Hochkönig

Description The piece starts with a description of a group of hikers on their way to the Hochkönig (2,941m) at sunrise in ideal weather. The path leads past the Mandlwände to the Mitterfeldalm, over the Ochsenkar and the Ochsenriedl to the foot of the Torsäule. An experienced hiker meets the group and urgently advises them to look for the way down because of a thunderstorm. The leader of the hikers talks to his mountainman wannabes about how they have overcome the many metres in height and suggests continuing the ascent. "'We can easily put up with that little rain!" They march on over the Kniebeißer, past the Schrammbachscharte when an eerie feeling creeps over the hikers. Black storm clouds roll over the summit and the intervals between lightning and thunder are getting shorter and shorter. When they reach the edge of the glacier known as the Übergossene Alm it starts raining, and shortly afterwards the first hailstones hammer on the hikers' heads. Running over the flat firn field to the peak the meanwhile frightened hikers find shelter in a fissure turning away from the storm. Hours later the fog clears and the inexperienced group becomes aware of the danger they have been exposed to. Wet and cold, the exhausted hikers drag themselves to the alpine hut "Matrashaus", on a steep path which is secured with ladders and ropes. The hikers are already expected by the landlord, in the hope that all of them are alive.