Großer Rettenstein
Encyclopedia
The Großer Rettenstein is a mountain with multiple peaks in the Kitzbühel Alps in Austria. The main summit reaches a height of
Although not the highest mountain in the Kitzbühel Alps (that honour goes to the Kreuzjoch
at ), the Großer Rettenstein is the most striking in this range of otherwise gentle grass-covered mountains. It also has a mighty, craggy, summit block made of limestone
, four hundred metres high, that stands atop base of grauwacke and primary rock (Urgestein - quartz
phyllite). The Rettenstein is the dominating peak of the Spertental
valley. Its isolated location also makes the summit an outstanding viewing point and it is therefore a popular destination. To the north the Rettenstein sends a long ridge out to the Spiessnägel, that separates the oberer Grund and unterer Grund.
, Spruce
, Gentian
, Willow Gentian, Platenigl, Edelweiss
, Monkshood, Rock Ptarmigan, Black Grouse
and Capercaillie
, Red Deer
, Chamois
, Ibex and Marmot
all occur here.
in the Sperten valley and crosses the unterer Grund and the Schöntalalm in 3 to 4 hours. Surefootedness is required for this route. As a variation on the descent, fit hikers can take the long ridgeway over the Spiessnägel.
Another approach option is possible from the Mühlbach valley (Bramberg
municipality) in the upper Pinzgau to the south. Here the way runs initially along a drivable forest track (close to the public) through the Baumgartenalm almost as far as the Stangenjoch.
Although not the highest mountain in the Kitzbühel Alps (that honour goes to the Kreuzjoch
Kreuzjoch (Kitzbühel Alps)
At the Kreuzjoch is the highest peak in the Kitzbühel Alps in the Austrian state of Tyrol.The Kreuzjoch also forms the southwestern end of the Kitzbühel Alps. To the west it is bounded by the Ziller valley, to the southeast by the Gerlos valley. The Kreuzjoch's neighbouring peak is the Torhelm ....
at ), the Großer Rettenstein is the most striking in this range of otherwise gentle grass-covered mountains. It also has a mighty, craggy, summit block made of limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
, four hundred metres high, that stands atop base of grauwacke and primary rock (Urgestein - quartz
Quartz
Quartz is the second-most-abundant mineral in the Earth's continental crust, after feldspar. It is made up of a continuous framework of SiO4 silicon–oxygen tetrahedra, with each oxygen being shared between two tetrahedra, giving an overall formula SiO2. There are many different varieties of quartz,...
phyllite). The Rettenstein is the dominating peak of the Spertental
Spertental
The Spertental is a southern side valley of the Brixental with a length of about 8 km. Near Kirchberg in Tirol it unites with the Brixental....
valley. Its isolated location also makes the summit an outstanding viewing point and it is therefore a popular destination. To the north the Rettenstein sends a long ridge out to the Spiessnägel, that separates the oberer Grund and unterer Grund.
Nature
The Rettenstein lies in the Spertental-Rettenstein protected landscape and so PinePine
Pines are trees in the genus Pinus ,in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Etymology:...
, Spruce
Spruce
A spruce is a tree of the genus Picea , a genus of about 35 species of coniferous evergreen trees in the Family Pinaceae, found in the northern temperate and boreal regions of the earth. Spruces are large trees, from tall when mature, and can be distinguished by their whorled branches and conical...
, Gentian
Gentian
Gentiana is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the Gentian family , tribe Gentianeae and monophyletic subtribe Gentianinae. With about 400 species, it is considered a large genus.-Habitat:...
, Willow Gentian, Platenigl, Edelweiss
Edelweiss
Edelweiss , Leontopodium alpinum, is a well-known European mountain flower, belonging to the sunflower family.-Names:The common name comes from German edel, meaning "noble", and weiß "white", thus signifying "noble whiteness".The scientific name Leontopodium is a Latin adaptation of Greek...
, Monkshood, Rock Ptarmigan, Black Grouse
Black Grouse
The Black Grouse or Blackgame is a large bird in the grouse family. It is a sedentary species, breeding across northern Eurasia in moorland and bog areas near to woodland, mostly boreal...
and Capercaillie
Capercaillie
The Western Capercaillie , also known as the Wood Grouse, Heather Cock or Capercaillie , is the largest member of the grouse family, reaching over 100 cm in length and 6.7 kg in weight. The largest one ever recorded in captivity had a weight of 7.2 kg....
, Red Deer
Red Deer
The red deer is one of the largest deer species. Depending on taxonomy, the red deer inhabits most of Europe, the Caucasus Mountains region, Asia Minor, parts of western Asia, and central Asia. It also inhabits the Atlas Mountains region between Morocco and Tunisia in northwestern Africa, being...
, Chamois
Chamois
The chamois, Rupicapra rupicapra, is a goat-antelope species native to mountains in Europe, including the Carpathian Mountains of Romania, the European Alps, the Tatra Mountains, the Balkans, parts of Turkey, and the Caucasus. The chamois has also been introduced to the South Island of New Zealand...
, Ibex and Marmot
Marmot
The marmots are a genus, Marmota, of squirrels. There are 14 species in this genus.Marmots are generally large ground squirrels. Those most often referred to as marmots tend to live in mountainous areas such as the Alps, northern Apennines, Eurasian steppes, Carpathians, Tatras, and Pyrenees in...
all occur here.
Tour options
The simplest ascent starts from AschauKirchberg in Tirol
Kirchberg in Tirol is a municipality in Tyrol, Austria, in the Kitzbühel district. It is located 6 km west of Kitzbühel at an elevation of 837 m above sea level. The population in 2001 was 4,958, on an area of 97,76 km² Kirchberg in Tirol is a municipality in Tyrol, Austria, in the Kitzbühel...
in the Sperten valley and crosses the unterer Grund and the Schöntalalm in 3 to 4 hours. Surefootedness is required for this route. As a variation on the descent, fit hikers can take the long ridgeway over the Spiessnägel.
Another approach option is possible from the Mühlbach valley (Bramberg
Bramberg am Wildkogel
Bramberg am Wildkogel is a municipality in the district of Zell am See , in the state of Salzburg, Austria. The town lies at the south foot of the high Wildkogel mountain. The town's average elevation is .-History:...
municipality) in the upper Pinzgau to the south. Here the way runs initially along a drivable forest track (close to the public) through the Baumgartenalm almost as far as the Stangenjoch.