Heading up to the Oberwalderhutte (Camp 2) 2973m

We parked amidst the throng of tourists in the multi-storey car park on the Großglockner pass road and geared up. After walking through the access tunnel - now a dripping exhibition about the legend of the creation of the glacier complete with eerie music, we got to the exit which was barred by a wall of snow. Fortunately there was just enough room to squeeze out the top with the help of a ladder, rope and ice axe (the route up to the hut had only just 'opened' for the season). Once on the trail up the valley side we could walk up to the snowfields over the upper stretches of the glacier where we had to rope up and use snowshoes to walk up to the hut.

In the picture, you can just make out the alpine hut perched precariously on the very top of the righthand dark ridge (look LARGE). The weather was glorious although the Föhn wind was quite strong. This was due to drop and with it would come a change in the weather outlook.