Hinterer Grummetkopf

The Hinterer Grummetkopf is a 2,040-metre peak in the Dachstein massif of the Northern Limestone Alps. It stands east of the Hofpürglhütte near Gosaustein in Salzburg. The mountain belongs to a rugged chain that divides the valleys of Gosauseen from the upper Lammer valley. Its slopes are steep and rocky, with patches of alpine meadow below the summit. The route to the top follows narrow paths that climb through pine forest before opening onto bare limestone slabs. From the summit ridge there are wide views across the Dachstein plateau and towards the High Tauern. The peak is known among climbers for its challenging east face routes. The east wall rises nearly 2,000 metres above the valley floor, attracting experienced alpinists. Guides and guidebooks such as those by Wolfgang Pusch and Franz Rasp describe several technical lines up the face. The mountain’s isolation and verticality give it a reputation for serious climbing. Local author Hellmut Schöner wrote one of the first detailed accounts of the east face in 1943. These works have shaped how the Grummetkopf is regarded in alpine literature. On the ascent, walkers pass the Hofpürglhütte, a stone-built refuge at 1,700 metres. The hut offers basic overnight accommodation and meals to those on their way up. Beyond it, the trail winds through dwarf pine and over limestone slabs where edelweiss grows in summer. The final climb to the summit follows a narrow ridge with drop-offs on either side. From the top, the Gosauseen lakes lie to the west and the glaciers of the Dachstein to the east. The view stretches as far as the Hoher Tenn and the Tennengebirge on clear days.