In the shadow of the mountain (Katschbergtunnel)
The Katschbergtunnel is 5,898 meters (19,350 ft) long tunnel that is part of the Tauern motorway (A10 ) between the Austrian provinces of Carinthia and Salzburg . The Katschbergtunnel connects the Katsch Tal through the Katschberg with Lungau, making it an important part of the route from Villach to Salzburg .
In 1974, the Katschbergtunnel was opened to the traffic . Initially, there would be two tubes to be built , but lack of money and the result of lower traffic volume, building activities for the second tube stopped in 1988. Only after a major fire in the Tauern Tunnel in 1999 with several casualties , planning for a second tunnel continued. Construction if the second tube began in december 2004 and on April 4, 2008 it was opened. Because renovation of the first tube, traffic drove through the second tunnel until April 2009. Then it got traffic have two tubes . The costs of renovation and construction of the second tube were 112 million euro .
History of the Katschberg Pass
The Katschberg Pass (el. 1,641 m (5,384 ft)) is a high mountain pass in the Central Eastern Alps in Austria between Rennweg am Katschberg in the state of Carinthia and Sankt Michael im Lungau in Salzburg. It connects the Carinthian Katsch Valley in the south with the historic Lungau region of Salzburg (present-day Tamsweg district) and the Mur river in the north, from where the road leads further on to the Radstädter Tauern Pass. The Katschberg also separates the Hohe Tauern range in the west from the Nock Mountains in the east.
Though the pass was probably already known to the Celtic Taurisci and later was part of a Roman Road from Teurnia to Iuvavum (Salzburg), it was first mentioned in a 1459 deed, then at the border between the Duchy of Carinthia and the Archbishopric of Salzburg. Mail was first sent over the pass in 1764. In 1929, the first restaurant was opened which later became a four-star hotel. In 1957, Matthias Bogensperger built the first ski lift on the Tschaneck mountain.
De cache
The cache is located right above one of the tubes of the Katschbergtunnel. When you look around it is hard to imagine that deep down below, through the heart of the mountain, runs one of the main trafficroutes of Austria, the A-10. But perhaps when you arre really quiet, you can actually hear it …
You are looking for a small green, waterproof, container. It was placed when there was 3 meters of snow, so the chances that is covered with snow are small…
Though it can be really quiet here, there are also moments there are muggles around. So use stealth when needed…
Happy caching!
Marrakesj