"The challange, the sun, the infinite glaciers and the smell of snow all blend together into one very unique experience on this mountain so sacred to Austrians."

"I'm heading out for a stroll this weekend" - is what you tell everyone at work. Just a few days later, you amuse curious and jealous eyes with incredible shots from Austria's roof and attempt the impossible - which is: putting into words the feeling of the challange, the sun, the infinite glaciers and the smell of snow all blending together into one very unique experience on this mountain so sacred to Austrians.

You do not need mountaineering experience for this peak, but you should have adequate stamina and previous experience on via ferrate or climbing easy rock - just to make sure you don't get nervous with heights... There is hardly a better peak to get a real sense of mountaineering on, than Grossglockner. 

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Day 1: Hiking to Stüdlhütte, 2802 m

Meeting is in the parking lot above Lücknerhouse. You are leaving your car at 2200 meters and need to tackle a vertical of 600 meters to get to one of the newest and most modern huts in the Alps. This will take you about 1,5-2-5 hours. Solar power, an indoor climbing wall and exquisite cuisine, baby! It's all Stüdlhütte.

Before going to sleep, you get to know and try on your equipment. Do go to bed early, as the morning sees you leaving quite early.

Day 2: Summiting Grossglockner, 3797 m

You have a thousand meters of vertical to tackle before standing on the peak, so it'll be an early rise around 6 am. Starting out on a winding trail among rocks , you soon come to the edge of the glacier, where you rope up and put crampons on. The first challange comes after stepping off of the glacier. Here, you have a section of via ferrata-like wires aiding the traverse up the rock to Adlershütte, otherwise known as Erzherzog-Johanneshütte at just over 3500 m. This is the highest standing mountain hut in the country, by the way.

Now comes the tougher part. Soon after leaving the hütte, you're looking at a 40 degree snow/firn slope about 50-100 meters in length depending on conditions. After that it's easy rock. After easy rock, it's tougher rock climbing, but won't exceed Grade II which means there's no experience needed, you've done this sort of stuff as a kid. But, the belaying by your guide will come in handy and make you feel safe. You first ascend Kleinglockner and descend a bit lower to the saddle between Kleinglockner and Grossglockner, called Glocknerscharte. It's quite exposed - and crowded. Count on a smaller que building up here.

After crossing Scharte, you're pretty much on Grade II rock all the way to the summit. Take some pics from the "roof of the country" and try to take in the views. The descent is the same way you came up. Celebrate at the hut in the evening!

 Day 3: Descending down to the valley

Walk back down to the parking lot - it shouldn't take much longer than an hour. On your way down, your mind involuntarily begins to plan your next ascent on a 4000er. May we suggest Mont Blanc right away? You're definitely fit for it after a successful summiting of Grossglockner.