Rote Wand (Graz Highlands)
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The Rote Wand ("Red Wall") is a mountain in the
Lechquellen Mountains The Lechquellen Mountains () or Lechquellen range is a small mountain group within the Northern Limestone Alps of the Eastern Alps. It lies entirely within the Austrian state of Vorarlberg and includes the upper reaches of the river Lech (ri ...
range of
Vorarlberg Vorarlberg ( ; ; , , or ) is the westernmost States of Austria, state () of Austria. It has the second-smallest geographical area after Vienna and, although it also has the second-smallest population, it is the state with the second-highest popu ...
, in western
Austria Austria, formally the Republic of Austria, is a landlocked country in Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine Federal states of Austria, states, of which the capital Vienna is the List of largest cities in Aust ...
. The second highest mountain at in the range, behind the lower pit Wildgrubenspitze () in the mountains of Lech sources, it rises from the valley floor between the Großes Walsertal in the north, and Dalaas (Monastery Valley) in the south. The name "Red Wall (Rote Wand)" originates from the distinct red- Lias
limestone Limestone is a type of carbonate rock, carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material Lime (material), lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different Polymorphism (materials science) ...
, which is particularly striking in the south wall. On the north side is a small
glacier A glacier (; or ) is a persistent body of dense ice, a form of rock, that is constantly moving downhill under its own weight. A glacier forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. It acquires ...
. The mountain is a popular hiking destination, but designated only for experienced,
sure-footed Sure-footedness is the ability, especially when hiking or mountain climbing, to navigate difficult or rough terrain safely. Such situations place demands on a person's coordination and reserves of strength as well as requiring sufficient appreciati ...
mountain walkers. The route can be accessed from the Alpe Laguz, Alpe Klesenza, the Freiburger hut and the
Formarinsee Formarinsee is a lake in the Austrian Alps. It lies in the Bundesland of Vorarlberg Vorarlberg ( ; ; , , or ) is the westernmost States of Austria, state () of Austria. It has the second-smallest geographical area after Vienna and, although ...
. All routes lead via a very steep climb up the north-west flank, via the north ridge to the summit. The first described ascent was by Otto Freiherr von Sternbach and in 1867, following a route explored but not finished by Anton Neyer from
Bludenz Bludenz (; Alemannic German, Alemannic: ''Bludaz'') is a town in the westernmost Austrian state of Vorarlberg with around 15,000 inhabitants. It is the administrative seat of the Bludenz District, which encompasses about half of Vorarlberg's territ ...
and the guide Ferdinand Heine in the 1840s. However, the peak had been reached before by unknown climbers as Douglass and Sternbach found a signal pole on the summit. After 1867 the mountain was a popular destination for mountaineers. In 1874 John Sholto Douglass, a Scot, who had adopted the Vorarlberg for his homeland, fell to his death near the Rote Wand while hunting
chamois The chamois (; ) (''Rupicapra rupicapra'') or Alpine chamois is a species of Caprinae, goat-antelope native to the mountains in Southern Europe, from the Pyrenees, the Alps, the Apennines, the Dinarides, the Tatra Mountains, Tatra to the Carpa ...
. In much literature the first ascent is ascribed to David Pappus and companions on 25 July 1610 during his exploration of the borders of the
Sonnenberg Sonnenberg is a municipality in the Oberhavel district, in Brandenburg, Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alp ...
and Bludenz Counties. Pappus however did not mention this in his detailed account. The "Rote Wand" that he did describe climbing is the 2,105 m high Garsellakopf on the border with
Liechtenstein Liechtenstein (, ; ; ), officially the Principality of Liechtenstein ( ), is a Landlocked country#Doubly landlocked, doubly landlocked Swiss Standard German, German-speaking microstate in the Central European Alps, between Austria in the east ...
.Manfred Tschaikner
Das Urbar der Herrschaften Bludenz und Sonnenberg von 1620 – ein Überblick
Verba Volant 83 (2012)


References

{{Authority control Mountains of the Alps Lechquellen Mountains Mountains of Vorarlberg