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Birgkar
Though completely belonging to Austria, Hochkönig (translated "high king") is geographical a part of the alps of Berchtesgaden (Berchtesgaden is a wellknown centrum for mountaineers in Germany). With an elevation of 2.941m Hochkönig is indeed the highest mountain of the Berchtesgaden alps. He is one of seven highest peaks of the northern limestone alps (also called northern east alps). It is connected with the Steinernes Meer, the most expansive mountain-range of the alps of Berchtesgaden, by the notch “Torscharte” in the north-west. From Hagengebirge it is separated by the valley called Blühnbachtal in the north, that leads down to the village of Werfen. To the east of the mountains some ridges strech out. Of those the Mandlwand is an Eldorado for sport climbers.
Various sources state the altitude of the highest point, bearing the same name as the whole mountain-region, between 2.938 and 2.946 m. Hochkönig was early ascended by farmers and hunters. The first tourist reaching the summit was Thurwieser, 1826.
The summit is crowned by a hut (»Matrashaus«), one of the highest lodgings in the eastern alps.
Popular routes are from Dienten via Erichhut or Birgkarhut in the south, from Hinterthal via Bertgenhut or via Torscharte in the west, Ostpreussenhut in the north-east or from Eckberthut in the end of Blühnbachtal. Of great beauty is passing the glacier from east to west (stay overnight on top) and crossing over the Torscharte into Steinernes Meer (to Riemanhut oder Fundenseehut/Germany, about 11 hours from Matrashaus).
From Erichhut leads a long and difficult klettersteig (via-ferrata, iron way) called "Königsjodler" via Teufelshörner, Kummetstein and Hoher Kopf, from where Matrashaus can be reached in less than half an hour.
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