Höfats
Encyclopedia
The Höfats is a 2,259 m high mountain in the Allgäu Alps
. Located near Oberstdorf
, it separates the Oy
and the Dietersbach valleys, along with the Rauheck
and other lower summits. With its very steep faces it is the most striking of the Allgau "grass mountains" (Grasberge) and is unique in the Eastern Alps
. It may be compared to the mountains of the Lofoten
.
The four summits of the Höfats divide into two pairs of peaks that are separated by the Höfats wind gap (Höfatsscharte, 2207 m). Between the summits of the two pairs of peaks are smaller gaps (about 2233 m and 2227 m high). All of the peaks sit on the crest of a ridge that runs from Rauheck
towards the northwest..
From the eastern summit (Ostgipfel) (2259 m) a ridge runs towards the southeast to a saddle, the Älpelesattel, and a ledge heads east-southeast, the centre of which has an overhang (the Höfatszahn). Between the ridge and the edge is the southeast face of the eastern summit. In addition, a slight ridge runs from the eastern summit to the southwest, which separates the ravine of Bergangertobel in the east from the Höfats basin (Höfatswanne) in the west.
The next summit is the central one (Mittelgipfel, 2257 m) which is actually only a 20 m long, horizontal edge, which apart from the two main ridges, only has a ridge descending to the southwest that ends in the Höfatswanne as a pillar. At the foot of this ridge is a cave (Höfatsgufel or Gufel). On the eastern side of the central peak, there is no corresponding ridge; instead the face drops several hundred metres, partially overhanging, into the Rotes Loch.
The longest ridge in the vicinity of the Höfats, runs northeast from the next peak after the Höfatsscharte wind gap, the second summit or Zweiter Gipfel (2258.8 m). Initially, this drops off steeply down to the wind gap (Schärtele) between Höfats and Kleine Höfats
and continues as the northeastern ridge of the Kleine Höfats. The north face of the second peak drops vertically in places down to the Rauher Hals. Beneath the foot of the rock face is a prominent rock pinnacle, the Höfatsnadel.
The western peak (Westgipfel, 2257.7 m) is connected to the second peak by a less pronounced wind gap. The north ridge (Nordgrat) runs northwards from the west summit, which drops steeply to the Rauhenhalsgrat. The ridge heading southwest and topped with small rock towers, borders the western side of the Höfatswanne.
Allgäu Alps
The Allgäu Alps are a mountain range in the Northern Limestone Alps, located in Bavaria in Germany and Tyrol and Vorarlberg in Austria. The range lies directly east of Lake Constance.-Principal summits:-External links:*...
. Located near Oberstdorf
Oberstdorf
Oberstdorf is a municipality and skiing and hiking town in southwest Germany, located in the Allgäu region of the Bavarian Alps.At the center of Oberstdorf is a church whose tall spire serves as a landmark for navigating around town. The summits of the Nebelhorn and Fellhorn provide...
, it separates the Oy
Oy
Oy or OY may refer to:* Oy vey Oy, a Yiddish exclamation of chagrin, dismay, exasperation or pain* A village in the Oy-Mittelberg municipality, Bavaria, Germany* oy , a digraph found in many languages* Osakeyhtiö Oy or OY may refer to:* Oy vey Oy, a Yiddish exclamation of chagrin, dismay,...
and the Dietersbach valleys, along with the Rauheck
Rauheck
Rauheck is a mountain of Bavaria, Germany.- Climbing routes :Four paths lead to the summit:*the Oytal over the Älplesattel,*the Dietersbachtal, also over the Älplesattel,*the Eissee above the Käseralpand*the Kreuzeck....
and other lower summits. With its very steep faces it is the most striking of the Allgau "grass mountains" (Grasberge) and is unique in the Eastern Alps
Eastern Alps
Eastern Alps is the name given to the eastern half of the Alps, usually defined as the area east of the Splügen Pass in eastern Switzerland. North of the Splügen Pass, the Posterior Rhine forms the border, and south of the pass, the Liro river and Lake Como form the boundary line.-Geography:The...
. It may be compared to the mountains of the Lofoten
Lofoten
Lofoten is an archipelago and a traditional district in the county of Nordland, Norway. Though lying within the Arctic Circle, the archipelago experiences one of the world's largest elevated temperature anomalies relative to its high latitude.-Etymology:...
.
Location and surrounding area
The Höfats has four almost equally high and narrow summits, whose appearance has been said in the past to resemble that of a Gothic cathedral..The four summits of the Höfats divide into two pairs of peaks that are separated by the Höfats wind gap (Höfatsscharte, 2207 m). Between the summits of the two pairs of peaks are smaller gaps (about 2233 m and 2227 m high). All of the peaks sit on the crest of a ridge that runs from Rauheck
Rauheck
Rauheck is a mountain of Bavaria, Germany.- Climbing routes :Four paths lead to the summit:*the Oytal over the Älplesattel,*the Dietersbachtal, also over the Älplesattel,*the Eissee above the Käseralpand*the Kreuzeck....
towards the northwest..
From the eastern summit (Ostgipfel) (2259 m) a ridge runs towards the southeast to a saddle, the Älpelesattel, and a ledge heads east-southeast, the centre of which has an overhang (the Höfatszahn). Between the ridge and the edge is the southeast face of the eastern summit. In addition, a slight ridge runs from the eastern summit to the southwest, which separates the ravine of Bergangertobel in the east from the Höfats basin (Höfatswanne) in the west.
The next summit is the central one (Mittelgipfel, 2257 m) which is actually only a 20 m long, horizontal edge, which apart from the two main ridges, only has a ridge descending to the southwest that ends in the Höfatswanne as a pillar. At the foot of this ridge is a cave (Höfatsgufel or Gufel). On the eastern side of the central peak, there is no corresponding ridge; instead the face drops several hundred metres, partially overhanging, into the Rotes Loch.
The longest ridge in the vicinity of the Höfats, runs northeast from the next peak after the Höfatsscharte wind gap, the second summit or Zweiter Gipfel (2258.8 m). Initially, this drops off steeply down to the wind gap (Schärtele) between Höfats and Kleine Höfats
Kleine Höfats
Kleine Höfats is a mountain of Bavaria, Germany....
and continues as the northeastern ridge of the Kleine Höfats. The north face of the second peak drops vertically in places down to the Rauher Hals. Beneath the foot of the rock face is a prominent rock pinnacle, the Höfatsnadel.
The western peak (Westgipfel, 2257.7 m) is connected to the second peak by a less pronounced wind gap. The north ridge (Nordgrat) runs northwards from the west summit, which drops steeply to the Rauhenhalsgrat. The ridge heading southwest and topped with small rock towers, borders the western side of the Höfatswanne.
Sources
- Das schöne Allgäu, 1937, p. 117
- Das schöne Allgäu, 1969, p. 159
- Joseph Enzensperger: Die Höfats im Allgäu in Zeitschrift des DÖAV, 1896
- Georg Frey: Allgäuer Grasberge, Jahrbuch DAV 1963
- Georg Frey: Auf Allgäuer Bergen, Kempten 1963
- Volker Jacobshagen: Vom geologischen Aufbau der Allgäuer Kalkalpen, Jahrbuch DAV 1966
- Georg Meier: Winterbergsteigen in den Allgäuer Alpen, Jahrbuch DAV 1966
- E.A. Pfeiffer: Die Höfats in "Oberstdorf im Allgäu - Ewige Berge, Sonne und Schnee", Oberstdorf, Verlag Buchdruckerei A. Hofmann, ohne Jahresangabe
- Spiehler: In "Erschließung der Ostalpen", Berlin 1893
- Thaddäus Steiner: Die Flurnamen der Gemeinde Oberstdorf im Allgäu, Band II, Selbstverlag des Verbandes für Flurnamenforschung, München 1972
- Thaddäus Steiner: Höfats - Versuch einer Namendeutung in Unser Oberstdorf, Blätter zur Oberstdorfer Heimatgeschichte. Heft 50/2007, p. 1847.
Films
- Die Höfats - Der einmalige Berg, Film von Gerhard Baur, 2007
- Beitrag in Bergauf-Bergab, about 1992