Watzmann Crossing

At the Wimbachbrücke, you briefly follow the road and then turn left (sign Watzmannhaus) to cross a wooden bridge. Behind it, you immediately turn right again and ascend steeply on a wide footpath. The path meets a wide forest road, which you follow a short distance to the right, then leave again to the right at a left-hand curve (signposted). The still fairly wide path now ascends at the same gradient and in a few switchbacks, crossing two clearcut areas that offer open valley views. The path flattens and reaches the open meadows of the Stubenalm, which offers a refreshment stop along the way. A junction to Schönau is ignored, and you continue straight back into the forest. At a fork, you go straight on. The path flattens and you pass the hut's material cableway. At a fork, turn left and immediately hike across the open meadows of the Mitterkaseralm. Back in the forest, the wide path ends at an interesting forest climate station, and it now goes steeper up a mountain trail that becomes increasingly rocky. You reach another open meadow and follow the sign Watzmannhaus at the fork there. Finally, you ascend through dwarf pine and rocky terrain on a well-constructed trail (partly wooden steps) to the Watzmannhaus. (3:30 hours from Wimbachbrücke)

On the next day, you ascend from the Watzmannhaus initially pleasantly southwest, then increasingly steeply up the still broad north flank. In some switchbacks, you continue through craggy terrain. On a steep pitch, the first wire ropes help with the ascent. Beyond this, you continue west of the ridge line on a trail and finally over an easy rock passage to the Hocheck, where a small wooden hut offers shelter from thunderstorms (2 hours from Watzmannhaus).

From here continue south and descend immediately over an exposed spot. Then continue on easier terrain to a distinctive broad rock slab. Ascend this, then briefly unsecured to a ridge section west of the main ridge near a rock window. After a short descent, you reach a ramp system leading to the Mittelspitze.
From the highest of the three Watzmann summits, you descend briefly west, then immediately south along the airy ridge until you reach flatter terrain west of a gully. Mostly continuing along the ridge, you descend again in zigzags and over an exposed unsecured band. Further down, you reach a notch before a jagged yellow rise. This rugged ridge section is bypassed on the west, and you regain the ridge on ledges. A block is bypassed on the west, then you descend into a notch. Finally, a ridge rise is bypassed on the east before you get to enjoy a lightly exposed passage again directly on the ridge. The summit block of the South Peak is finally ascended on the west side (3:30 hours from Hocheck).

Descent: From the South Peak, which is also called Schönfeldspitze, you continue descending over or just next to the ridge (wire ropes). At the second ridge notch seen from above, be careful: here the markings lead right away from the ridge. Descend through a gravel gully to the large scree slope of the Upper Schönfeld. Following trail tracks, continue descending and far above the steep slopes below, turn left. Still over the scree slope, you reach a steep step. Wire ropes help again over this and the subsequent rock gully down into the Lower Schönfeld. Here, you descend southward through a ravine and then over a partly exposed trail, first crossing the slope, then continuing down steep ravines. After a short almost flat stretch, you descend steeply one last time into the Wimbachgries basin. On reaching the valley floor, the path crosses the wide scree bed and soon meets a wider path. Follow this to the right, first continuing through larch forest, then crossing the gravel bed again down to the beautifully located Wimbachgrieshütte (3 hours from South Peak).

From here, a wide valley path leads back to the Wimbachbrücke (2 hours from Wimbachgrieshütte).