100 kilometers. 10,000 meters of elevation gain. 30 hours and 11 minutes. And a destination at 3,798 meters: the summit of Großglockner.
What had been a dream for years has now become reality: Rosanna Buchauer has successfully completed the “Hoch-Tirol” project and made history in the process. She is the first athlete ever to complete this extraordinary route.
The Hoch-Tirol Traverse is considered one of the most spectacular and demanding ski touring routes in the Alps. While ski mountaineers normally complete the route over several days, trail runner and DYNAFIT athlete Rosanna Buchauer has now achieved a first: she conquered the “Hoch-Tirol Summer Line” on foot in a single non-stop push.
The success is the result of years of preparation, countless hours of training, and meticulous planning. In 2025, Rosanna had already made her first attempt, but had to abandon the project after 18 hours due to difficult conditions and extreme fatigue. She never gave up on her dream. In August 2026, after 30 hours and 11 minutes, Rosanna stood on the summit of Großglockner at 3,798 meters. Her achievement is not only an extraordinary sporting accomplishment, but also a testament to her determination, courage, and drive to push her own limits.
The Project: The Facts about the Hoch-Tirol Summer Line
The Hoch-Tirol Traverse, often referred to as the Haute Route of the Eastern Alps, starts in Kasern (South Tyrol) and crosses the vast glaciers of the Venediger Group to Kals at the Großglockner.
Unlike the classic multi-day winter ski traverse, the summer version demands a different skill set: in addition to exceptional endurance and altitude acclimatization, it requires absolute sure-footedness in technical alpine terrain, strong navigation skills, and solid mountaineering skills on ice and rock.
The route passes by massive ice cliffs and requires full concentration all the way. The highlights are the ascents of the region’s two highest peaks: the majestic Großvenediger (3,674 m) with its treacherous crevasses and the Großglockner (3,798 m), the highest mountain in Austria.
Key Facts “Hoch-Tirol Summer Line” at a glance
- Athlete: Rosanna Buchauer (DYNAFIT athlete)
- Start / Finish: Kasern (South Tyrol) – Kals am Großglockner (East Tyrol)
- Route length: approx. 100 km (62 miles)
- Elevation gain: 10,000+ m of elevation gain
- Top peaks: Großvenediger (3,674 m), Großglockner (3,798 m)
- Difficulty: Extremely technical (glacier crossings, exposed ridge and climbing sections)
- Time: 30:11 hours
Who is Rosanna Buchauer? Meet the DYNAFIT athlete
Rosanna Buchauer (born 1990) grew up in Inzell in the Bavarian Alps and now lives in the trail running capital of Innsbruck. After competing in speed skating throughout her youth, she found her way to mountain endurance sports through the “DYNAFIT Trailhero” program. Today, she’s one of the world’s top trail and ultra runners. Her greatest strength is highly technical alpine terrain, where she has already proven herself with top international finishes.
Her key achievements (selection):
- 2026: 1st place at the Zugspitz Ultratrail (Germany)
- 2025: 3rd place at the CCC @ UTMB (France)
- 2024: 1st place at the legendary Snowman Race in Bhutan (stage race in the Himalayas)
- 2024: 1st place at the Lavaredo Ultra Trail (Italy)
- 2022: course record at the Eiger Ultra Trail (Switzerland)
