Südliche Göriacher Röte

The Südliche Göriacher Röte is a 3 020-metre peak in the Frosnitzkamm of the Venedigergruppe, standing on the border between Matrei in Osttirol and Virgen. It forms part of the Nationalpark Hohe Tauern’s core zone and overlooks the Virger Nordkette to the north. Two slightly lower neighbours share its name: the Nördliche Göriacher Röte at 3 011 metres and the Bretterspitze at 3 001 metres. Between them on the east face lies the Fritschnitzkees, a small glacier. The nearest village is Marin, a hamlet of Virgen, while climbers use the Bonn-Matreier-Hütte as a base. The first crossing of the summit was made on 4 September 1932 by A. Santner, H. Schneeberger and W. Trost along the ridge from the Ochsenbug. Most parties now follow the normal route from Marin up the Firschnitzbach valley to the Firschnitzscharte. From there the West ridge of the Nördliche Göriacher Röte leads on easy ground to its neighbour before the final climb to the summit. Other options include the East-south-east ridge or the full traverse from the Ochsenbug. On the summit ridge the view stretches across the Hohe Tauern’s high peaks and deep valleys. To the south the Virger Nordkette drops away while the Fritschnitzkees glistens below. The air is thin and the wind often fresh, yet the sense of space is immense. From the summit one can see the Mellitzscharte and the Bretterspitze, the two named cols that frame the ridge. The route back follows the same ridges or drops into the Firschnitz valley for a longer descent.