Gassel-Tropfsteinhöhle

Gasseltropfsteinhöhle - Gaßltropfsteinhöhle

Useful Information

Location:	From Rindbach near Ebensee walk along the Forststrasse through the Rindbach valley as far as the mouth of the Karberalpe, to the Grassltropfsteinhöhle hut (1,200m asl), on the east slope of the Gasslkogl. Access from Ebensee, 2-2.5 hours, mostly through forests.
Open:	MAY to 14-SEP Sat-Sun, Hol 9-16. [2003]
Fee:	Adults EUR 4, Children (6-18) EUR 2. Groups (10+, only ÖAV or TVN): Adults EUR 3. [2003]
Classification:	Karst cave.
Light:	electric.
Dimension:	A=1,225m asl., L=1,304m, VR=104m, T=6.5°C.
Guided tours:	D=50min., L=250m, V=2,300/a (1973-1993)
Bibliography:	Dr. Dietmar Kuffner : Die Gassel-Tropfsteinhöhle, 59pp, 48 fig, EUR 2.50
Address:	Verein für Höhlenkunde Ebensee, Almhausstraße 1a, A-4802 Ebensee am Traunsee, Tel: +43-6133-8416 Gasselhütte: Klaus Reichl, Lahnstraße 30, A-4802 Ebensee am Traunsee, Tel: +43-6133-7848. Shuttle bus: Reisebüro Sklona, Tel: +43-6133-5446.
Last update:	$Date: 2008/10/20 20:51:23 $

History


16-JUN-1918		first exploration of the cave by four men from Ebensee: Franz Pergar, Emil Hofinger, Johann Pollanschütz and Johann Reinbacher.
1924		a big expedition with eight members first descended into the 90m deep Pergarshaft.
192?		first attempts to develop the cave for the public.
08-JUL-1931		declared a Naturdenkmal (natural monument) because of its special character and scientific significance.
06-AUG-1933		official inauguration of the show cave.
1939		cave closed because of World War II.
1947		cave reopened.
1963		cave closed.
1973		reopened after major restoration of the tour path.
1978		electric light.
1984		new discoveries by Klaus Hüttner.

Description

The Gassel-Tropfsteinhöhle is located inside the Gasselkogel, a mountain near Ebensee. A cave visit takes a whole day, as it is necessary to walk to the cave. From the village Rindbach the ascend along the Rindbach valley takes about two hours. The tour is picturesque and includes a visit of the Rindbach waterfall. A hut called Gasselhütte, right at the cave, is a nice place for a meal and a beautiful view. And it is necessary to rest after nearly 800m ascend.

For the lazy: in the summer months a shuttle bus shortens the walk to mere 30 minutes. It runs only on saturdays, starts at Ebensee with a stop at Rindbach and it is necessary to prebook.

This cave is famous for its speleothems. Beneath normal stalactites and stalagmites, there are cave coral, helictites and rare cave pearls. Thousands of cave pearls in the Dome of Pearls have a diameter of 3 to 10mm. There are also seven very big pearls, with the biggest one having a diameter 0f 38mm. This is one of the biggest cave pearls ever found in Austria. Unfortunately for the visitor, fortunately for the speleothems: the most extraordinary speleothems are in the so called new part which is not open to the public.

In the entrance region many bones were found, including the complete skeleton of a cave bear (Ursus spelaeus).

The cave consists of a series of halls and clefts which are unusually rich with speleothems. From the Entrance Hall one descends to the Bone Shaft and from there via the High Cleft to the so-called Pulpit Hall which offers an impressive view down into the abyss of the Pergar Hall and the Leopold Dome, a lower level of the cave which is not accessible.

Refreshments and accommodation are available at the hut when the cave is open.

Text by Tony Oldham (2002). With kind permission.

Gassel-Tropfsteinhöhle