Grossglockner, Austrian Alps

1. Seeboden - branch to Grossglockner

Seeboden - branch to Grossglockner on Untertauern via Heiligenblut via the B106 and then the B107 from Winklern, distance 100 km, duration 1,5 h. In Am Putzenhof we leave the Gartl waterfall on the left, and in Aichhorn another large waterfall Jungfernsprung also on our left. Upstream we cross a wide valley Mölltal. We drive through several tourist resorts full of facilities for skiers, including Heiligenblut. We enter Nationalpark Grossglockner and we come to the ramification mentioned above.

2. Branching - Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse - Franz Josef Höhe at the base of the Grossglockner glacier

Branch - Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse - Franz Josef Höhe at the base of the Grossglockner GlacierDistance 8 km, duration 15 min. On this segment we will return later to the branch. The road climbs higher and higher. On the left is the Goessnitz waterfall. Further on and above the Margaritzen reservoir, which is cut by the Elisabeta cliff. There are glacial lakes on the bottom of the U-shaped limestone. We take a few more hairpin bends and reach the parking lot at the end of the road at the Kaiser Franz Josef Höhewhere there is also a panoramic restaurant.

Oh yes! What a landscape! In the valley to our left flows Pasterze glacier The snow on the lower lake was an unreal khaki color with able spots. To the left of the valley thrones vârful Grossglockner with its altitude of 3798 meters. We feel small at only 2369 meters above sea level.

From where we are you can descend down a steep path in about 30 min to the bottom of the glacier. Obviously the ascent will probably take 1 hour. At the bottom you can go down with an elevator. I can't get enough of this view! Zoom in on Pasterze. And the Grossglockner.

How much I wanted to get here and now it is aievea and it is fabulous. Our rest stop set by the group leader is about 1,5 - 2 hours. If you have the opportunity allocate more time to this stop, maybe some intermediate stops on the road. Time allowed me to descend only partially to the bottom of the glacier.

We will get back on wheels at the branching point to return on the main Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse. We decide to cross the Carinthian mountains towards Salzburg to the resort of Zell am See.

3. Branch - B107 - Untertauern - Zell am See

Branch - B107 - Untertauern - Zell am See, distance 46 km, duration 1 h.

We thought we had seen the most interesting, but the landscape offers surprise after surprise. Our road will climb a bit more, then at the border between the 2 Austrian counties begins a series of dizzying serpentines. On the right we have the Edelweissspitze peak (the peak of the Edelweiss flower).

Up to Ferleiten where the slope will subside it is not possible to go downhill without taking a break to "rest" and cool the brake pads and clutches.

Next to a lake on the left is a Grosses Wiesbachhorn tower. We pass through the village of Fusch, the road is called Zeller Fusch on the descent. To the left of Fusch is the Hirzbach waterfall. Down, in the Salzach valley, near the famous winter sports resort Zell am See, we continue westward to the Krimml waterfalls, but that's another beautiful story...