The Rote Wand ("Red Wall") is a mountain in the

Lechquellen Mountains The Lechquellen Mountains (german: Lechquellengebirge) or Lechquellen range is a small mountain group within the Northern Limestone Alps of the Eastern Alps. It lies entirely within the Austrian state of Vorarlberg and includes the upper reac ...

range of

Vorarlberg Vorarlberg ( , ; gsw, label=Vorarlbergisch, Vorarlbearg, , or ) is the westernmost States of Austria, state () of Austria. It has the second-smallest geographical area after Vienna and, although it also has the second-smallest population, it is ...

, in western

Austria Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...

. The second highest mountain at in the range, behind the lower pit Wildgrubenspitze () in the mountains of Lech sources, it rises from the valley floor between the Großes Walsertal in the north, and Dalaas (Monastery Valley) in the south. The name "Red Wall (Rote Wand)" originates from the distinct red-

Lias Lias may refer to: Geology * Lias Formation, a geologic formation in France *Lias Group, a lithostratigraphic unit in western Europe * Early Jurassic, an epoch People * Godfrey Lias, British author * Mohd Shamsudin Lias (born 1953), Malaysian ...

limestone Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms whe ...

, which is particularly striking in the south wall. On the north side is a small

glacier A glacier (; ) is a persistent body of dense ice that is constantly moving under its own weight. A glacier forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its Ablation#Glaciology, ablation over many years, often Century, centuries. It acquires dis ...

, the source of the Meng River. The mountain is a popular hiking destination, but designated only for experienced, sure-footed mountain walkers. The route can be accessed from the Alpe Laguz, Alpe Klesenza, the Freiburger hut and the Formarinsee. All routes lead via a very steep climb up the north-west flank, via the north ridge to the summit. The first described ascent was by Otto Freiherr von Sternbach and in 1867, following a route explored but not finished by Anton Neyer from

Bludenz Bludenz (; Alemannic: ''Bludaz'') is a town in the westernmost Austrian state of Vorarlberg. It is the administrative seat of the Bludenz District, which encompasses about half of the Vorarlberg's territory. Geography The town is located on the Il ...

and the guide Ferdinand Heine in the 1840s. However, the peak had been reached before by unknown climbers as Douglass and Sternbach found a signal pole on the summit. After 1867 the mountain was a popular destination for mountaineers. In 1874 John Sholto Douglass, a native of Vorarlberg of Scottish descent, fell to his death near the Rote Wand while hunting

chamois The chamois (''Rupicapra rupicapra'') or Alpine chamois is a species of goat-antelope native to mountains in Europe, from west to east, including the Alps, the Dinarides, the Tatra and the Carpathian Mountains, the Balkan Mountains, the Ril ...

. In much literature the first ascent is ascribed to David Pappus and companions on 25 July 1610 during his exploration of the borders of the

Sonnenberg Sonnenberg is a municipality in the Oberhavel district, in Brandenburg, Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, a ...

and Bludenz Counties. Pappus however did not mention this in his detailed account. The "Rote Wand" that he did describe climbing is the 2,105 m high Garsellakopf on the border with

Liechtenstein Liechtenstein (), officially the Principality of Liechtenstein (german: link=no, Fürstentum Liechtenstein), is a German-speaking microstate located in the Alps between Austria and Switzerland. Liechtenstein is a semi-constitutional monarchy ...

.Manfred Tschaikner
Das Urbar der Herrschaften Bludenz und Sonnenberg von 1620 – ein Überblick
Verba Volant 83 (2012)

References

{{Authority control Mountains of the Alps Lechquellen Mountains Mountains of Vorarlberg