Grossglockner

Before heading back to the Himalayas, I completed a winter, solo ascent of Grossglockner — Austria’s highest peak at 3,798 meters. In winter, Grossglockner transforms into a far more serious mountain: colder, steeper, and far more exposed to fast-changing alpine weather.

Climbing alone meant carrying full responsibility for navigation, pacing, and safety. The route included hard ice, mixed sections, and long stretches of firm snow where every step had to be deliberate. High winds and sub-zero temperatures turned even simple movements into a test of control and resilience.

It was an ascent that strengthened my self-reliance, sharpened my alpine decision-making, and proved that I could operate confidently in demanding winter conditions — an essential psychological and physical preparation for the technical Himalayan challenges of Ama Dablam that followed.