Neunerkogel

The Neunerkogel is a 2,826-metre peak in the Goldberggruppe of the Central Alps. It stands on the border between the Salzburg municipalities of Bad Gastein and Rauris, within the Hohe Tauern National Park. A ridge that begins at the Kolmkarspitz and ends at the Hagener Hütte frames the Nassfeld valley. The Neunerkogel itself is one of several summits along this ridge, which also includes the Herzog-Ernst-Spitze and the Schareck. A glacier lies to the east of the summit, while the Neubau shelter stands on the north-western slopes above Bucheben. The Pröllweg is the usual route to the Neunerkogel. This footpath starts at the Niedersachsenhaus and crosses the summit before continuing to the Schareck. It was planned and paid for by Arthur Pröll, an aircraft engineer from Salzburg. The rocks around the summit and on the south-western flanks are mainly gneiss, schist and prasinite from the Tauern window. Lower down, marble and quartzite appear among the schists on the north-eastern side. From the summit there are wide views over the Hohe Tauern range and the surrounding valleys. The ridge walk offers glimpses of the glacier on the eastern side and the Neubau shelter below the north-western slopes. The contrast between the high alpine rocks and the lower marble bands gives the mountain a varied appearance. The route from the Niedersachsenhaus follows a well-marked path that steadily climbs through changing rock types and vegetation.