Augstenberg

Overview

The Augstenberg is located in southern Liechtenstein, approximately 1.5 kilometers south of Malbun (a small ski town). In Swiss coordinates, it is located at Right 764878 Up 216883. It is 759 meters above the town of Malbun, and the summit cross is a great marker. In all honesty, it is a beginner's mountain in the summer time, and not very challenging. They even have a sign up on the beginning of the trail that says no high heels, boots only! Many Bergwanderers (Trekkers) use the Augstenberg as a warm up for the Naafkopf (2,570m), which is Liechtenstein's 3rd Highest Mountain (after Grauspitz 2,599m and Hinter Grauspitz 2,574m). The Augstenberg is probably the highest "named" mountain wholly within Liechtenstein, as the higher named ones are on a border with at least one other country. They even sell post cards in Malbun with kids around the summit cross of the Augstenberg. In the snow season, however, it is VERY different. It has cornice ridges, saddles with snow over waist deep, and some dangerous slopes to slide down if you lose control. For people relatively new to snow mountaineering, this is a great starter mountain, requiring approximately 4 hours to ascend from Malbun. In my opinion, the best topographic map of the area is Schesaplana, #1156, 1:25,000 by Bundesamt fur Landestopographie 3048 Waburn Ausgabe 1999. Although it does not show the town of Malbun, it shows everything else necessary for an ascent of the Augstenberg. I offer this mountain to summitpost as an invitation for novices (with the necessary backgournd training) for their first "independent" snow conditions summit.

Getting There

The best way to get there is to park in the small ski town of Malbun. From there one can follow the paved switchbacks, or break trail at the south end of the town. The best routes, are to ascend the ridge immediately to the east of Malbun, and follow the marked trail around to the Augstenberg. In the snow, it may be impossible to follow any trails or trail markings. There are multiple crosses below the Augstenberg, one on each of the main trails to the summit.

Red Tape

There is free parking in Malbun, and it is well posted, on the north edge of the town. It cannot get much easier than that, and there are no permits required to hike up there.

When To Climb

As long as there is no snow, this is a very easy mountain, and it is only 759 meters higher than the town of Malbun. Out of season, it becomes exponentially more difficult

Camping

There is the Pfalzer hut only 30 minutes south of the Augstenberg (when there is no snow). The town of Malbun is so close that the hut should not be needed, unless doing a traverse into Switzerland from Malbun.

Mountain Conditions

I know of no know sites or phone numbers for updated weather information or mountain conditions. If conditions are lousey, however, there is ample skiing all around Malbun (in the snow season). Of interest, I have been in this area for four climbs in 4 weekends, from early August to mid October. Three of the four weekends had substandard weather.

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Images

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