Hoher Dachstein

Hoher Dachstein is a massive mountain located in central Austria. It is the second-highest mountain in the Northern Limestone Alps. The mountain sits at the border of Upper Austria and Styria. It is also the highest point in both of those states. Parts of the larger Dachstein massif reach into the state of Salzburg. Because it touches these three states, people call it the "Drei-Länder-Berg," or the three-state mountain.

The Dachstein massif covers a very large area. It contains dozens of peaks that rise above 2,500 meters. The highest peaks are located in the southern and southwestern areas. The main summit of the Hoher Dachstein reaches an elevation of 2,995 meters. When you look at the mountain from the north, you see many glaciers. These glaciers sit below rocky summits that rise high above them. From the south, the mountain looks very different. The terrain drops almost vertically down to the valley floor.

The geology of this mountain is defined by the Dachstein-Kalk Formation. This is a type of rock known as Dachstein limestone. This limestone dates back to the Triassic period. Because the mountain is a karstic area, it is full of holes and cracks. This creates a very rich and complex cave system. Some of these are among the largest caves in Austria. You can find the Mammuthhöhle and the Hirlatzhöhle in this system. Another very famous destination for visitors is the Eisriesenhöhle.

Visitors often come to the mountain to see ancient fossils. The Dachstein is famous for fossils called megalodonts. There is a specific path called the Linzer Weg that leads over many of these remains. Some of these fossils are actually called "Kuhtritte," which means cattle footprints. These fossils provide a look at life from a long time ago. The limestone holds these shapes within the rock for people to find.

Glaciers are quite rare in the Northern Limestone Alps. However, the Dachstein massif holds the largest ones in the region. These include the Hallstätter Gletscher, the Großer Gosau glacier, and the Schladminger glacier. These are also the northernmost and easternmost glaciers in the entire Alps. There are also smaller ice-fields like the Kleine Gosaugletscher and the Schneelochgletscher. These glaciers are currently retreating at a very rapid pace. Scientists estimate they may disappear entirely within 80 years. For example, the Hallstatt glacier withdrew by 20 meters in 2003 alone. By 2018, it had retreated more than 1 km since 1908.

The history of climbing this summit involves many different people and debates. Peter Karl Thurwieser first reached the summit on July 18, 1834. He was guided by the brothers Adam and Peter Gappmayr. They climbed via the Gosau glacier. A wooden cross was placed at the summit during this successful ascent. Before this, an attempt by Erzherzog Karl via the Hallstätter glacier had failed. There has been much discussion about who truly made the first ascent. Some believe Jakob Buchsteiner may have succeeded in 1819 or 1823.

Climbing the mountain is a very popular activity for many people. Friedrich Simony was the first person to reach the summit in winter. He achieved this on January 14, 1847. The steep southern face was also a major challenge for climbers. The brothers Irg and Franz Steiner first climbed it on September 22, 1909. Today, the summit is a popular goal in both summer and winter. On days with fine weather, as many as 100 climbers might be ascending. This can lead to congestion at the most important sections of the climb. Climbing can also be dangerous, as seen in the Dachstein hiking disaster of 1954. During that Easter holiday, 13 people from Heilbronn went missing.