Climb Every Mountain

Considering the options, it would be a daunting task to climb every mountain in Austria, so the decision was made simply to climb the highest one.

So four of us set out early Saturday morning to drive to the base of Grossglockner, south of Salzburg.

















You can see our parking spot at the head of the valley.




We started hiking up to one of the lower lodges on the mountain, where we would meet up with a guide who would take us to the snowy summit.















Lower Lodge. Not Our Guide. Quiet Type, Though.




Our guide, Christoph, brought us up to the edge of the glacier, where we roped in to traverse the snow-covered field.

























Mark was the mastermind behind this trip--here demonstrating harness and rope:



























Once out on the glacier, Christoph pointed out glacier tables, where large boulders shaded the snow beneath them, so that the sun could melt around them:








The table at lower right was probably a little too high for Mass.




We were now on the white expanse:












Having crossed it, we needed to go up the ridge to make it to the high altitude hut where we would spend the night, in preparation for our attempt on the summit.




















Latching into the cables going up the wall.






At this altitude, everything is a workout:
















Stairmaster plus:















Our efforts paid off and we were rewarded up above with spectacular scenery:














Christoph, who had been coming up the mountain throughout the year, said we had the best days of the year, as a recent dusting of snow was followed by brilliant sunlight:














We checked into our camp for the night, the highest lodge in Austria. Happily, we were able to find a nook to celebrate Mass:



















Liturgy with a View






The benefit of a lodge is we were able to grab a beer in the fire-kept warmth as we prepared for the next day's climb:

















And we could watch the sun get low:












And finally set:










In time for us to head to bed for an early send off.