It will come as no surprise that at MoaAlm Mountain Retreat we are crazy about the mountains. There’s something about reaching the top of an alpine peak that we just can’t explain. That’s why, in the summer of 2023, three of our team members decided to climb to the top of Grossvenediger together. Sophie, Becca and Liselotte embarked on this journey together with one of our guests and it left them with an amazing experience, a full heart and an even stronger team feeling. Find out all about it in this blog and who knows, maybe you'll feel like climbing Grossvenediger afterwards, too?
The Grossvenediger is the 4th highest mountain in Austria and the second highest (after the Grossglockner) of the Hohe Tauern National Park. The Grossvenediger is a pure glacier mountain and its summit is the frontier of the Austrian States of Salzburg and Tyrol. It wasn't until 3 September 1841, forty years after the first ascent of the Großglockner (with its 3798 meters the highest mountain of Austria), that a team led by Josef Schwab made the first successful attempt on the Großvenediger summit. Today several mountain huts (such as the Neue Prager Hutte) serve as basis for summit ascents.
There are four "normal" routes to the top: they all meet at the upper part of the Schlaten-Kees glacier. Our three team members decided to summit Grossvenediger via the East-route and Neue Prager Hutte.
Sophie, our yoga-teaching manager at MoaAlm, got in contact with a local mountain guide to prepare the trek with him. They decided to do the alpine hike to the top in two days. On day one, they parked their car at the Matreier Tauernhaus in Matrei and met there with their mountain guide. From here they took a taxi into the valley to the Venediger Haus where the hike started. They hiked via hiking trail 925 approximately 12 kilometers and 1200 altitude meters up to the Neue Prager Hütte. It was a beautiful sunny day and the trail was fairly easy and not technical. On their way, they passed some crazy sheep and the Alte Prager Hütte (which is currently no longer in use).
They had a good night's rest at the Hut and left for the Grossvenediger peak early in the morning. The first part of the hike went over big rocks and stones, which was a bit of a challenge with the stiff alpine boots they were wearing. After 1 hour they reached the snow! This is where they put on the crampons and the guide connected them with the ropes. Though Grossvenediger is not a technical glacier to summit, there are many crevasses so taking a rope is a must, definitely in the summer season. From that point on, it took them another 2,5 hours and another 1000m of ascent over and up the glacier to reach the summit! There was a lot of wind but the sun was shining and everybody was very eager to reach the top. They hugged at the summit, had some delicious Milka chocolate and made pictures to remember this stunning experience. They hiked all the way down to the Venediger House with a happy heart, knowing they would remember this forever.
The Grossvenediger alpine hike is an easy glacier summit to ascend. It is not very technical and therefore generations of mountaineers have summited Grossvenediger as their first high glacier mountain.
Although it is a fairly easy summit to reach, that takes nothing away from the beauty of the scenery on your way there.When at the top, looking over the magnificent landscape, you imagine yourself in another world. Did you know that Grossvenediger got its name because it is said that from the summit you can see all the way to Venice? Ciao Italia!
And there’s another reason why climbing the Grossvenediger is such an unforgettable experience. It creates a bond with the people in your group that cannot be broken. You have to trust and consider each other during the alpine hike (you’re connected to each other with a rope) and once on the top you share each other's happiness and fulfilment. Nothing like it!
We had an amazing experience climbing this beautiful glacier. It’s something we’ll never forget. If you would like to stay with us at MoaAlm Mountain Retreat for a hike and yoga week, we can arrange the entire two-day trek to Grossvenediger for you and your loved ones. It’s an accessible hike for anyone with an average fitness level and a thirst for an alpine hiking experience. Contact us for more info!
If you would like to join us at MoaAlm Mountain Retreat in the Summer for a week of hiking combined with yoga then check out our availability.