Hochwildstelle

The Hochwildstelle is a 2,747-metre mountain and the second highest peak in the Schladming Tauern range. It stands entirely within Styria, near the meeting point of three villages: Aich, Michaelerberg-Pruggern and Schladming. The summit block rises in steep steps with bold rock faces above the Enns Valley. Beyond the Hochwildstelle the ridge climbs higher still to the Hochgolling on the main Alpine chain. The southern ridge falls sharply from the summit cross down to the Wildlochscharte col at 2,488 metres. The mountain attracts climbers with two graded routes. One follows the northwest arête from Neualmscharte col, graded UIAA I, and takes about an hour to reach the top. Neualmscharte itself is two to three hours away on foot from the Hans Wödl Hut or the Preintaler Hut. The other route uses the south arête from Wildlochscharte col, also UIAA I and about an hour to the summit. Wildlochscharte can be reached in two hours from the Preintaler Hut or the Breitlahn Hut at 1,100 metres. The Hochwildstelle region is rich in water. Even close to the high massif there are several mountain lakes and two large waterfalls. The ridgeline is unusually sharp for a crystalline range and runs roughly north to south. The first recorded ascent was made by M. Reiter in 1801.