Franz Miklosich derives the name from the Slavic word gledna (= "seeing").

[1] According to Heinz Pohl, however, there are 2 possible derivations: either from the early Slovenian glodišće (= "place gnawed away by water", from glodati = "to gnaw"), but this link is phonetically difficult; or more probably from glodež which has a similar meaning.

[2] In the Debanttal valley the mountain was for a long time called the Großer Gößnitzkopf.

[1] The best ascent option is from the Lienzer Hut (1,977 m above sea level (AA)) along the Franz Keil Way, then on to the Kalser Törl and finally along the southeast arête.

In autumn 2006 a klettersteig was installed on the southeast ridge which is of moderate difficulty (grade B).