Kochofen

The Kochofen is a 1,916-metre peak in the Schladminger Tauern range. Its north-east ridge rises again to 1,628 metres at a feature called the Kniepass. The mountain stands on a north–south ridge that separates the Sattental valley on the west from the Kleinsölktal valley on the east. The route from Michaelerberg in the municipality of Michaelerberg-Pruggern or from Kleinsölk in the municipality of Sölk follows an easy, waymarked path over the Schladminger Törl at 1,945 metres to the Spateck at 2,256 metres. The name ‘Kochofen’ comes from an old term for striking rock faces found across Styria and Carinthia. The peak is built of mica schist belonging to the local Wölzer Crystalline Complex. North of the Kniepass a band of calcite marble runs roughly west to east. Visitors reach the summit by grassy and scree slopes along the ridge. The view takes in the Schladminger Tauern’s high peaks and the valleys below. The contrast between the mica schist summit and the marble band on the northern flank is clearly visible. The route is graded as straightforward and is marked throughout.