What's New On This Page?
> June 19th, 2006 - Added: North Route, Kleinobir/Mali Obir chapter, a few pictures.> August 12th, 2005 - Northern approach mentioned.
> April 9th, 2005 - Initial set up of the page.
Overview
Obir massif from the SW, from Plesivec
The broader massif is called Obir. The highest summit is called in German Hochobir, in Slovenian Ojstrc (because of its sharp cone) or also only Obir.
The fourth highest mountain of Karavanke/Karawanken range is a kingdom for itself. Standing on the very northern side of the range, just above the Drau/Drava river, it offers one of the greatest panoramas in the group. But also the diversity of the mountain is very interesting: nice hikes, various ski tours, mountain biking, cultural diversity of the landscape, a nice system of karst caves, a spa resort, rests of abandoned mines and more...
Towards the south Hochobir/Ojstrc shows a broad shoulder and only a small summit cone is more sharp. Towards the north the view on the main summit is obscured by the broad fore-summit and only if you go a bit towards east a sharp, rocky mountain shows up. The most magnificient is the view from the west, where Hochobir/Ojstrc sends a broad rocky face, rugged and intermitted with many ravines.
The northen border of Obir massif is the river Drau/Drava. The eastern and western borders are two creeks, flowing into Drau/Drava river: Vellach/Bela on the east and Freibach/Borovnica on the west. On the southern side the Obir massif is attached to the rest of Karavanke/Karawanken on Schaida/Sajda saddle, 1068m. From this saddle towards east the Ebriachbach / Obirski potok (creek) flows. While the mountaineering highlight of the massif is actually only the highest point, the massif consists of a few more summits. North of the highest point the Kleinobir / Mali Obir (Small Obir) stands, 1948m. This summit obscures the view on the main summit from north, from Drau/Drava valley. On the SW ridge there's an elevation, called Kuhberg / Kravji vrh, 2024m, while the two other ridges, the SE and the NE ridge, carry only lower and less important elevations.
 The summit of Hochobir/Ojstrc |
 Obir from the east |
 Hochobir/Ojstrc from the N |
Wiews On The Massif From The Distance
 From the South |
 From the South |
 From the West |
Kleinobir / Mali Obir
North of the main summit a 200 meters lower shoulder rises, called Kleinobir / Mali Obir (=Small Obir). Its western and northern slopes are still steep and rugged, towards the South, a gentle summit plateau descends. Between the two summits there's a saddle, called Freibachsattel, some 1700m, and on the western side of it the picturesque Jagoutz alpine meadow.Kleinobir / Mali Obir is often ascended, as it is a great panoramic point and also the view on its taller brother is excellent.
 Kleinobir / Mali Obir |
 The summit |
 Drava valley |
What To Do There?
Kaernten/Koroška and its lakes
Wildensteiner waterfall
Here is the tourist page of the cave with bus schedules.
Routes Overview
A self-made map of Obir massif
The summit of Hochobir/Ojstrc can be reached from all sides by marked paths. Some of them are shown on the map above. Except from the south and from the Eisenkappeler Huette all approaches from valleys are long, but technically easy hikes (except the northern ascent).
On the SW ridge of Hochobir/Ojstrc
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Getting There
The broader area of Obir massif
For a broader overview see the Karavanke/Karawanken page!
The northern villages below Obir massif can be reached by local roads of Drava/Drau valley. You deter from the Klagenfurt - Graz highway towards south. To reach Bad Eisenkappel / Zelezna Kapla town you drive through the Vellach/Bela valley. From the southhern side, it means from Slovenia the town can be reached over the Seeberg / Jezerski vrh saddle, 1218m.
The southern side of the mountain can be rached by a good local road either from Bad Eisenkappel / Zelezna Kapla (from the east) or from Ferlach/Borovlje (from the west). The valley below Obir is called Ebriach/Obirsko and consists of many picturesque settlements. High mountain farms are scatteres over broad, sunny slopes. From this valley the Obir panoramic road ascends up to the Eisenkappler Huette, 1553m. It is opened from April till winter (depending on snow conditions).
Maps:
You can see a detailed map on: http://www.austrianmap.at/.
That's in German, but as of classical maps, you can refer to: Karavanke, Central part and Grintovci, 1:50000. Planinska zveza Slovenije.
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Summit Views
Because Obir massif is rising in the northern chain of Karavanke/Karawanken, it offers an immense panorama. Perhaps the most interesting is the view towards the west, along Karavanke/Karawanken chain. Great is also the view on Kamnik and Savinja Alps, we see this group from the northern side. Towards the north we see Gurktal Alps and in a clear day also Niedere Tauern, Dachstein and towards the NW Hohe Tauern. Below us, there is a nice landscape of Kaernten with several lakes and river Drau/Drava.
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Red Tape
No restrictions. The Obir panoramic road must be paid during the season (€5,5).
When To Climb
Hochobir/Ojstrc can be ascended any time of the year.For weather see here and then choose on the menu: Kaernten.
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Huts and Camping
The only alpine club mountain hut, supporting outdoor activities on Obir is the Eisenkappler Huette. It is opened also in winter if the weather is nice. Tel.: 0664 – 38 58 907, e-mail: orasche.hirtl@aon.at. Ask for Silvia & Marian Orasche.Because of the Obir panoramic road, which reaches 1553m, only to reach the summit camping is not needed.
