Klek / Hahnkogel

Overview

Klek / Hahnkogel as seen from the east

Klek / Hahnkogel is one of the lesser summits in the western part of the Karawanken / Karavanke Range, located between Golica / Kahlkogel to the east and Dovska Baba / Frauenkogel to the west. Like all summits in that range, Klek lies directly on the Austrian - Slovenian border, which makes an s-shaped bend across its summit. Further below, almost right underneath our mountain the Karawanken Tunnel crosses the border between the two countries so that many a tourist will have seen the mountain on his/her way to the Adriatic coast.

From a mountaineering point of view Klek / Hahnkogel is a rather unimportant mountain. Like its closest neighbours it provides smooth slopes for ascent on its eastern annd southern sides and only the west face can be called impressive. It drops for roughly 100m before hitting steep scree slopes which eventually lead into the valley on the Austrian side of the Karawanken Ridge. The face - like the rest of the mountain - is made up from very brittle rock and a look at its composition is enough to deter even the hardiest climber. The summit ridge is L-shaped enclosing the west phase in an amphitheatre. There are two high points, one on the northern leg of the L, the other at the westernmost point of the summit ridge.

Klek / Hahnkogel is climbed rather often, though it rarely is the primary destination. One of the routes to neighbouring Golica / Kahlkogel runs through Eckelessattel / Jekljevo Sedlo between the two mountains as does Via Alpina, one of the large alpine traverses. You can add Klek to any climb or summit traverse of Golica or Rosenkogel / Hruski Vrh. You are awarded with beautiful views of the surrounding mountains, mainly the Julian Alps in the south and the Hohe Tauern Range in the far north. Closer to home there are the big lakes of Carinthia in the Drau river valley.

I'm not sure but I think Klek / Hahnkogel could be a good ski tour destination. Definitely if done together with the neighbouring mountains. However, there are lots of dwarf pines on its slopes and it might be a bit tedious to ski down through them.

360° Summit Panorama

360° summit panorama Klek / Hahnkogel

Getting There

The closest trailheads are at Rosenbach on the Austrian side of the border and at Planina pod Golico on the Slovenian side. Both can easily be reached from the Karawanken motorway, which runs through the tunnel underneath Klek / Hahnkogel.

Austrain Trailhead
Take motorway A11 to the exit St. Jakob im Rosental. Take B85 to St. Jakob (east), where you head southward to Rosenbach.

Slovenian trailhead
Take A2 to the exit Hrusica. Turn onto 637, direction Jessenice and several hundred meters into the city turn left (north) for Planina pod Golico.

Red Tape

I'm not aware of any red tape here. Both countries are member states of the EU and from Jan 2008 onwards the borders will be open (after Slovenia will have joined the Schengen treaty). Still you are on the border between two countries and taking an ID might be a good idea.

Accommodation

Austria

• Villach Region

Slovenia

• Kranjska Gora

The closest Huts are Veldener Hütte (Roschitza- / Rosenkogelhütte) on the Austrian side and Koca na Golici on the Slovenian side.

Weather Conditions

Carinthia Weather

Maps and Books

Books

• Karawanken
  H. M. Tuschar
  Rother Verlag
  ISBN: 3 7633 1262 5
  
• Mountaineering in Slovenia
  T. Mihelic
  Sidarta
  ISBN: 961 6027 36 0

Maps

• Julische Alpen
  Freytag & Berndt Map WK 141
  ISBN: 3 85084 735 7
  Scale: 1:50000

Images

View Klek / Hahnkogel Image Gallery - 24 Images