Isolation 7.8 km → Säuleck Elevation 2,965 m | State/Province AT-2 | |
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Prominence 2,965-2,670 m ↓ Pfaffenberger Nocken Similar Ankogel Group, Hochkedl, Säuleck, Tristenspitz, Schneewinkelspitze | ||
The Reißeck, also Großes Reißeck ("Great Reisseck") is a mountain, 2,965 m (AA), and the highest peak in the Reißeck Group in the High Tauern of Austria. The mountain gives its name to the mountain range and the village of Reißeck to the south in the Carinthia's Möll valley. Northwest of the Reißeck, separated by the col of Mallnitzer Scharte (2,673 m), is the Ankogel Group with its highest summit, the Hochalmspitze.
The name Reißeck is derived from an old waterbody name, something like Reisach = "mountain stream" or "torrent", which became the Middle High German rîs = "the falling one".
West and south of the summit block lie the reservoirs of the Reißeck-Kreuzeck Hydropower Group. The Reißeck Funicular Railway (Reißeckbahn), built for the construction of the power station, now only runs passenger services and is almost exclusively used for access to the Alpine huts. The Reißeck Hut owned by the ÖGV is located in the immediate vicinity of the top station below the dam of the Großer Mühldorfer See, along with two hotels and a small ski area.
The normal route runs via the Kalte Herberg col and south arête, an easy climb, to the summit, but it does require sure-footedness. Starting points are the Reißeck Hut or the unmanaged Neue Moos Hut. East-northeast of the Großer Reißeck ("Great Reisseck") lies the Kleine Reißeck ("Little Reisseck", 2,924 m); the ridge crossing runns along steep grassy slopes, but is otherwise technically easy.