Weißkugel

Weißkugel
Elevation 3,739 m (12,267 ft)
Prominence 565 m (1,854 ft)
Parent peak Wildspitze
Location
Weißkugel

Location on the Austrian-Italian border

Location Tyrol, Austria /
South Tyrol, Italy
Range Ötztal Alps
Coordinates 46°47′52″N 10°43′35″E / 46.79778°N 10.72639°ECoordinates: 46°47′52″N 10°43′35″E / 46.79778°N 10.72639°E
Climbing
First ascent summer of 1845 by Johann Gurschler and Josef Weitthalm, or
30 Sep 1861 by Joseph Anton Specht, Leander Klotz, and Nicodem Klotz (or Johann Raffeiner)
Easiest route Glacier ascent over the south ridge

Weißkugel (Italian: Palla Bianca) is the second highest mountain in the Ötztal Alps and the third highest mountain in Austria. Featuring many glaciers, it lies on the border between Austria and Italy. The easiest way to climb it is over its southern side.

The ascent by Joseph Anton Specht from Vienna, guided by Leander and Nicodem Klotz from Vent in 1861, was and is usually considered the first. However, personal notes of Archduke John of Austria about his excursion over the Niederjoch from Vent to Schnals in the summer of 1846, made public in 1903, suggest that his guides, Johann Gurschler and Josef Weitthalm from Schnals, had climbed the mountain the previous summer.[1]

Due to its central location, it has one of the best views in the entire Alps. Though not easily picked out among the mountains, its peak can be seen from Venice.

Brandenburger Haus (right foreground) and Weißkugel (right background) as seen from Fluchtkogel over the Gepatsch glacier. In the distance Königspitze, Monte Zebrù, and Ortler

References

  1. ↑ Hanspaul Menara, Hannsjörg Hager, Berge und Bergsteiger: Alpingeschichte Südtirols, Verlagsanstalt Athesia, 1994, pp. 55-57.

See also