| Trobec29. 06. 2019 15:40:28 |
Nice to go to foreign mountains on a holiday at home, there no. Free day and no crowds 
Hochalmspitze is also known as queen of the High Tauern, though at 3360m not among the absolute highest in the High Tauern. 4 marked routes to summit: 2 from south (some way common then splits to 2 branches), one from east and one from north. Choice between eastern (max elevation gain) and northern (min gain but longest). Decision for the latter.
Monday afternoon start to Malte valley. Biggest cost actually toll to Malte valley. 20€ per day. If overnight bit more, 28€. But – Austrians (unlike many at home, not mentioning southern neighbors) know tourism. This slightly pricier toll then valid 3 weeks. Strong magnet for return soon. From there 2h or 9km mostly flat gravel to Osnabrücker Hütte. Hut not open yet (should be this weekend), but nice winter room.
Next day shortly before 6 head to summit. Path flat for a while, but sign »Brücke ist kaputt« warned that soon jump over very watery stream due fast snowmelt. Towards valley head path first up moraine ridge, then left to steeper terrain. Snow becoming continuous. To gully entrance (marked path left of gully with some belays, but snowfilled gully more attractive) below Preimlscharte path ascends slower. Snow here still held weight ok at least uphill, but very south-facing. Unfortunately gully not filled to top, last 30m very... well, muddy. At saddle (2953m) opens view to Hochalmkees glacier and summit. Saw traces of old track, from saddle first descends good 50m, then start breaking trail up slope. Glacier crossed at 2900-3250m, especially tough 3000-3200m where most steps postholed to knees. If only to mid-calf good, occasionally deeper. Alternated leading, stopped often, ascent speed under 200m/h. Meanwhile spotted skier afar who soon caught and passed us. Not questioning his fitness, but in conditions definitely easier for him. Only mountaineer met above hut.
Sun baking hard, thirst bad, good water flowing everywhere ☺ Gear slowly upgraded with water leg cooling. Ca 4h breaking south snow no boot survives almost.
Last part airy, quite exposed loose ridge. Summit great views nearby peaks valleys and farther. Only towards Slovenia cloudier. Little wind, no real heat. Deserved beer and snack bit lower.
Down glacier that killed on ascent went fast. Over saddle again feel could be more filled. Then on postholing south snow. Difference from morning: more rocks out, streams waterfalls more numerous wetter. Snow cover on steep grassy slope not reliable, so some with ice axe on grass. And jumping mentioned stream, now much wider. Actually everywhere with countless tributaries. Well, didn't really try hard to jump anymore. Time to change »coolant« anyway.
End long gravel walk from hut to dam. In winter boots not nicest part. But overall great tour worth every sweat drop every step. Many of them in 32km almost 1800m (some up down).
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