Ragazer Blanken rises to 2051 m above sea level as a secondary summit of the Hochblanken in the Damüls Mountains, part of the Bregenzerwald range in Vorarlberg, Austria. It's a peak of contrasts - a rugged, cliff-lined north face facing off against gentle, ski-accessible slopes on the south side.

What makes this mountain interesting is its split personality. The north side drops away steeply in bare, dramatic rock, while the south side is tame enough to host a chairlift serving the Damüls Mellau ski area. The peak forms part of a roughly ten-kilometer ridge stretching from Sünser Spitze in the west, over Ragazer Blanken, Hochblanken, Hohe Licht, Damülser Mittagsspitze, Wannenkopf and Gungern, all the way to Klippern in the east. In winter the slopes buzz with skiers, while in summer the ridge offers quiet hiking with views over rocky bands and the valley of Damüls below.

How to reach the summit

• Damüls - Ragaz chairlift, easy access to the upper station, difficulty: easy
• Ridge trails connecting from neighboring summits - difficulty: moderate

Practical information

• The upper station of the Ragaz chairlift marks the highest point of the Damüls Mellau ski area
• The mapped summit point with the summit cross sits 55 m west of the true highest point, which is 1 m higher
• The steep north-facing rock bands belong to the Hohe Kugel - Hoher Freschen - Mellental nature reserve

Interestingly, the officially marked summit point with its cross isn't actually the highest spot on the mountain - the true top, just a meter higher, lies quietly 55 meters to the east.