GUNUNG · Austria

Hochkönig

Information

Elevation: 2.941 m
Country: Austria (AT)
Location / Range: Pegunungan Berchtesgaden (Alpen Kapur Utara/Northern Limestone Alps), Salzburg, Austria — di sebelah barat Bischofshofen, di atas Mühlbach am Hochkönig
Mountain type: Puncak batu kapur (Northern Limestone Alps); titik tertinggi Pegunungan Berchtesgaden, dengan plateau puncak luas yang masih diselimuti sisa gletser 'Übergossene Alm' yang menyusut
Volcanic?: No (non-volcanic)
Coordinates: 47.4203, 13.0624
Difficulty: Berat untuk pendaki gunung (Bergtour): jalur normal T2 dari Arthurhaus panjang (±10 km, 5–6 jam naik) dengan seksi tangga logam dekat puncak yang menuntut tahan ketinggian & langkah mantap; jalur Königsjodler adalah via ferrata sulit (C/D–D/E)
Best Season: Pertengahan Juli–September (medan bebas salju paling andal); di luar itu sisa salju di plateau, es, dan cuaca alpine ekstrem
Permits & Rules: Tanpa izin pendakian; disarankan bermalam di Matrashaus (2.941 m, tepat di puncak — salah satu pondok tertinggi di Alpen Timur) untuk memecah pendakian panjang
Hazards: Perubahan cuaca mendadak dengan badai salju bahkan di musim panas, kabut & disorientasi di plateau gletser Übergossene Alm, batu jatuh dan eksposur di seksi tangga, crevasse pada sisa gletser, dinginnya ketinggian >2.900 m

Description

The Hochkönig (2,941 m) is the highest mountain of the Berchtesgaden Alps in the Northern Limestone Alps, in the state of Salzburg, Austria, west of Bischofshofen. Its summit lies at the southern edge of a broad limestone plateau historically capped by the 'Übergossene Alm' glacier — an ice sheet that covered about 5.5 km² of the plateau in 1888 but has since shrunk to roughly 1.5 km² and split into several small patches, a vivid example of Alpine glacier retreat. At the very top stands the Matrashaus, one of the highest mountain huts in the Eastern Alps. The normal and most frequently hiked route starts from the Arthurhaus (1,502 m) at Mühlbach am Hochkönig, climbing past the Mitterfeldalm and scree beneath the Manndlwand, with several metal ladders near the top — about 10 km of trail and 5–6 hours of ascent (roughly 9 hours round trip). A far more demanding alternative is the Königsjodler via ferrata from the Hinterthal/Dientner Sattel side. The summit panorama spans the Tennengebirge, Dachstein and Hohe Tauern.

Gallery

Foto bersumber dari Wikimedia Commons — klik untuk memperbesar & lihat sumbernya.

Routes

Königsjodler-Klettersteig (Hinterthal/Dientner Sattel) → Matrashaus

Sangat berat; via ferrata panjang tingkat C/D–D/E; hanya untuk pendaki klettersteig berpengalaman

1–2 hari (klettersteig ±8–10 jam; sering bermalam di Erichhütte/Matrashaus)

One of the best-known and most demanding via ferratas in the Eastern Alps. It starts from the Hinterthal/Dientner Sattel side (often via the Erichhütte), enters the klettersteig near the Kummetstein, then follows a long, exposed ridge with sections graded C/D up to D/E to the plateau and the summit Matrashaus. It requires a full via ferrata set, stamina and experience — not for beginners. Many teams split it over two days.

Source

Normalweg ab Arthurhaus → Matrashaus — Jalur Normal

Berat (T2, Bergtour); ±10 km & 5–6 jam naik; beda tinggi ±1.450 m; seksi tangga logam terekspos menjelang puncak

1 hari panjang (±9 jam pulang-pergi) atau bermalam di Matrashaus

The normal and most frequently hiked route up the Hochkönig. From the Arthurhaus (1,502 m) at Mühlbach am Hochkönig, the trail climbs beneath the Manndlwand cliffs to the Mitterfeldalm (the only refreshment stop before the summit, about 45 min), then crosses scree and scrub to the Ochsenkar before gaining the plateau. The final section passes three metal ladders and demands a head for heights and sure footing. The summit (2,941 m) is marked by the Matrashaus, one of the highest huts in the Eastern Alps. About 10 km one way, 5–6 hours of ascent; plan roughly 9 hours round trip, or overnight at the Matrashaus for the sunrise/sunset.

Route Segments

1

Arthurhaus → Mitterfeldalm

⏱ ±45 menit 1.650 mdpl

Di bawah Manndlwand; tempat singgah terakhir sebelum puncak
2

Mitterfeldalm → Ochsenkar → Plateau

⏱ ±3 jam 2.600 mdpl

Medan scree & semak, penanda titik pada batu; naik ke plateau
3

Plateau → Matrashaus (Puncak)

⏱ ±1–1,5 jam 2.941 mdpl

Tiga tangga logam terekspos; butuh tahan ketinggian & langkah mantap

Source

Climbing Experiences

The Hochkönig experience splits in two: the long normal Bergtour from the Arthurhaus to the summit Matrashaus, and the far harder Königsjodler via ferrata. The videos below capture the normal ascent via the Mitterfeldalm and the summit ladders, the snowstorm conditions that can hit even in late July, and the full Königsjodler traverse. Most climbers overnight at the Matrashaus to break up the long route.

References

The summary above is compiled from the following sources. Click to explore them yourself.