Between Heaven and Earth – Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner and the world of 8000ers

How do extreme mountaineers think and feel? What does it take to climb the highest peaks? What do the 8000 metre peaks look like from above? You will find the answers to these questions and much more interesting information in this extraordinary museum.

In the museum "Between heaven and earth - Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner and the world of the 8000 metre peaks" in Spital am Pyhrn, you can immerse yourself in the world of the 8000 metre peaks. The patron of the 400 m² exhibition is Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner, who was born in Spital and is an extreme mountaineer. She is the first woman who climbed all 14 eight-thousanders without bottled oxygen.

What she experienced on the world's eight-thousanders can be experienced in the museum, which is unique in Europe. In a vivid and modern way, it shows the history of alpinism, the physical and psychological requirements for extreme mountaineering and the special features and phases of an 8,000 metre expedition. In the experience room, visitors get an impression of the extreme altitude, the steepness of the walls and feel the force of the wind. Original footage of the avalanche that destroyed the base camp of Mount Everest in 2015 is also on display.

A climbing tower modelled on K2 is located in front of the museum entrance (For safety reasons, the K2 climbing tower is currently closed!). The 8000 metre trail leads hiking enthusiasts from the museum through the Dr. Vogelgesang Gorge to the Bosruckhütte, the "base camp", and on to the Rohrauerhaus, the "high camp". Experienced hikers can hike from there to the summit of the Great Pyhrgas, which symbolically also corresponds to the summit of Mount Everest.

Rental Equipment: Audio guides (DE, ENG, CZ and NL) available at the cash desk for € 2!

Hint / Advice: For children there is the museum quiz “With Knowledge to the Summit” for €2.50. Young mountaineers explore the highest mountains in the world, symbolically pack an expedition backpack and guess what dangers and risks extreme mountaineers are exposed to.

Drive to the center of Spital am Pyhrn. Turn off at the Sparkasse where you can park for free.
You will find the entrance to the museum in the monastery building near the K2 sculpture.

Rental Equipment: Audio guides (DE, ENG, CZ and NL) available at the cash desk for € 2!

Hint / Advice: For children there is the museum quiz “With Knowledge to the Summit” for €2.50. Young mountaineers explore the highest mountains in the world, symbolically pack an expedition backpack and guess what dangers and risks extreme mountaineers are exposed to.