The Reisalpe (1,399 m) is the highest mountain in the

Gutenstein Alps The Gutenstein Alps () are a mountain range in the Eastern Alps in Central Europe, and the northeasternmost part of the Northern Limestone Alps, reaching heights over 1,000 m. Topography Die Gutenstein Alps are separated in the north fr ...

and lies between

Lilienfeld Lilienfeld () is a city in Lower Austria (Niederösterreich), Austria, south of St. Pölten, noted as the site of Lilienfeld Abbey. It is also the site of a regional hospital Landesklinikum Voralpen Lilienfeld. The city is located in the valley o ...

, Hohenberg and Kleinzell in Lower Austria. It is a popular destination, both for hikers in summer and also for

ski mountaineering Ski mountaineering (abbreviated to skimo) is a skiing discipline that involves climbing mountains either on skis or carrying them, depending on the steepness of the ascent, and then descending on skis. There are two major categories of equipment ...

and

snowshoe Snowshoes are specialized outdoor gear for walking over snow. Their large footprint spreads the user's weight out and allows them to travel largely on top of rather than through snow. Adjustable bindings attach them to appropriate winter footw ...

walks in winter, and is classed as relatively safe from avalanches. Near the summit stands a Madonna, recently joined by a

summit cross A summit cross is a Christian cross on the summit of a mountain or hill that marks the top. Often there will be a summit register (''Gipfelbuch'') at the cross, either in a container or other weatherproof case. The practice originated in the Ge ...

, as well as the Reisalpe refuge hut (''Schutzhaus'') opened on 9 October 1898. A small

Austrian Armed Forces The Austrian Armed Forces () are the combined military forces of Austria. The military consists of 16,000 active-duty personnel and 125,600 reservists. The military budget is 1.0% of national GDP (including pensions) or €3.317 billion (20 ...

hut is also located in the vicinity of the summit.

Schutzhaus

In October 1898, the Reisalpe Schutzhaus was opened. It had taken three years to build, and seven hundred people attended the elaborate opening ceremony. ' 'Through Innocent Eyes,' Cynthia A. Sandor p. 121-122 The Reisalpe poem was read out loud: "Great calm and deep peace is only with you, when you are on this land. What is the magic of the forest? Of the trees? Of the birds and the bees? Of God's great commands? The trunk of the great Black Pine still lives, when it bleeds. You are in the Alps so high, are you not dreaming of the Reis'alpine? Seek friendship with the ones you meet. Learn to speak so they understand. Anyone who brings the good towards you, will be your friend on this mountain grassland."

References

Literature

Sandor, Cynthia A. (2012). ''Through Innocent Eyes'',. {{Authority control Gutenstein Alps Mountains of Lower Austria Mountains of the Alps One-thousanders of Austria