Plenge, Mountain summit in Carnic Alps, Austria

Plenge is a mountain summit in the Carnic Alps that rises to about 2,373 meters. The peak stands above Lesachtal Valley and commands views across the surrounding alpine landscape and neighboring summits.

The Carnic Alps received their name from an ancient Roman province called Carnia and the local peoples who lived in this region. This historical connection shapes the identity of the entire mountain range.

The name Plenge was recorded as Blenger in 1785; the linguist Heinz-Dieter Pohl links it to the Swiss German alpine word plangge, a steep pasture, from Romansh planca, "board". The summit cross stands slightly below the highest point, and the steep grass slopes on the routes from the Raimundealm and the Plengboden match that meaning.

A consistently steep but well-marked path starts in the woods above Wodmaier and reaches the summit in about 4 hours; a small lake at around 2,200 m makes a good rest stop. The final stretch runs over the south ridge and involves easy scrambling (UIAA I+). The summit cross stands slightly below the highest point, and there are no inns, huts or shelters on the mountain.

The summit cross stands slightly below the highest point, reached over the south ridge where the final stretch calls for easy climbing of UIAA grade I+. The name goes back to the 1785 form Blenger, linked to the Alpine word plangge for steep pasture.