Hochfrottspitze
Encyclopedia
The Hochfrottspitze is a 2,649 metre high mountain, made of dolomite
, in the Allgäu Alps
near Oberstdorf
in Germany and the highest German mountain in the Allgäu Alps. The border with Austria runs along its ridge.
Together with the Trettachspitze
and Mädelegabel
, the Hochfrottspitze forms the famous triumvirate of peaks on the main crest of the Allgäu Alps. The busy Heilbronn Way (Heilbronner Weg) runs past it to the south and east, about 100-150 metres below the summit. In spite of that, the summit is rarely climbed because the routes to it are challenging. Climbers leave the Heilbronn Way at the wind gap of the Bockkarscharte and ascend from the south following a faint path through broken rubble and schrofen
terrain with climbs of UIAA grade I
to the start of the vertical summit face which is an exposed grade II+ climb. Somewhat simpler is the western approach from the Waltenberger Haus: this follows the route to the Bockarscharte; it then leaves the path after 20 minutes to climb up steep gullies (grade I) to the arête of the Mountains of Good Hope (Berge der guten Hoffnung). It continues over the scree-covered western ridge, trackless in places, up steps, along railings and climbing sections up to grade I to the summit. Another alternative is the ridge crossing from the Mädelegabel to Hochfrottspitze (exposed grade II climb). The wind gap between the two peaks can be climbed directly from the Schwarzmilzferner.
The mountain was first climbed in 1869 by Hermann von Barth
.
Dolomia Principale Formation
The Dolomia Principale Formation is a Mesozoic geologic formation. Fossil prosauropod tracks have been reported from the formation.-See also:* List of dinosaur-bearing rock formations** List of stratigraphic units with sauropodomorph tracks...
, in the Allgäu Alps
Allgäu Alps
The Allgäu Alps are a mountain range in the Northern Limestone Alps, located in Bavaria in Germany and Tyrol and Vorarlberg in Austria. The range lies directly east of Lake Constance.-Principal summits:-External links:*...
near Oberstdorf
Oberstdorf
Oberstdorf is a municipality and skiing and hiking town in southwest Germany, located in the Allgäu region of the Bavarian Alps.At the center of Oberstdorf is a church whose tall spire serves as a landmark for navigating around town. The summits of the Nebelhorn and Fellhorn provide...
in Germany and the highest German mountain in the Allgäu Alps. The border with Austria runs along its ridge.
Together with the Trettachspitze
Trettachspitze
The Trettachspitze is a 2,595 metre high mountain in the Allgäu Alps in Germany. Due to its striking appearance it is one of the best-known mountains in the Allgäu Alps.- Location and area :...
and Mädelegabel
Mädelegabel
The Mädelegabel is a 2,645 metre high mountain, made of dolomite, in the Allgäu Alps near Oberstdorf. It is one of the best-known and most-climbed high peaks in the German Alps, Within the Allgäu Alps it is the fourth-higest summit, with rock faces up to 400 metres high...
, the Hochfrottspitze forms the famous triumvirate of peaks on the main crest of the Allgäu Alps. The busy Heilbronn Way (Heilbronner Weg) runs past it to the south and east, about 100-150 metres below the summit. In spite of that, the summit is rarely climbed because the routes to it are challenging. Climbers leave the Heilbronn Way at the wind gap of the Bockkarscharte and ascend from the south following a faint path through broken rubble and schrofen
Schrofen
Schrofen is a German mountaineering term that refers to steep terrain, strewn with rocks and rock outcrops, that is laborious to cross, but whose rock ledges offer many good steps and hand holds. It is usually rocky terrain on which grass has established itself, but it can also refer to purely...
terrain with climbs of UIAA grade I
Grade (climbing)
In rock climbing, mountaineering and other climbing disciplines, climbers give a climbing grade to a route that concisely describes the difficulty and danger of climbing the route...
to the start of the vertical summit face which is an exposed grade II+ climb. Somewhat simpler is the western approach from the Waltenberger Haus: this follows the route to the Bockarscharte; it then leaves the path after 20 minutes to climb up steep gullies (grade I) to the arête of the Mountains of Good Hope (Berge der guten Hoffnung). It continues over the scree-covered western ridge, trackless in places, up steps, along railings and climbing sections up to grade I to the summit. Another alternative is the ridge crossing from the Mädelegabel to Hochfrottspitze (exposed grade II climb). The wind gap between the two peaks can be climbed directly from the Schwarzmilzferner.
The mountain was first climbed in 1869 by Hermann von Barth
Hermann von Barth
Hermann von Barth was a famous German mountaineer.Hermann von Barth was born on 5 June 1845 at Eurasburg Castle. He initially studied law in Munich, where he was affiliated to the Corps Franconia. As a junior lawyer he began in 1868 in Berchtesgaden to explore the still largely unconquered...
.
Sources
- Thaddäus Steiner: Die Flurnamen der Gemeinde Oberstdorf im Allgäu, München, Selbstverlag des Verbandes für Flurnamenforschung in Bayern, 1972
- Alpenvereinskarte 1:25,000, Sheet 2/1, Allgäuer- Lechtaler Alpen, West