Lattenspitze

Overview

Together with the neighbouring Pfeiserspitze and Wildangerspitze, Lattenspitze is a rather unknown summit in the Inntal group of Karwendel range. This lonely summit stands high above Inntal to the south and Halltal to the north, thus dividing these two valleys.

When tackled from Inntal you have to overcome about 1.600 m / 1.700 m of altitude difference to reach this summit. Steep rock and meadow slopes designate the summit and the east and west ridge, when viewed from Inntal valley ground. From Halltal or the northern Halltal summits, Lattenspitze has a much more spectacular appearance: a nearly perpendicular north face, composed of vertical limestone beds looking like huge staples of latches, which obviously gave this mountain its denomination.

The ascent and traverse of this summit is rather easy and worthwhile. You will meet few people, most locals, and you will have excellent looks to the south and into the southern parts of Halltal Karwendel. The full traverse with Wildangerspitze and Pfeiser Spitze is a great outing with a little Via Ferrata, some easy rock scramble and some airy parts on the ridges.

If you want to stay overnight at Pfeishütte, the nearest alpine club hut, the Lattenspitze traverse from Halltal or Inntal trailheads to this hut can be a more than satisfying start for an interesting stay in the region.

Getting There

Main trailheads for Lattenspitze are

Halltal / Ißbrücke parking area (currently closed, actually parking area at Absam)

Thaur / Inntal valley

Pfeishütte

You reach Halltal

from Salzburg / Munich / Kufstein by highway number A 8 to Inntal - intersection, A 12 to exit Hall - Mitte (toll road). At the exit Hall - Mitte follow road number 171A to Hall center and road number L225 to Absam and in the direction Gnadenwald. Where this road turns right go straight on on the Halltal road.

from Innsbruck / Arlberg by highway A 8 (toll road) to exit Hall Mitte; go on as described above.

from Munich (toll free) use highway A 95 to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, road number B 11 to Mittenwald and Scharnitz, road number 177 to Zirl and road number 171 to Hall center, passing through the town of Innsbruck. At Hall center do as described above.

Halltal trailhead:

Halltal / Ißbrücke is the very last trailhead along the Halltal road.

Current regulations for Halltal (08 / 2014):

Halltal is closed to public traffic and will be so in the future. This is due to security regulations (landslide areas along the road).

Actually there is a shuttle bus service on weekends with good weather during the summer months (see schedule and prices here ).

This bus starts at Absam / Halltal parking area and ends at the Sankt Magdalena mountain inn. With this bus it is possible to reach all the Halltal trailheads without walking or at least with only a short additional walk.

During the week and in autumn a taxi service is available to the trailheads; prices actually (2014) range from 18 € to 23 € up to 5 persons and 25 € to 30 € up to 8 persons.


Thaur trailhead
Parking area at the end of Stollenstraße. Proceed uphill on that road until you reach the parking area on your left. You reach Thaur by using road number L 372 from Innsbruck or from Absam above Hall.

Pfeishütte
Pfeishütte is an alpine club hut located in the uppermost Gleirsch valley / Samertal valley. You reach Pfeishütte:

from Thaur parking area (see above) follow the trail and road up to Thaurer Alm. Take the trail number 218 in western direction and at the first trail junction the right hand trail to Kreuzjöchl (very steep) and descend to Pfeishütte.

from Rum / Garneid by the trail to Vintlalm, proceed on the trail number 218 in eastern direction (Thaurer Alm). At the first trail junction take the left hand trail to Kreuzjöchl. Descend to Pfeishütte.

from Innsbrucker Nordketten cableway mountain station by following the so called “Goetheweg”, trail number 219, via Mandlscharte to the hut. Great panoramic trail.

from Scharnitz, parking area “Karwendeltäler” (fee!) by following the road into Isar valley, branching off to the right and following the Gleirsch valley road, route number 221, to Möslalm and Pfeishütte (best to be done by MTB).

Routes Overview

Halltal route

From Halltal / Ißbrücke trailhead follow the forest road in western direction to Herrenhäuser. Choose trail number 218 to Törl. Alternatively follow the forest road from Herrenhäuser to Issjöchl. Follow trail number 221 in the direction to Stempeljoch. After some 100 meters take the left hand trail at a trail junction and traverse the Wildangerspitze east slopes up to Törl.

At Törl follow the trail in western direction which zigzags up the east ridge of Wildangerspitze and Lattenspitze until you reach the summit.

Thaur route

From the Thaur trailhead follow the marked route up to Thaurer Alm which in its lower parts bypasses the forest road switchbacks and follows the forest road in its upper parts.

At the last switchback in front of Thaurer Alm leave the forest road to the right and follow the trail number 218 up to Törl, first traversing the steep south slopes of Lattenspitze then following the red-white-red marks off trail, ascending the meadow valley between Wildangerspitze and Kaisersäule, a tributary summit of Thaurer Zunterkopf with a monument (don´t follow the trail to Kaisersäule!).
At Törl, proceed as described for Halltal route.

Halltal

Törl as seen from Thaurer Alm

Ascent to Törl

Route from Pfeishütte

From Pfeishütte follow trail number 221 up to Stempeljoch. Before reaching Stempeljoch choose the right hand trail, traversing the scree fields below Pfeiser Spitze and ascend the rock chute to the south ridge of Pfeiserspitze. Follow the marking on the ridge to Pfeiserspitze summit, ascend into another chute and leave the chute to the traverse of the south slopes between Pfeiser Spitze and Lattenspitze (short airy ridge crest passage and short via ferrata). Ascend to Lattenspitze summit.

Halltal route

Halltal route

Halltal route and Thaurer Zunterkopf

Wildangerspitze – Lattenspitze – Pfeiser Spitze traverse

The whole traverse is described here.

Red Tape & Accommodation

Red Tape

Lattenspitze is part of the “Alpenpark Karwendel”, an important and strictly protected national park.

There is no entrance fee for the park but many regulations to follow.

There is a National Park Information Center at Hinterriß.

Accommodation

Camping is not allowed within Alpenpark Karwendel.

Food and lodging can be found in

Innsbruck

Hall in Tirol

Mountain huts

Pfeishütte

Thaurer Alm

Mountain inn Sankt Magdalena / Halltal (no overnight stay)

Herrenhäuser / Knappenhäuser / Halltal (old salt mining inn; no overnight stay)

Gear & Mountain Condition

Lattenspitze is a hiking summit for late spring, summer and autumn, due to snow conditions in the early and late season. You need full hiking gear and, as the upper parts of the summit are very steep, no fear of vertigo.

The traverse to Pfeiser Spitze and to Stempeljoch col is a bit more difficult, as there is a short Via Ferrata and some exposed and airy but easy rock scrambling involved. A helmet can be useful in these parts of the full traverse.

Lattenspitze

Wildangerspitze

Lattenspitze as seen from Halltal

Current Weather:

Maps & Guide Book

Maps
Alpenvereinskarte, 1 : 25.000, Karwendelgebirge, Mittleres Blatt, number 5/2, 2008
Alpenvereinskarte, 1 : 50.000, Innsbruck und Umgebung, number 31/5, 2nd edition, 1995

Guide Book
Walter Klier: Karwendel alpin, Alpenvereinsführer, Bergverlag Rother, München, 16th edition, 2011

Images

View Lattenspitze Image Gallery - 16 Images