Fuscherkarkopf
Encyclopedia
The Fuscherkarkopf, sometimes also written Fuscher-Kar-Kopf in German and formerly also called the Fuschereiskarkopf, is one of the twin peaks of a mountain in the Glockner Group
in the centre of the main mountain chain (Mittleren Tauernhauptkamm) in the High Tauern
, a range in the Austrian Central Alps. The mountain lies right on the border between the Austrian states of Salzburg and Carinthia
. The main peak is 3,331 metres high, but the northwest summit is only 3,252 metres high. The two peaks are about 500 metres apart and linked by a curved firn
-covered ridge. Further sharp, prominent ridges run away to the northwest and west, forming the main crest of the Tauern. To the southwest the Heiligenblut Open Face (Heiligenbluter Freiwand) branches off, a mighty side ridge that starts as the southeast ridge (Südostgrat) at the Fuscherkarkopf. The northwest summit has a great, 650 metre high West Face (Westwand), that used to be covered with firn, but today is covered with loose rock slabs. The mountain is easy to reach from the Hofmanns Hut over the southwest ridge (Südwestgrat) and offers a good view of the Großglockner
and the Pasterze. The peak was first climbed in the 1840s by the hunter, Gregor Maier, known as Badhans, from Fusch
.
s except to the southeast. To the west lies Waterfall Corner (Wasserfallwinkel), which is the southern, lower part of the Bockkarkeeses glacier, to the north is the small Fuscherkarkees and to the west the relatively insignificant Freiwandkees. Finally, to the south is the Pasterze, the largest glacier in the Eastern Alps
. The nearest mountains along the Northwest Ridge, separated by the wind gap of the Fuscherkarscharte (up to 2,841 m), are the Breitkopf (3,115 m) and, beyond that, the Middle Bärenkopf (Mittlere Bärenkopf, 3,358 m). Along the Western Ridge, that forms the main Tauern crest and is separated by a gap (Einschartung) with the name Der Rinner (3,145 m), is the Sinabeleck (3,261 m). Further east it is followed by the Kapuziner (2,852 m) and the Spielmann (3,027 m). To the southeast, along the Heiligenblut Open Face, and separated by the Freiwandscharte (2,975 m), rise the summits of the Freiwandspitz (3,034 m) and Freiwandkopf (2,854 m). South of the two peaks is the Gamsgrube, a massive, bowl-shaped cirque
, 600 metres across. The nearest settlement of any importance is Heiligenblut in Carinthia, which lies about 8 kilometres away as the crow flies
. A good 15 kilometres northeast lies the Salzburg village of Fusch an der Großglocknerstraße
.
Glockner Group
The Glockner Group is a sub-group of the Austrian Central Alps in the Eastern Alps, and is located in the centre section of the High Tauern on the main chain of the Alps....
in the centre of the main mountain chain (Mittleren Tauernhauptkamm) in the High Tauern
Hohe Tauern
The Hohe Tauern or High Tauern are a mountain range on the main chain of the Central Eastern Alps, comprising the highest peaks east of the Brenner Pass. The crest forms the southern border of the Austrian state of Salzburg with Carinthia and East Tyrol, while a small part in the southwest belongs...
, a range in the Austrian Central Alps. The mountain lies right on the border between the Austrian states of Salzburg and Carinthia
Carinthia (state)
Carinthia is the southernmost Austrian state or Land. Situated within the Eastern Alps it is chiefly noted for its mountains and lakes.The main language is German. Its regional dialects belong to the Southern Austro-Bavarian group...
. The main peak is 3,331 metres high, but the northwest summit is only 3,252 metres high. The two peaks are about 500 metres apart and linked by a curved firn
Firn
Firn is partially-compacted névé, a type of snow that has been left over from past seasons and has been recrystallized into a substance denser than névé. It is ice that is at an intermediate stage between snow and glacial ice...
-covered ridge. Further sharp, prominent ridges run away to the northwest and west, forming the main crest of the Tauern. To the southwest the Heiligenblut Open Face (Heiligenbluter Freiwand) branches off, a mighty side ridge that starts as the southeast ridge (Südostgrat) at the Fuscherkarkopf. The northwest summit has a great, 650 metre high West Face (Westwand), that used to be covered with firn, but today is covered with loose rock slabs. The mountain is easy to reach from the Hofmanns Hut over the southwest ridge (Südwestgrat) and offers a good view of the Großglockner
Großglockner
The Grossglockner is, at 3,798 m above sea level, Austria's highest mountain and the highest mountain in the Alps east of the Brenner Pass...
and the Pasterze. The peak was first climbed in the 1840s by the hunter, Gregor Maier, known as Badhans, from Fusch
Fusch an der Großglocknerstraße
Fusch an der Großglocknerstraße is a municipality, at the foot of Grossglockner mountain, in the district of Zell am See , in the state of Salzburg in Austria. The Fusch valley lies north of the main chain of the Alps. The population is 697...
.
Surrounding area
The Fuscherkarkopf is surrounded by glacierGlacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
s except to the southeast. To the west lies Waterfall Corner (Wasserfallwinkel), which is the southern, lower part of the Bockkarkeeses glacier, to the north is the small Fuscherkarkees and to the west the relatively insignificant Freiwandkees. Finally, to the south is the Pasterze, the largest glacier in the Eastern Alps
Eastern Alps
Eastern Alps is the name given to the eastern half of the Alps, usually defined as the area east of the Splügen Pass in eastern Switzerland. North of the Splügen Pass, the Posterior Rhine forms the border, and south of the pass, the Liro river and Lake Como form the boundary line.-Geography:The...
. The nearest mountains along the Northwest Ridge, separated by the wind gap of the Fuscherkarscharte (up to 2,841 m), are the Breitkopf (3,115 m) and, beyond that, the Middle Bärenkopf (Mittlere Bärenkopf, 3,358 m). Along the Western Ridge, that forms the main Tauern crest and is separated by a gap (Einschartung) with the name Der Rinner (3,145 m), is the Sinabeleck (3,261 m). Further east it is followed by the Kapuziner (2,852 m) and the Spielmann (3,027 m). To the southeast, along the Heiligenblut Open Face, and separated by the Freiwandscharte (2,975 m), rise the summits of the Freiwandspitz (3,034 m) and Freiwandkopf (2,854 m). South of the two peaks is the Gamsgrube, a massive, bowl-shaped cirque
Cirque
Cirque may refer to:* Cirque, a geological formation* Makhtesh, an erosional landform found in the Negev desert of Israel and Sinai of Egypt*Cirque , an album by Biosphere* Cirque Corporation, a company that makes touchpads...
, 600 metres across. The nearest settlement of any importance is Heiligenblut in Carinthia, which lies about 8 kilometres away as the crow flies
As the crow flies
"As the crow flies" or beelining is an idiom for the shortest route between two points; the geodesic distance.An example is the great-circle distance between Key West and Pensacola, at either end of the U.S...
. A good 15 kilometres northeast lies the Salzburg village of Fusch an der Großglocknerstraße
Fusch an der Großglocknerstraße
Fusch an der Großglocknerstraße is a municipality, at the foot of Grossglockner mountain, in the district of Zell am See , in the state of Salzburg in Austria. The Fusch valley lies north of the main chain of the Alps. The population is 697...
.
Sources and maps
- Willi End: Alpenvereinsführer Glocknergruppe, Bergverlag RotherBergverlag RotherBergverlag Rother is a German publisher with its headquarters in Oberhaching, Upper Bavaria. Since 1950 the company, that formerly went udern the name of Bergverlag Rudolf Rother, has published the Alpine Club Guides in cooperation with the German Alpine Club , the Austrian Alpine Club and the...
, Munich, 2003, ISBN 3-7633-1266-8 - Eduard Richter (editor): Die Erschließung der Ostalpen, Vol III, Verlag des Deutschen und Oesterreichischen Alpenvereins, Berlin 1894
- Alpine Club MapAlpine Club mapAlpine Club maps are specially detailed maps for summer and winter mountain climbers . They are predominantly published at a scale of 1:25.000, although some individual sheets have scales of 1:50.000 and 1:100.000....
1:25.000, Sheet 40, Glocknergruppe