Kellerspitzen, Mountain summit in Carnic Alps, Italy.
Kellerspitzen is a double-peaked mountain on the Kellerwand ridge of the Carnic Alps, straddling the Austrian-Italian border. Its eastern main summit reaches 2,774 m, while the western Grohmannspitze is 2,718 m. The north face drops 800 m to the Valentintal, and the south face falls about 500 m to the Keller cirque.
The first ascent of the West Summit (Grohmannspitze, 2718 m) was made on 15 July 1868 by Paul Grohmann with guides Josef Moser and Peter Salcher; a thunderstorm stopped them short of the main summit. The East Summit (2774 m) was first climbed on 13 July 1878 by Giovanni Hocke with Adam Riebler. In 1915–1918 the ridge was a frozen front line, and wartime positions and shelters remain.
The summit's name comes from the German Kellerspitzen, referring to the Kellerwand ridge; the Italian name Creta delle Chianevate and Friulian Crete de Cjanevate derive from the karstic hollow called La Chiavenate below the south face. The old wartime supply path between the two summits now makes the crossing easier for visitors.
Climbers need technical skills and proper gear to reach the summit safely, as the rock sections demand concentration and experience. The warmer months offer the best conditions for an attempt, with clear trails and stable weather patterns.
Just below the northern face lies the Eiskar glacier, one of the most southern glaciers in Austria and a rare ice formation at this latitude. The proximity to this glacier makes the summit a special destination for those interested in alpine ice formations.
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