Hohe Wand

Hohe Wand is a high mountain on the border between Austria and Italy. It stands in the Zillertal Alps, a range within the greater Alps. The summit reaches 3,289 metres above sea level. It lies 32 kilometres south-east of Innsbruck in Austria and 19 kilometres north-east of Sterzing in Italy. Two nearby streams, the Pfitscher Bach and the Sill, collect water from its slopes. The mountain shows steep rock faces that rise sharply from the valleys below. One face climbs 1,900 metres in only two kilometres, giving a dramatic drop. The rock is mostly gneiss, schist and granite, formed long ago and changed again during the building of the Alps. A small glacier called Stampflkees sits on the north-east slope. Paths lead up the mountain for climbers and walkers. The best months for visits are June through September, when the weather is mildest. The high walls of rock give the mountain its name and provide striking views across the Alps.