Austrian cross straightened after lightening strike
Thursday August 12, 2010 - Email this article to a friend

It is the cross on the highest mountain in Austria, the Großglockner. Last weekend it was damaged in a storm and mountain guides have now re-erected it. At risk to themselves.

The cross was set up by mountain guides in 1880 and was already held in position with ropes and metal cables.

It was put in place to celebrate the silver wedding of Franz Joseph I of Austria and Elisabeth of Bavaria.

However a direct lightening strike and high winds last weekend buckled it and it was feared it might get worse if it was not repaired.

So a team of guides flew up by helicopter and were winched down to secure the 400 kilo wooden cross.

The mountain is Austria's highest at 3,798m and stands between the Provinces of Carinthia and Tyrol.

It is an alpine tradition to put a cross on the summit of the mountains.

But will it withstand a direct hit?Usually they are made out of wood or metal but a glass one is being erected this summer on the Schartwand, 2339m, in Salzberg.

It is 2.5m high and can withstand severe weather.

"Wood rots and iron will eventually rust, but my cross can withstand winds of up to 330 km/hour," said the creator of the glass cross, Roland Steiner.

He was speaking to Austrian media.

It is not sure if it would survive a direct lightening strike.

PlanetSKI team approaches the Allalinhorn