Emergency accommodation

“The new Glockner bivouac is a great place to sleep!”

The Glockner bivouac, built in 1958, stands on a rocky ridge at an altitude of exactly 3205 meters.(Bild: LPD Kärnten)

The Glockner bivouac was built to provide mountaineers with accommodation in emergency situations, such as the two alpinists who are currently stuck on the mountain after a rockfall.

The Alpine Club's Glockner bivouac, which was built in 1958 and completely renovated in October 2020, stands on a rocky ridge below the north face of the Glockner at an altitude of exactly 3205 meters.

Bivouac warden Michael Rieger inside the high alpine shelter(Bild: zVg)

"The new bivouac now offers space for twelve people and certainly a few more in an emergency," says Ernst Riegler, Chairman of the Großkirchheim-Heiligenblut section of the Alpine Club: "The bivouac is very well insulated and there are sleeping facilities and blankets inside."

The bivouac on the Glockner in summer.(Bild: zVg)

The two Czechs (25 and 39) retreated to this bivouac after a rockfall on the north face.

The bivouac stands in the middle of the snow-covered rock massif - marked by the red circle in the photo.(Bild: LPD Kärnten)

The fact that the two climbers have to stay up there for another night is no problem at all for Klaus Brandstätter from the mountain rescue service: "The Czechs wanted to climb a winter ascent of the Mayerlrampe in the north face of the Glockner, which is up to 70 degrees steep. They are anything but 'noodle eyes', they are real alpinists and certainly don't mind if they have to wait a few hours in the bivouac for help."

Twice a year, Michael Rieger from Heiligenblut climbs up to the bivouac to check everything. He is the bivouac warden and knows that the Glockner bivouac is a great place to sleep.