Petzeck, Mountain summit in Großkirchheim, Austria

Petzeck is a prominent mountain summit in the Schober Group of the High Tauern range with dramatically steep northern cliffs and gradually sloping southern faces. Two alpine lakes rest on the southern side, creating distinct visual contrasts between the rugged north face and the gentler terrain below.

Gamsjäger climbed Petzeck early on; Franz Graf's 1844 ascent from the Wangenitztal is documented, and the summit was visited during the Austrian land survey ten years later. Carl Gussenbauer and hunter Johann Weichslederer made the first known tourist ascent on 5 August 1870. In 1880 the ÖTK built a trail, and the first ski ascent followed in 1931 via the Petzeckscharte.

The name Petzeck probably comes from Romansh piz ("peak") plus German Eck ("prominent rise"); in Wangenitztal it is also called Posseg or Pesek, in Gradental Spatzeck. The Adolf-Noßberger-Hütte in Gradental and the Wangenitzseehütte below the south slope serve climbers on the normal route from Wangenitzsee via the Kruckelkar to the Petzeckscharte.

The ascent is a full-day mountain hike that requires endurance and some climbing experience on steep terrain. Starting early allows plenty of daylight for the descent, and solid mountain boots are essential for the rocky and sometimes icy sections.

The northeast face rises about 850 metres above the Gradental, the largest wall in the Schober Group. The mountain is quieter than neighbours such as Grossglockner or Hoher Sonnblick. In the Wangenitztal it is called Posseg or Pesek, in the Gradental Spatzeck.