Overview
Summit View towards the EAST
Summit View towards the WEST
Via Ferrata (I)
Hintere- and Vordere Karlesspitze as seen from Langtaufener Valley |
Hintere Karlsspitze is a
3161m high peak located on the Border between Austria (Tirol) and Italy (Sud-Tirol). It is the
westernmost peak of the heavy glaciated
Weisskamm ridge with its highest point being
Wildspitze (3768m).
Hintere Karlsspitze is a
beautiful lookout peak with tremendous views all over the Alps. You can see all the way to the
Bernina Group in Switzerland, the
Otztaler, Samnaun and
Silvretta Group in Austria and the
Ortles and Reschen in Italy.
The climb of the peak is relaticely short since the
Kaunertaler Gletscherstrasse gets you (and your car) up to an elevation of
2750m. From here it is about
1,5 hours to the summit. The route is a simple walk-up until 3000m. From here a nice , relatively short
Via Ferrata (Klettersteig,
graded I) leads up to the summit. The via Ferrata contains
secured lines.
In recent years a cableway was built near the Hintere Karlesspitze. It attracts many daypeople who get up to 3000m in the vicinity of the Karlesspitze. To be honest: It is really annoying to see the masses travel up, take photos and go down again.
The good thing is though, almost NOBODY goes up to the summit of Karlesspitze since the Via Ferrata requires some experience. As a result the peak is
not often climbed and the chance is quite big to be alone on the summit and the enjoy the fantastic views (way better compared to the cableway views) this mountain offers.
Route
EAST Face
Summit Block NORTH Face Via Ferrata: Close to the Summit
WEST Face
The route to the summit of Hintere Karlesspitze starts at the ending of the
Kauinertaler Gletscherstrasse at an altitude of 2750m.
From here you pass the Gletscherestaurant (on the left side). There is a very
well marked path up towards the
Karlesjoch. It goes over the rocks and at all time you have the immense Weiss-seeFerner at your left side. The trail goes up to the ending station of the Karles-cableway. So following the cableway leads you in any case to the right point.
There is one split-up on the route: take a left (the right goes up to
Wiesjagglskopf).
Reaching the
Karlesjoch at about 3050 meters introduces the most beautiful part of the climb: the Via Ferrata.
The via Ferrata is very well 'covered' with
secured lines and quite fun to do. It is
graded I and is relatively easy and short.
The Via Ferrata ends on the small rocky summit of
Hintere Karlesspitze from where the views are great!
Towards the north you will see peaks like
Glockturm and
Watzespitze. Towards the east:
Weisseespitze with it's great glacier. Towards the south:
Weisskugel Towards the west:
Silvretta and Reschensee.
Note:
The path that leads from Karlesjoch towards Wiesjagglskopf is
CLOSED! The marked path is completely
covered with loose stones and there is a
big danger of falling rocks! If you attempt to climb Wiesjagglskopf: Go down the same way you came up and take the path up in the vicinity of the Gletcherrestaurant. This will take somewhat longer but is much more safe!
Surrounding Summits:
How to get there
Summit Pano from the Summit: in the far left the Bernina Group, in the far right the Fluchthorn. In front the Langtaufener Valley
Major Car Routes:
Füssen/Garmisch-Fernpaß-Imst-Landeck-Prutz-Kaunertal
Garmisch-Zirl-Imst-Landeck-Prutz-Kaunertal
Arlberg-Landeck-Prutz-Kaunertal
Reschenpaß-Nauders-Pfunds-Prutz-Kaunertal
Brennerpaß-Innsbruck-Imst-Landeck-Prutz-Kaunertal
A routeplanner can be found
HERE
For the Kaunertaler Gletscherstrasse you have to pay an entrance fee of 20 euro's!
Camping
Aktiv Camping Prutz:
Internet Site
Camping Kaunertal:
+43 (0)5475-316
+43 (0)5475-31665
(no Internet Site)
Weather & Links
Weather Forecast Kaunertal
Live Webcams
Snow Report
Books:
Leichte 3000er: 99 Touren mit Weg
Dieter Seibert
ISBN-10: 3765436771