Grossglockner High Alpine Road

In 1924, plans were proposed to build a road over the high pass of the mammoth Grossglockner mountain, in the Austrian Alps. The suggestion was met with ridicule, as the trail was known for being acutely dangerous. Furthermore, there were limited privately owned cars. Paving asphalt along such tricky terrain was deemed preposterous. Austrian officials agreed, citing the project as too expensive and highly unnecessary.

As Austria grappled with its identity following the fall of the Habsburg Empire, the road proposal was revisited and revived in 1930. An endeavor this big could create thousands of jobs and might generate income from travelers. The High Alpine Road opened in 1935, marking a significant achievement in mountain engineering. A literal trailblazer, the stunning pass inspired the development of several other alpine roads.

It would be hard for any in its wake to match the diverse beauty of approximately 30 miles of successive green meadows, dense forests, glaciers, and of course Grossglockner mountain, towering at nearly 12,500 feet. The High Alpine Road exceeded expectations and became a heavily trafficked destination.

Lest drivers lose sight of the road bends for the trees, a plethora of tour bus companies were launched, so passengers could enjoy the Austrian Alps without worrying about careening off a cliff. One such company was Edtbrustner Reisen. Under the motto “Extraordinarily Personal,” it offers guided adventures via, among others, this nostalgic treasure: the Alpine Express. The company was informally launched when patriarch Ludwig Edtbrustner started offering tours in the 1940s, with just one small bus. Thirty years later, his son and daughterin-law made the company official. Now in its fourth generation of family management, the company specializes in bus tours and thermal spa trips. They have multiple large modern coaches that dwarf this singular, fully restored Steyr-Daimler- Puch bus from 1952, distinguished from the rest of the fleet as being their pride and joy. While other tour companies offer screens or stability, it’s unlikely that any means of visiting Grossglockner High Alpine Road will be as extraordinarily personal.

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