Heiligenblut - Hoher Sonnblick/Zittelhaus - Duisburger Hut

Heiligenblut (1291 m), the ancient mountaineering village at Großglockner, is also the valley location for the start of the Tauern Höhenweg heading east.   At the Fleißkehre of the Großglockner High Alpine Road, we enter the Goldberg group. Through the Kleinfleiß valley, you soon reach the "Alter Pocher" guesthouse (1807 m), the ideal overnight spot before the ascent to the Hoher Sonnblick (be sure to check the opening hours in advance).

Through the lush green Kleinfleiß valley we follow path 102B to a fork. Here we take the left fork, north (159), and after crossing a road several times, reach the picturesque Zirmsee, the ideal spot for the first major rest. The path then leads us around the Hörnl to the huge debris fields released by the retreating ice of the Kleinfleißkees glacier over the last decades. Here, it is essential to follow the markings carefully since it's easy to lose them in the confusing block terrain. In poor visibility, a passage is strongly discouraged.

You will be relieved when you get past this zone and can enter the firn of the Kleinfleißkees glacier. Usually, a good track is visible. The glacier is by no means free of crevasses. In recent years, some tragic crevasse falls have occurred. Therefore, keep a sufficient distance from the crevasse area near the Pilatusscharte (2905 m).

When you reach the rocks of the summit structure with the Zittelhaus (3102 m) and the meteorological station, you know what you have accomplished (5 hrs from Alter Pocher). Spending a night up here is mandatory. The panoramic view and the sunrise and sunset are an experience. If possible, a guided tour through the meteorological station (against a donation to the weather warden) should be arranged.

The descent the next day begins with crossing to the eastern shoulder, from where you follow the block ridge, partly somewhat exposed, with its protections to the Rojacher Hut. Experienced crampon users can also descend via the Goldbergkees glacier and later cross to the ridge, but be careful, crossing the steep hard-firn gully to reach the ridge can be a tricky endeavor.

After a long rest at the Rojacher Hut (2718 m), we continue on the rocky path 102 to a fork:

An experienced mountaineer can, in good visibility and with an ice-free glacier, continue straight ahead, break through the lateral moraine of the Vogelmaier Ochsenkarkess glacier, cross the glacier, and on the other side after the scree zone, pick up the markings of path 102 again (large cairn with signal pole). Via the Niedere Scharte (2695 m, memorial plaque) and the Goldbergtauernkopf (2775 m), you reach the Fraganter Scharte. A shorter way: descend directly south via path 118 through the broad gully (possibly hard firn) to path 158 and later 102.

Those who want to avoid the glacier crossing can, from the fork, follow an unmarked but clearly visible path (occasionally you find gray spots that cover an earlier marking). Shortly thereafter, at about 2393 m, you reach the blue/white marked educational trail "Tauerngold," which leads us to a sturdy bridge over the rushing glacial stream near the ruins of the Knappenhaus (2339 m). Heading north along the path, you reach at a hairpin turn the path coming up from the "Neubau" towards the Fraganter Scharte.

If you want to avoid this path as well, you must descend to the "Neubau" (2175 m) and follow the well-marked path up to the Fraganter Scharte (2753 m) from there.

At the Fraganter Scharte, the three variants meet again. From here, follow path 102 into the valley head of the Wurten. Along the shore path 102 by the Hochwurtensee, you reach the hut path, the Richard Helfer path 145, to the Duisburger Hut (2572 m), (4 to 6 hours from Zittelhaus depending on route choice).