in time to walk back to Johannishütte (1-1.5 hour walk down) which is more comfy than Defregger with better food and the chance of a hot shower.
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Day 4:
Descent to the valley
We should get up at around 8-8:30 and take the taxi down to the valley to say goodbye to these magnificent mountains. We’ll sleep in or around Kals.
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Day 5:
Hiking to Stüdlhütte, 2802 m
We should get up at 8:00 and take a drive up to the parking space of Lücknerhaus.
We’ll start walking at 2,200 meters and will need to tackle a vertical of 600 meters to get to one of the most modern huts in the Alps. This will take about 1.5-2.5 hours. An indoor climbing wall and great cuisine await us at the hut.
We’ll need to go to bed early, as we’ll leave quite early in the morning.
I cannot guarantee that you’ll have accommodation in Stüdlhütte. You need to book very early (at least 2 months in advance) to make sure you do. Still, if there are no free beds at Stüdlhütte, we can sleep at another hut closeby, Adlersruhe.
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Day 6:
Summiting Grossglockner, 3,798 m
After an overnight stay and breakfast we’ll start at around 5:00 from Stüdlhütte across the Koednitzkees glacier to Erzherzog-Johann-Hütte (3.454 m, 2.5 hours).
We’ll climb up to the summit of Grossglockner at 12:00 to 13:00 ( 1,5 hours).
Enjoying the panoramic view from the top, we’ll descend the same route back.
At about 18:00 we will be back at the Stüdlhütte. We’ll celebrate at the hut in the evening!
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Day 7:
Descending down to the valley
Walk back down to the parking lot – it shouldn’t take much longer than an hour.
Other details
Mountain huts:
Defreggerhaus
Johannishütte
Stüdlhütte
You'll need technical equipment for alpine and summit tours (rental can be arranged):
Trekking or mountaineering boots, harness with HMS carabiner (I'll give it to you), mountaineering boots that can take the crampons, ice axe, extry ice axe for steeper ice, gaiters, climbing helmet.
About the Guide
I am a Slovenian IFMGA mountain guide with the ZGVS.
It was when I was 12 years old that I first climbed a mountain myself and by the age of 15 I had started rock climbing.
Since then, my ascents count up to around 1000, starting from Mont Blanc in the seventies and Triglav north face to Cho Oyu, and all over South America including 18 of the 6000m+ peaks including a first ascent on south face of Aconcagua.
I have climbed and travelled all over the world, Shivlinga, K2, Mt Everest, Manaslu, Shishi Panama, El Cap and sport climbing in Kalymnos and Cuba.
Skiing powder in great conditions and rock climbing under the sun are my motto!
Contact me if you'd like to have fun safely in the mountains with me! If I am unavailable then my trusted friend guides, Franc and Milan, can take care of you!