Grossglockner High Alpine Road

From Gosau, we drove to our next destination.

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Husband said the place we were heading to is actually a scenic drive, means there will be no specific fun program to entertain the boys. I was a bit worried if they would get restless to go for this kind of scenic drive. But well, can't satisfy them every time, right.

Since this was the day for a joy ride, there was nothing more important than having a good weather. Well, at least not raining. To be honest, our heart was half hanging, always praying the good weather could be prolonged for a little bit longer time.

At a junction, husband made a detour. He said there is a castle somewhere around.

I forgot what this castle is called. It looks cool, standing at the top of a hill. We felt tempted to go near to it. However, worrying the good weather might end fast, we decided to stick to the original plan.

After driving for 40 minutes, we stopped by a road side McDonald. Husband simply ordered a set meal, and then we divided the group into 2 for free activity. While husband and I were munching the chips, the boys were stretching their body at the playground. From time to time, we could see some parachutists flying in the sky.

We continued our journey after 25 minutes or so, heading to the way only husband would know.

As we drove further away, the surrounding has changed slowly from town setting to countryside setting.



And then, started ascenting...When we get to see the snow mountains nearer and nearer, we get increasingly excited too.




The Grossglockner is Austria's highest mountain and the highest mountain in the Alps east of the Brenner Pass. This makes it, after Mont Blanc, the second most prominent mountain in the Alps.

This fantastic 50 km Grossglockner High Alpine Road (in German Großglockner-Hochalpenstraße) is Austria's premiere scenic tour. The most impressive sites are in the Hohe Tauern National Park where there are dramatic views of numerous peaks, including the mighty 3797 m Grossglockner and the vast Pasterze Glacier in Carinthia province.

He said : stand higher, look better.




Looking at this alps, I have a feeling that we were going to see something grand and majestic very soon.



The mountain road requires a toll and is opened to traffic between May and November. In winter time, the road is closed.


Husband were facing a dilemma at this point, he needed my genius advice again. He couldn't decide if we should enter and exit by using the same road; or enter at this direction, but exit at the other direction. The 1st way costs €28. The 2nd way costs €36, plus additional 60 km drive. The genius said he should go for the 2nd way, cause the maximum he would lost was only €8, but he has reserved the flexibility should he want to go for the additional 60 km drive.



I looked at husband, his was like suddenly obtained the enlightenment, and paid €36 straight away. Brilliant mind, isn't it ?



In the years 1936 and 1937, 350 men shovelled 250,000 m³ of snow in an average of 70 days to keep at least one lane on the road free. Since 1953 the five Wallack rotary plows, and 12 GROHAG workers, have been clearing 600,000m³ to 800,000m³ of snow from the road and parking areas in around 14 days every year in April. How efficient it has become.


In 1937, the road could only be traversed for 132 days. But in 1963 the road could be traversed for 276 days, normally open from the beginning of May to the end of October.



This snow deposition looks like a sea monster, a cute one.




The Grossglockner lies on the border between Carinthia and the East Tyrol, 3797 m above the sea level, this is the highest peak in the Glockner group, a group of mountains along the main ridge of the Hohe Tauern. The summit itself lies on the Glockner ridge, which branches to the south off the main ridge.




Winter sports, mountain climbing and beautiful scenery make the peak a noted tourist attraction. It is one of the main tourist attractions in Austria and has over 1.2 million visitors every year.



Really, no kidding, people was flocking to the peak continuously. It's not uncommon to see the cars, motobikes and bicycles ascenting the mountain at the same time.

This was not our 1st stop. In fact, we couldn't helped but stopped almost every 5-10 minutes since taking off from the toll station. The scene is simply too BEAUTIFUL !

The boys were very busy doing some construction works in the playground. We lost our patience after waiting them for 20 minutes. When they got to go, William insisted we must bring him back again to finish his unfinished business. What does he know about unfinished business?

Finally, their dream had come true. We promised that there will be lots of snows for them to throw snow balls and build their snow man.

The higher we go, the less "green" we saw, but "white", everywhere...




Actually my dream had come true too. It's been such a long time since we last visited the snowy alps region. I miss the snow mountains that sometimes, I would day dream about them. I'm so glad that finally we could make it to this place again.




Just that, we have created 2 more company to go along.

Looking down, the so-called hairpin curves can been seen clearly.

The snow had replaced the sand, and become the boy's new favorite.




Their snow man. Cute.

They were so proud with their master piece, and they actually said very proper good bye to their buddy before we drove away.

By then, we had taken nearly 2 hours to go up here, not even 1/5 of the whole journey. Husband said we should go faster and stop less.

This place is prettier than I could capture with my camera.



1850 m above the sea level.



Yeah, we all were heading to the white world. The feelings was great.




Stopped here for a while too, but we didn't go inside the building cause it seems nothing too special...




instead, we played snow at outdoor.




It was about afternoon time by then. The weather was so fine, and the best part is, it's not windy at all. Thus, we could stay outdoor for longer time.



This place is such a great place for pinic.

After a while, their shoes and socks all get wet. William ignored our advice, and he decided to take them off...

and he walked on the snow on bare foots...but he could only stand for a few minutes. Now he know how cold it is to walk on ice. At times, let him try on his own is better than we said it for a hundred times.

Around 1 pm, we were here. Two attractive side road branch off the main Glossglockner road to magnificient lookout points.

The altitude at this point is 2407 m above the sea level, almost reach the top of this scenic road.

One thing worth compliment, we could always find a place to park our car safe and convenient, even at this peak season. Good job !

Believe it or not, there are many people come to this altitude by cycling. I think Grossglockner must be one of the dreams and goals of every cyclist, and biker as well.

Besides their physical fitness, I also admire for their courage.

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Looking down from the top, husband pointed to the only road that we were about to go. Can see the road is suddenly disappear at a point, to the entrance of a tunnel.

As soon as husband announced that we would take our lunch break at this restaurant, the boys ran away as fast as an arrow.

Dr-Franz-Rehrl Haus, a restaurant cum guesthouse.

The panoramic view is absolutely beautiful. I sat here for a while to admire the natural beauty of the surrounding.

It's hard to describe this kind of beauty...I feel myself so tiny sitting here.

The peak over there is called Brennkogel (3018 m).

Feeling enough to expose ourself under the bright shining sun, we hopped in to the restaurnant.

The atmosphere created by antiques and nick nacks, old fashioned wood beams and open spaces had really surprised us.

Maybe the animals protector will not like this place?

Before the main course arrived, the boys had finished up their hot-chocolate drink, fast and clean.

The menu are all written in alien language, and the waitress couldn't explain to us what they were, except soup, pasta. So we simply ordered the dish that is relatively more expensive, hoping the portion can fill us full.

The 1st dish came, pork chop+chips+salad. To our surprise, the foods are very yummy, not dry-hard or too oily. Just nice.

This one is something like a pizza, except the base is made of crunchy bread. It's very yummy too. Since then, I began to have confidence in Austrian homecooking foods.

Husband said applestrudel is a popular dessert in Austria, and he said the warm applestrudel taste better than the cold one. So, we ordered a warm applestrudel to try. It tastes perfect with the vanilla cream, I would say : I love it at 1st bite.

Since that day, I ordered applestrudel at many other places we went, and they have never failed me. Oh, how I miss the taste.

Really, we didn't expect high quality foods in this kind of tourist attraction place. They normally emphasize on high turn-over rate, so foods are not a major concern. But this restaurant, besides having good view, they offer good foods too.

After finsihed the lunch, husband drove up some more. Like William said : stand higher, look better.

Within 5 minutes, we have ascented to the highest point of the road, Edelweißspitze, 2571 m.

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From the lookout tower at the Edelweiss hut (inn), we can see the splendid panoramic view of 37 peaks each over 3000 m.

The weather was so fine to soak up the sun at this open terrace while enjoying the meal and the breathtaking panorama. Too bad we had had just taken ours.

The views from the summit are astonishing. The hairpin curves that we have driven from and heading to can be seen clearly.

The road has two tunnels, the Mitteltörl and Hochtor. I forgot what this one is called.

Mountain bikers are very commonly seen in this road too. They often travel in group with good discipline.

We could see the contrast of green mountain and white mountain at one side, this has pull us back to the real world for temporary.

The time was aroud 3 pm, husband said we really got to get going now.

The road is quite slippery, we have to descent very carefully...

Also, have to watch out of the people who hiked up and down on this narrow road. Whew...

Dr. Franz-Rehrl Haus, the place we had had a wonderful lunch. I miss my 1st applestrudel !

On the run again...well, not quite. We stopped again somewhere ahead this road. This is because we saw people were doing a real fun activity up there on the slopes.

Yeah, we wanted to follow what other people did and slide down from the slope. Everyone was using a piece of plastic bag for doing this, so we copied too.

We felt "proud" of the boys. They are very willing to try new games or sports. I guess the word "dangerous" is seldom cross their mind. So, instead of "worried", we choose to feel "proud" of them.

They love it !

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They so love it so much that they played the game over and over again.

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Poor daddy, he got to stand there, waited for them to come up and and serve them, for at least 10X, I think.

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William was a bit clumsy, but that didn't stop him at all.

His comment : WOW, this is very fun !

The last round. By then, William has mastered the game, but daddy was a bit too clumsy.

After another 20 minutes, husband said we really need to get going now..again. William was very unhappy to hear that.

Finally, we drove off to our next destination.

On the way descending, we get to see more "green" again, also, the little flowers on the slopes that give us "yellow".

Just a little stop over...

and we were back on the track again. This road is one the most famous tourist road of the alps.

Stopped for this road side's waterfall.

This residue is actually higher than husband.

Getting near to the end point of the Glossglockner-Hochalpenstrasse mountain road.

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Passing by a small lake...

and a 3-step-waterfalls.

At around 4.30 pm, finally we arrived at the end of the road, Pasterze Glacier lookout point.

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This is the view from Kaiser Franz-Josefs-Hoehe.

We parked our car at the 2nd floor. An impressive scene of glaciers and mountain summits unfolds before our eyes.

Pasterze Glacier is Austria's bigger glacier, lies at the Grossglockner's foot. The characteristically pyramid-shaped peak actually consists of two pinnacles, the Großglockner and the Kleinglockner (3,700 m; klein means "small" in German), separated by a saddle-like formation known as the Glocknerscharte.

The glacier is rapidly melting. But with 9 km length (5 km width), the Pasterze is still the longest glacier in the eastern alps.

The Grossglockner and Pasterze Glacier have been owned by the Austrian Alpine Association since 1918.

Franz-Josefs-Haus Restaurant (2363 m) at the end of Grossglokcner-Hochalpenstrasse mountain road. It used to be a hotel, but since a fire in 1997 no lodging is possible.

I watched a TV programs not too long ago, and was surprised to see the glaciers around the world is rapidly melting. This is a serious alarm to the balance of our ecosystem. I hope we won't need to travel by boat in the near future.

Before we get into the car, I gave one last look for this beautiful place. I feel cherish to visit this place, and I certainly wish this place a long life.

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The time was getting pretty late by then. I made a call to the hotel, and informed them we would check in late that day, around 6-7 pm. Luckily they didn't cancel our booking.

Since the time was getting late, we didn't use the other road for exit, but used the same road we came. This time, we didn't make any stop.

When driving non stop, we could actually go through this road within 45 minutes time, compared to the 6-7 hours that we have spent on the way come. So, you can imagine how beatufiful and attractive the place is. Even the boys felt total excitement and joyful about this trip.

As for me, I have left part of my souls here. I'm going to miss this place for a very long time, and I hope to visit this place again some time in the future.

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