Wetterkogel

The Wetterkogel stands at 1,643 metres, the highest point on the Hochalpe ridge in the northern part of the Gleinalpe range. It shares the skyline with the Herrenkogel, only one metre lower, separated by a gentle col at 1,598 metres. To the north-west the Hühnerkogel rises at 1,593 metres, while the land falls away gently toward the Kleinen Gößgraben and Trasattel. A spur runs south-west from the summit to the Almwirt col, with the Große Gößgraben lying west of this ridge. On the southern flank the area called In der Höll is too steep to reach. Two long-distance paths meet at the col between Wetterkogel and Herrenkogel. The North-South Trail and the European E6 arrive from Trasattel, then join the Central Alpine Trail coming along the Hochalpe crest. Together they cross the Wetterkogel summit and follow the south-west ridge down to the Almwirt col. No marked route leads to a single summit rock or a summit cross, yet the open rock slabs give wide views in every direction. Nearby the Hochalm hut serves walkers in summer, and the Jagdschloss Hochalm sits on the east slope of the south-west ridge. The Hochalm hut stands on the grassy Hochalm pasture where cattle graze in the warm months. The unmarked summit area is simply a cluster of wind-smoothed slabs with no structure or sign. From the col the path is broad and easy, but the final metres to the highest slabs require careful footing. The hunting lodge below the ridge is a quiet stone building, its windows looking out over the steep southern slopes. On clear days the view stretches from the Dachstein peaks in the west to the Fischbacher Alps in the east.