The Geißstein, sometimes also called the Gaisstein, is a mountain in the

Kitzbühel Alps The Kitzbühel Alps (german: Kitzbüheler Alpen or ''Kitzbühler Alpen'') are a mountain range of the Central Eastern Alps surrounding the town of Kitzbühel in Tyrol, Austria. Geologically they are part of the western slate zone ( greywacke zon ...

with a height of that straddles the border between the federal Austrian states of

Tyrol Tyrol (; historically the Tyrole; de-AT, Tirol ; it, Tirolo) is a historical region in the Alps - in Northern Italy and western Austria. The area was historically the core of the County of Tyrol, part of the Holy Roman Empire, Austrian Emp ...

and

Salzburg Salzburg (, ; literally "Salt-Castle"; bar, Soizbuag, label=Austro-Bavarian) is the fourth-largest city in Austria. In 2020, it had a population of 156,872. The town is on the site of the Roman settlement of ''Iuvavum''. Salzburg was founded ...

The Geißstein lies about seven kilometres southeast of Jochberg. To the east of it is the ''Vogelalmgraben'', a right-hand side valley of the

Glemmtal The Glemmtal ("Glemm Valley") in the Austrian state of Salzburg is the valley of the roughly 30 km long upper reaches of the River Saalach. It belongs to the northern Pinzgau The Bezirk Zell am See is an administrative district ('' Bezirk ...

. To the southeast is the ''Mühltal'', a left-hand valley of the Upper Pinzgau (''Oberpinzgau''). This is the site of the 1,699 m high Bürgl Hut, one of the most important bases for climbing the mountain. A signposted trail runs from the hut along the southern arête to the summit. Alternatively the Geißstein can be approached from the 2,035 m high Sintersbach wind-gap (''Sintersbachscharte'') to the southwest over the relatively gently sloping, grassy southwest side of the mountain. Another signed trail runs through the much steeper southeastern flank which is accessible from the Vogelalmgraben or from the 2,048 m high ''Schlaberstatt'' crossing to the north. The Geißstein may also be climbed in winter as part of a

ski tour Ski touring is skiing in the backcountry on unmarked or unpatrolled areas. Touring is typically done off-piste and outside of ski resorts, and may extend over a period of more than one day. It is similar to backcountry skiing but excludes the u ...

using the southwestern route from the Bürgl Hut. According to

legend A legend is a genre of folklore that consists of a narrative featuring human actions, believed or perceived, both by teller and listeners, to have taken place in human history. Narratives in this genre may demonstrate human values, and possess ...

, gold was supposed to have once been mined on the Geißstein and ''Venetians'' or ''Venediger'' - a German term for foreign mineral prospectors - were supposed to have been here. In addition, festivals were supposed to have been celebrated On the Schlaberstatt at which even the Devil was to be found amongst the musicians.

Gallery

File:Gaisstein_Salzburg_Gipfelkreuz.jpg, View from the Geißstein looking south over the Salzach valley to the High Tauern.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Geissstein Mountains of the Alps Mountains of Tyrol (state) Mountains of Salzburg (state) Two-thousanders of Austria Kitzbühel Alps Kitzbühel District