Großer Geiger

Geschichte

The Großer Geiger, formerly also called the Obersulzbacher Venediger and Heiliggeistkogel, is a mountain, in the Venediger Group in the main chain of the Central Tauern (Mittlerer Tauernhauptkamm). This chain lies in the High Tauern, part of the Austrian Central Alps on the border between the Austrian states of Tyrol in the south and Salzburg in the north.The mountain was given its present name in 1855 by the Austrian chemist and cartographer, Franz Keil. Because of its isolated situation the Großer Geiger has a significant dominance. With its distinctive, symmetric, pyramidal shape and its mighty northwest face which rises 350 metres above the Obersulzbachkees glacier at a gradient of 50°, it is the most prominent landmark in the entire Upper Sulzbach valley. Arêtes radiate from the summit in all four directions of the compass. The mountain is easy to reach and is thus a popular touring and climbing destination. It was first climbed on 20 August 1871 by the Alpinist, Richard Issler, and mountain guide, Michael Groder from the Johannis Hut to the south.Surrounding areaThe Großer Geiger is surrounded by glaciers, which reach a height of over 3,200 metres in places. To the north lies the Obersulzbachkees, to the east the Dorferkees, to the south and west is the Maurerkees. Its nearest peak is the Großvenediger, at 3,667 metres the highest mountain of the group, which lies to the northeast on the main chain of the Tauern, separated by the mountain pass of Obersulzbachtörl at a height of 2,921 metres. The only other significant neighbouring peaks are the three Maurerkeesköpfe (Kleiner- 3,205 m, Hinterer- 3,313 m and Mittlerer Maurerkeeskopf at 3,281 m) on the line of the western arête. The nearest sizeable settlement is the Tyrolean village of Hinterbichl near Prägraten 10 kilometres away as the crow flies in the Virgental valley. Sulzau in Salzburg's Pinzgau valley is 17 km away to the north.