The Hoch-Tirol traverse is one of the most spectacular and demanding ski touring routes in the Alps. While ski mountaineers usually complete the route as a multi-day tour, trail runner and DYNAFIT athlete Rosanna Buchauer is aiming to do something unprecedented: she wants to complete the “Hoch-Tirol Summer Line” in a single non-stop push.
A historic and risky challenge: so far, no one has completed this summer crossing in a single push. Rosanna’s first attempt in 2025 ended after 18 hours when poor conditions on site and extreme fatigue forced her to abandon the project.
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)
- Planned timeframe: early August
Will Rosanna become the first to complete the Hoch-Tirol Summer Line in a single push? The project kicks off in early August.
Wer ist Rosanna Buchauer? Porträt der DYNAFIT-Athletin
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)
