Laderdinger Gamskarspitze

The Laderdinger Gamskarspitz is a 2413-metre peak in the Ankogel group of the Central Alps. It stands on the border between the Salzburg municipalities of Bad Hofgastein to the west and Großarl to the east. The small settlement of Laderding lies at the mountain’s foot, with the former single farm of Kamp on its north-west slopes. A stream called Aigenbach rises on the peak’s northern side and feeds the Großarler Ache. Nearby summits include the Aukopf at 2136 metres, the Tennkogel at 2333 metres and the Geißkarkopf at 2385 metres.

The summit rocks are prasinite and amphibolite from the Tauern window, with marble, phyllite and mica-schist on the southern and western flanks. A protected chamois resting zone covers the northern ridge from 1 December to 31 May, while the red-deer zone around Kamp is closed from 1 November to 31 May. Western slopes hold stands of rusty-leaved alpine rose, and green alder scrub clothes the eastern and western hillsides.

Copper and pyrite were mined on the east face from the 17th century until 1837, using four adits and two spoil heaps. The peak is one of 55 summits in the Gastein valley whose complete ascent earns the Gasteiner Gipfelkranz, the highest class of the Austrian Alpine Club’s Gastein hiking badge.