Mandlkogel

The Mandlkogel is a 2,279-metre peak in the Gosaukamm range of the Dachstein massif. It straddles the border between Salzburg and Upper Austria. The summit lies on the municipal boundaries of Annaberg-Lungötz and Gosau. Two huts, the Stuhlalm and the Theodor Körner Hütte, serve as starting points for climbers. The usual route follows the Mandlkogelsteig from the south. The mountain is known for its dramatic north face, first attempted in 1913 by the Austrian alpinist Paul Preuß. Preuß fell to his death while trying to make the first ascent of that ridge. His attempt remains a landmark in the history of free climbing. The peak’s steep limestone slabs and airy ridges attract experienced mountaineers today. On the summit visitors find a metal cross and a visitors’ book. The route up passes through alpine pastures and limestone cliffs. Views stretch across the Dachstein plateau and the Totes Gebirge. The final ridge is narrow and exposed, requiring sure-footedness. From the top the Gosauseen lakes gleam far below in the valley.