Vordere Gstemmerspitze

The Vordere Gstemmerspitze stands at 2136 metres in the Wölz Tauern range of the Austrian Alps. It forms part of a ridge that leaves the Plannerknot and turns northward. To its south-east lies the Mittlere Gstemmerspitze and to the north the Hochstein. The eastern slopes drop into the Kothüttenbach valley while the western slopes fall toward the Schrabach stream. The ridge carries the Franzosenkreuz memorial cross where it meets the Mittlere Gstemmerspitze. On the eastern flank heading toward Hochstein a small unnamed lake lies on the mountainside. The summit is reached by unmarked routes along the ridge from Hochstein or from Mittlere Gstemmerspitze. Visitors find open alpine meadows and rugged rock edges above the tree line. The air is thin and the views stretch across the Wölz Tauern peaks. The ridge walk offers steady climbing with no waymarks, only the occasional cross or cairn to guide the way. From the summit the eye follows the ridge north to Hochstein and south to the next high point.