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| VanSims9. 08. 2012 20:33:48 |
Last weekend I set off for the highest peak of the Low Tauern - Hochgolling. Since showers were forecasted in Austria on Saturday, I went on Sunday.
At Rennsweg I left the motorway (saved on Katschbergtunnel) and went via the pass and Mauterndorf to Tamsweg. There was thankfully an open gas station where I could buy food and water, as all shops were closed. Then I drove to Göriach and from there on nasty gravel to the parking lot at the start. On the way I saw a partially still swollen stream, the road was still muddy - the rain the previous day was quite heavy and on the radio they said there were hail and flood issues in several parts of Austria.
From the parking lot I head past the hamlet with cottages where there's also a hut (more like a tavern) and onwards. All the way to the turn-off for Gollingscharte the path is fairly flat or rises just a little. The hardest part is from the turn-off to Gollingscharte, especially in the upper section where I had a small snowfield (nicely passable with poles - August 2012) and you have to watch the rocks a bit.
At the saddle I met a group of people. There I stopped for a snack. Then I went right to the summit. From the saddle it's a good two hours more. The path is exposed at first then turns left. Just before the path fork is somewhere the hardest part but no worse than grade I climbing. Hardest of course if we go right at the fork (left path along the ridge with grade II sections).
Well at the fork I go right too, so on the normal route. From there it's still exposed (at least in places), but there's one slightly nasty climbing detail over a rock where pegs are hammered but very sparingly spaced. Then after about half an hour I reach the top.
Someone comes behind me who was following me more or less from the Gollingscharte turn-off itself and we chat a bit.
Views: I expected perfect due to previous day's rain, but it wasn't quite. Of course the prominent Dachstein group was clearly visible ahead, the Northern Limestone Alps ridge was visible too, as well as Low Tauern peaks nearby. To the south a distant ridge was visible but I doubt it was Karawanks, more like Krške Alpe or Nockberge. Sadly no view to our Julians. High Tauern were in clouds too. Hochalmze was somewhat recognizable by the glacier, the rest was more or less cloudy or indistinct.
Descent nothing special. It was almost easier than ascent as again when viewing the path from bird's perspective I saw I wouldn't have needed to climb some sections upwards if I'd known the path. At Gollingscharte some people again but no big crowds considering it's the highest peak of a range and not too hard to reach. The route in general is demanding but not overly. On the normal it's e.g. much easier than Triglav via Planika.
From Gollingscharte back to the turn-off then to Landawirsee lakes (Untere and Obere). From there good hour back to parking, just before parking I stop at that hut (tavern) for a beer.
On the way back fuel is running low and unsure if I'd make the AC pump, luckily one still open in Tamsweg too. Filled up full of course as liter was 1.42 EUR (so after our price hike in a day or two I profited  )
And another nice trip to the Tauern (this time Low) behind me.
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| Irina9. 08. 2012 23:20:39 |
Nice. And where are the photos?
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| VanSims10. 08. 2012 18:59:17 |
Hey Irina!
Usually when I go on day trips, I don't take the camera with me, only if I go somewhere for longer.
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