Eastern Karwendelspitze 2537m traverse

To the Hochalmsattel in front of the Karwendelhaus (4 hrs): From the toll booth on the paved road to P4, now after crossing the Rißbach bridge, turn left above the Johannesbach Gorge on the old path up to the new forest road. On this (or a shortcut hiking trail right above it) up to the Kleiner Ahornboden (Hermann von Barth monument), where the path can be shortened three times via hiking trails. Past the alpine huts in the Unterfilztal on a good hiking trail up to the Hochalmsattel. Alternatively (or even better) by MTB on the new forest road, which is quite bumpy towards the end here.

Summit ascent: At the Hochalmsattel a path branches off to the right and heads for the steep and narrow scree gully beyond the Grabenkar. To the right, the descent path leads down the gorge; we hike half-left on a recognizable trail up the steep and narrow scree strip to its end. Here we cross somewhat exposed to the left under the rocks and follow the barely visible path through the huge south flank "Im Wank." Individual rock ledges are cleverly bypassed in several switchbacks; the path is always narrow and mostly exposed, with occasional cairns helping with orientation. Over alpine mats, scree, and short rocky steps, we reach the broad southwest ridge and ascend it over scree to the craggy summit block. On a rising rock step with good holds, the summit cross of the Eastern Karwendelspitze is reached. To reach the highest point, follow the ridge edge in a right curve to a drop, briefly descend into the narrow summit notch, and climb (grade I) over large blocks up to the summit with a guestbook.

Descent: Immediately back to the summit cross. We then follow the red dots down the scree-laden rock ledges into the Grabenkar. The huge scree basin can partly be ridden down well. In a wide right curve, we reach the flatter lower meadow cirque, which leads into a scree gorge. Partly through the gorge, partly on its flank, it goes steeply down to the wide meadow hollow and over this to the Hochalm. A short ascent to the Karwendelhaus and the usual descent back to the starting point.