Dachstein Südwand

Hiking up the imposing flanks of the Dachstein mountain to reach to reach the heights of permanent snow and ice.

Some friends and I were in Ramsau am Dachstein last september for some hiking and other outdoors-y activities. Since the weather forecast only let us have one day of good weather, we decided to make it count: We wanted to go up the highest mountain around.

The Dachstein is a pretty well-known mountain in austria, almost 3000m high with big glaciers to the north. Now since some of us were pretty inexperienced, we quickly decided we won't go all the way to the top. The only way to the summit is using a via ferrata, so we agreed that just getting to the glaciers will be challenge enough.

After some more planning we agreed on a route that looked not to difficult for all of us: Starting from the bottom station of the cable car we planned to hike up the Edelgrieskar, passing by the Edelgries glacier and using the Rosmarie-Stollen through the last rock faces to get to the glacier on the other side.

The next day, we started early and drove to the parking lot at the cable car station. From there the first kilometre of the way passes through some light forest and green meadows before reaching the first rock cliffs at the entrance to the Edelgrieskar.

Meadows at the start Entrance to the Edelgrieskar

Walking up the first steeper parts of the hike, we disturbed some chamois, who promptly fled up into higher regions. Our way continued further into the valley, the steep rock faces of the Koppenkarstein mountain always reminding us that more challenges would await us. The first of the was soon to come

View into the Edelgrieskar valley First challenging climbing sections

Soon the way grew steeper again, and at one point, it required the aid of some iron clamps drilled into the rock to continue. Soon after, we were rewarded with our first "glacier" of the day. When I say glacier its really more of left-over snow from last year. Luckily for us it shrunk to such a degree in the last decades that we could pass it with extra equipment and fear of crevices.

Our group on the Edelgries glacier

Having successfully navigated the glacier we faced another steep passage, this time without the aid of iron clamps. Instead we had the choice of up to 3 different ropes. Again we were rewarded for our troubles with a spectacular view. This time to the cable car station atop the mountain range. The 1000m high cliffs of the Dachstein were impressive to see from this angle

Looking back at our climb up passing the glacier Looking at the south face of mount Dachstein

Now we were almost at the top! Passing in front of some of steep rock faces, we finally reached the Rosmarie-Stollen, a small tunnel through the mountains, only about 20 metres long. In winter it is used by skiers to ride all the way back to Ramsau, using the same way we walked up, just reversed. The exit of this tunnel revealed our next challenge however

Through the tunnel Looking down at our destination Ladder from below

The exit of the tunnel was about 20 metres above the glacier! And the only way down was one really long ladder! This took as all by surprise, but in the end we all agreed to climb down. Slowly and taking care of each step we all safely reached the bottom. According to some people online the ladder was originally only 5 metres long, but climate change made the increase in length necessary.

Now the challenges where over, and we joined the masses of tourists brought to the glacier by cable car on our way to the Seethalerhütte directly below the summit of Dachstein.

Directly below the Dachstein summit

On our way we chose to use the easy route: we used the cable car.

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