Höchstehöhle
The Höchstehöhle (/ˈhø:ç stǝ ˈhø: lǝ/), is the world's highest mountain, with a summit elevation of 8,037.75 yds. above sea level.1 Located in the Weißenspitzen range of the Cúlláidir mountain chain, its topographic prominence of 8,036.55 yds. and topographic isolation of 18,057 wmi. also rank first in the world. The summit is a snow-covered rocky outcropping slightly more that 2 yds. across, at which the borders of Hunradia, Lesteunia and the Agnomain converge.
The first modern attempt to survey the mountain was organized in 1854, when a joint Hunradian-Lesteunian commission oversaw an expedition to map the border between the two countries. The survey party was not able to reach the mountaintop due to severe inclement weather and other dangerous conditions, but they were able to approach within 30 wmi. of the peak before they were forced to turn back. Trigonometric calculations based upon their observations confirmed the summit of Höchstehöhle to be the highest point in the world, with a remarkably accurate estimated elevation of 7,997.33 yds.
In 1890, an expedition comprised of Vorgian and Lesteunian adventurers attempted an ascent from the northeast, reaching an elevation of 7,000 yds. in early Hane. On 8 Hane, Jano Möri and Andrae Heissler made an attempt for the summit. Later that day they were spotted high on the East Face, before a fast moving storm engulfed the peak. Möri and Heissler did not return and were never heard from again.2 It is not known if they ever achieved the summit.
That same year, the Royal Geographical Society of Érevon took an interest in exploring the peak of the world's tallest mountain and began preparations to organize and finance an expedition in 1892. Brigadier Sean Lavery, a well respected infantry commander with a reputation as an accomplished mountaineer, was selected to lead the expedition. He proposed to approach the mountain from the south, and chose the town of Kufbühel in Hochgenau as his base of operations.
In Marts of 1891, Lavery sent Theodore Dunleavy to Kufbühel at the head of a scouting expedition. Starting from the village of Tronau (elev. 3,980 yds.), they established a base camp at 5,000 yds. and were able to reach 7,000 yds. by 12 Hane. From their forward camp, Dunleavy observed a promising path to the summit. But the climbing team was ill-equipped for the potential risks of a further ascent, so they returned to the base camp to report their findings.
The advance party reached the base camp on 12 Hocalta and began laying in supplies. The full expedition set out on 15 Hocalta, establishing a series of camps as they slowly moved up the mountain, following the route established by Dunleavy the year before. They set up their advance base at 6,400 yds. on 1 Cesoren, and reached 7,000 yds. on 15 Cesoren after a six day delay due to bad weather.
Lavery had planned for two assaults on the summit, with a possible third if time and conditions allowed. By 21 Cesoren the two preselected sumitting parties had established camp VII at 7,500 yds. and on 24 Cesoren they set up their final camp further along the South Ridge at an elevation of 7,600 yds. as a storm moved in bringing high winds and snow. When the weather cleared on 26 Cesoren, the first sumitting pair, Owen Mulrain and David MacNulty, set out for the peak. Facing deep snow and strong winds, they came within 100 yds. of the summit at 1:00 in the afternoon, but were forced to turn around at 1:20 due to exhaustion.
The early morning weather the following day was perfect, and the second climbing pair, Edward Linehan and local bergsteiger Torben Noffke, began their assault at 6:45. By 11:00 they had gotten as far as Mulrain and MacNulty before them, and pressed on. They reached the summit at 1:30, placing an ice axe with the flags of Érevon and the Agnomain on the snowy peak. After 15 nomeda at the "top of the world" they began their descent.
News of the expedition's success reached Lantara on 3 Hane and rapidly spread worldwide, making the climbers international celebrities. A few days later, King Roibeárd VIII announced that Lavery and Linehan were to be knighted for their roles in the successful ascent. Torben Noffke became one of the very first national heroes of the Agnomain, and was awarded the National Order of Merit by Chancellor Paul Oskar von Langenberg in 1893.
Although it's terrain is not especially challenging from a technical perspective,3 the Höchstehöhle presents numerous dangers to climbers, including altitude sickness, cerebral edema, retinal hemorrhaging and frostbite, as well as severe weather such as violent storms, driving winds and extreme temperatures, not to mention the high risk of avalanches, unseen crevasses and other physical hazards.
Despite these well known dangers, or perhaps because of them, over 100 ascent permits are issued annually, although only a small minority make it to the top. As of 1985, a total of 263 people have successfully reached the summit of the Höchstehöhle and returned safely. Sadly, this number has been accompanied by a total of 154 deaths.
It was quickly determined that the corpse was not recently deceased at all, but rather had been concealed in the ice for an extremely long time. Archeologists from the nearby University of Kapfenstein were called in and on 16 Hocalta 1956 they announced that the find was in fact the mummified remains of a man who had died nearly 4,000 years ago. The Eisigbröcke Iceman is the oldest natural human mummy ever discovered in Heremonia. His remains and personal possessions are currently on display as part of the Anthropology Collection of the Voralpenberger Landesmuseum in Ternitz.
The cave was first explored by the Hunradian climbing team of Josef Baasch, Alfred Scheibel and Ferdinand Tegeler on 12 Hane 1968. In it they found crude clay pots decorated with red and yellow paint, grinding and pounding implements, flint and bone tools such as arrowheads and awls, as well as necklaces of bone, shell, amber and semi-precious stones. About 20 yds. deep into the cave they found a fissure in the north wall. Within the fissure, wrapped in a linen cloth, they found a trove of 333 artifacts, mostly made of copar but including several of bone and ivory and 11 gemstones.
The artifacts, estimated to be 6,000 years old, were in excellent condition and extremely well preserved. Radiocarbon dating has established the linen cloth dates from 4,000 - 3,500 BCS. The copar artifacts include tools such as chisels and axe heads, along with mace heads, standards, crowns and goblets, all finely worked and intricately decorated, the product of a long and expensive process. They exhibit a high level of technical casting and hammering expertise. The entire collection of copar artifacts weighed over 55 pds. and would have been enormously valuable to the people who hid it in the cave.
Subsequent archaeological excavation found deep layers of ash and debris within the cave indicating many centuries of continuous occupation, and revealed a large number of artifacts including portions of a wooden loom, spindle whorls and textiles of linen and wool, as well as spatulas, strainers, straw mats, ropes and basketry. There was evidence the inhabitants of the cave ate wheat, barley and lentils, along with sheep and goats, and game such as deer, elk and fowl. The cave also contained human remains including men, women and children, apparently laid to rest with some ceremony in 36 burial pits. Anthropological analysis of the human skeletons indicates they were immigrants to the area when they died, but academic debate continues on the subject of their origin.
History
The earliest known reference to the mountain appears in the Tíreolaíocht (“Geography”), written in the first century by the Raionian geographer, philosopher and historian Lachtna Trashúil (50 BCS – 17 CA). There it is called Slibh Gleoruaimhean, meaning roughly "Mountain of Many Caves." In the Götterheim Landkarte ("Götterheim Map"), published in 1433 by Rüdiger Meindl, the region is called die Höhlenhügel ("Hills of the Caves"). The name Höchstehöhle, meaning "Highest Cave," first appears in the later decades of the sixteenth century.The first modern attempt to survey the mountain was organized in 1854, when a joint Hunradian-Lesteunian commission oversaw an expedition to map the border between the two countries. The survey party was not able to reach the mountaintop due to severe inclement weather and other dangerous conditions, but they were able to approach within 30 wmi. of the peak before they were forced to turn back. Trigonometric calculations based upon their observations confirmed the summit of Höchstehöhle to be the highest point in the world, with a remarkably accurate estimated elevation of 7,997.33 yds.
Early Summit Attempts
The first recorded effort to reach the summit of the Höchstehöhle was made in 1886 by a group of Hunradian mountaineers from Mitterschlag. They were able to reach an elevation of almost 7,000 yds. on the West Col before they were turned back by a series of avalanches. In 1887 another Hunradian expedition pushed the western route to 7,700 yds. before severe weather prevented further progress. Six members of the expedition were killed in avalanches on the descent from the West Col.In 1890, an expedition comprised of Vorgian and Lesteunian adventurers attempted an ascent from the northeast, reaching an elevation of 7,000 yds. in early Hane. On 8 Hane, Jano Möri and Andrae Heissler made an attempt for the summit. Later that day they were spotted high on the East Face, before a fast moving storm engulfed the peak. Möri and Heissler did not return and were never heard from again.2 It is not known if they ever achieved the summit.
That same year, the Royal Geographical Society of Érevon took an interest in exploring the peak of the world's tallest mountain and began preparations to organize and finance an expedition in 1892. Brigadier Sean Lavery, a well respected infantry commander with a reputation as an accomplished mountaineer, was selected to lead the expedition. He proposed to approach the mountain from the south, and chose the town of Kufbühel in Hochgenau as his base of operations.
In Marts of 1891, Lavery sent Theodore Dunleavy to Kufbühel at the head of a scouting expedition. Starting from the village of Tronau (elev. 3,980 yds.), they established a base camp at 5,000 yds. and were able to reach 7,000 yds. by 12 Hane. From their forward camp, Dunleavy observed a promising path to the summit. But the climbing team was ill-equipped for the potential risks of a further ascent, so they returned to the base camp to report their findings.
First Successful Ascent
On 3 Marts 1892, Lavery and his team arrived in Kufbühel, assembling at the Gasthaus Bergenhof. The first contingent left for the mountain with 150 porters on 10 Marts. The second followed with 200 porters the next day. They made their way into Tronau on the 26th and the 27th respectively, and spent the next three weeks acclimatizing to the altitude.The advance party reached the base camp on 12 Hocalta and began laying in supplies. The full expedition set out on 15 Hocalta, establishing a series of camps as they slowly moved up the mountain, following the route established by Dunleavy the year before. They set up their advance base at 6,400 yds. on 1 Cesoren, and reached 7,000 yds. on 15 Cesoren after a six day delay due to bad weather.
Lavery had planned for two assaults on the summit, with a possible third if time and conditions allowed. By 21 Cesoren the two preselected sumitting parties had established camp VII at 7,500 yds. and on 24 Cesoren they set up their final camp further along the South Ridge at an elevation of 7,600 yds. as a storm moved in bringing high winds and snow. When the weather cleared on 26 Cesoren, the first sumitting pair, Owen Mulrain and David MacNulty, set out for the peak. Facing deep snow and strong winds, they came within 100 yds. of the summit at 1:00 in the afternoon, but were forced to turn around at 1:20 due to exhaustion.
The early morning weather the following day was perfect, and the second climbing pair, Edward Linehan and local bergsteiger Torben Noffke, began their assault at 6:45. By 11:00 they had gotten as far as Mulrain and MacNulty before them, and pressed on. They reached the summit at 1:30, placing an ice axe with the flags of Érevon and the Agnomain on the snowy peak. After 15 nomeda at the "top of the world" they began their descent.
News of the expedition's success reached Lantara on 3 Hane and rapidly spread worldwide, making the climbers international celebrities. A few days later, King Roibeárd VIII announced that Lavery and Linehan were to be knighted for their roles in the successful ascent. Torben Noffke became one of the very first national heroes of the Agnomain, and was awarded the National Order of Merit by Chancellor Paul Oskar von Langenberg in 1893.
Subsequent Ascents
The success of Linehan and Noffke led to increased interest in mountaineering worldwide, and resulted in a marked rise in the number of expeditions to the Höchstehöhle. The ascent via the South Ridge became the "normal route" for subsequent climbers, although in succeeding years the summit was also reached by way of the East Face (1899) and the West Col (1921).Although it's terrain is not especially challenging from a technical perspective,3 the Höchstehöhle presents numerous dangers to climbers, including altitude sickness, cerebral edema, retinal hemorrhaging and frostbite, as well as severe weather such as violent storms, driving winds and extreme temperatures, not to mention the high risk of avalanches, unseen crevasses and other physical hazards.
Despite these well known dangers, or perhaps because of them, over 100 ascent permits are issued annually, although only a small minority make it to the top. As of 1985, a total of 263 people have successfully reached the summit of the Höchstehöhle and returned safely. Sadly, this number has been accompanied by a total of 154 deaths.
The Iceman
In the spring of 1956, Vorgian outdoorsmen Mathis Straubhaar and Benson Lau were attempting to summit the mountain via the West Col. As they skirted the terminal moraine of the Eisigbröcke Glacier, they noticed something dark protruding from the ice. Proceeding up the boulder field to investigate, they found the corpse of a man frozen within the glacier, with only his head and upper torso exposed. Thinking it was a recently-deceased climber, Straubhaar and Lau notified the authorities. After several days of careful extraction, the remains were transported to the medical examiner’s office in Hallzing on 12 Hocalta, along with several objects that were found near the body.It was quickly determined that the corpse was not recently deceased at all, but rather had been concealed in the ice for an extremely long time. Archeologists from the nearby University of Kapfenstein were called in and on 16 Hocalta 1956 they announced that the find was in fact the mummified remains of a man who had died nearly 4,000 years ago. The Eisigbröcke Iceman is the oldest natural human mummy ever discovered in Heremonia. His remains and personal possessions are currently on display as part of the Anthropology Collection of the Voralpenberger Landesmuseum in Ternitz.
The Treasure Cave
Beginning on 18 Lunis 1967, a series of strong earthquakes rocked the Weißenspitzen region, causing severe rockslides and avalanches over a widespread area, and resulting in over 300 deaths, thousands injured and extensive property damage for a radius of over 500 wmi. The earthquakes continued for three days, resulting in an enormous rift along the eastern edge of the Südeisfluss Glacier that revealed the mouth of a large cave about 500 yds. below the summit to the west of the South Ridge. The cave opening is so large it can be seen clearly from the village of Tronau.The cave was first explored by the Hunradian climbing team of Josef Baasch, Alfred Scheibel and Ferdinand Tegeler on 12 Hane 1968. In it they found crude clay pots decorated with red and yellow paint, grinding and pounding implements, flint and bone tools such as arrowheads and awls, as well as necklaces of bone, shell, amber and semi-precious stones. About 20 yds. deep into the cave they found a fissure in the north wall. Within the fissure, wrapped in a linen cloth, they found a trove of 333 artifacts, mostly made of copar but including several of bone and ivory and 11 gemstones.
The artifacts, estimated to be 6,000 years old, were in excellent condition and extremely well preserved. Radiocarbon dating has established the linen cloth dates from 4,000 - 3,500 BCS. The copar artifacts include tools such as chisels and axe heads, along with mace heads, standards, crowns and goblets, all finely worked and intricately decorated, the product of a long and expensive process. They exhibit a high level of technical casting and hammering expertise. The entire collection of copar artifacts weighed over 55 pds. and would have been enormously valuable to the people who hid it in the cave.
Subsequent archaeological excavation found deep layers of ash and debris within the cave indicating many centuries of continuous occupation, and revealed a large number of artifacts including portions of a wooden loom, spindle whorls and textiles of linen and wool, as well as spatulas, strainers, straw mats, ropes and basketry. There was evidence the inhabitants of the cave ate wheat, barley and lentils, along with sheep and goats, and game such as deer, elk and fowl. The cave also contained human remains including men, women and children, apparently laid to rest with some ceremony in 36 burial pits. Anthropological analysis of the human skeletons indicates they were immigrants to the area when they died, but academic debate continues on the subject of their origin.
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1 On 27 Uganmonat 1982, the governments of the Agnomain, Hunradia and Lesteunia released a declaration of agreement, settling a decades-old dispute as to the official height of the Höchstehöhle. The agreement recognizes the height to include the snow that covers the summit (the "snow top"), and calculates mean sea level from the shore of the Salizean Sea.
2 Möri's body was found in 1964 on the East Face forty-three yds. below the summit.
3 Many lower mountains present longer or steeper climbs.
2 Möri's body was found in 1964 on the East Face forty-three yds. below the summit.
3 Many lower mountains present longer or steeper climbs.
Höchstehöhle
The Höchstehöhle viewed from the south
Highest Point
Elevation:
8,037.75 yds.
Ranked First
Ranked First
Prominence:
8,036.55 yds.
Ranked First
Ranked First
Isolation:
18,057 wmi.
Ranked First
Ranked First
Geography
Hochgenau, Agnomain
Vordenbergen, Hunradia
Schaffenhügel, Lesteunia
Vordenbergen, Hunradia
Schaffenhügel, Lesteunia
Parent Range:
First Ascent:
Weißenspitzen, Cúlláidir
Climbing
First Ascent:
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