Hochkönig from the Arthurhaus

Ascent: From the large parking lot, follow the road that leads northeast to the Mitterfeldalm (closed in winter). The gentle slope behind the huts is crossed with a slight incline to the northwest up to a terrain edge (point 1687 m). The following steep slope is then crossed descending to a rock block in a gully ("Kleine Geißnase") and from there ascending again into the lowest cirque floor of the Ochsenkar. Through the wide cirque, you now climb westwards; a steep step can be bypassed on both the right and left sides. Below the steep south face of the Torsäule, you reach the flat upper Ochsenkar, which is surrounded by steep flanks. A short steep north slope leads up to the left into another hollow, and over a steep southeast slope you finally reach the edge of the large high plateau. Following approximately the markings of the summer path or usually better slightly to the right of it, you now go with some strenuous ups and downs westwards to the summit structure where the clearly visible Matrashaus is located. A final short steep east slope leads up to the highest point.

Descent: The descent along the ascent route is the shortest and fastest way back, but numerous annoying smaller to medium ascents have to be overcome, which sometimes make re-skinning advisable.

From a skiing perspective, the descent can be significantly enhanced with two variants:

Variant 1 (recommended in good visibility in any case, as it takes hardly longer than the ascent route): At the high plateau, leave the original route fairly soon to the left and descend - always crossing slightly to the right - over the plateau to the east-northeast below the "Schoberschartl". Here the skins are put back on and about 80 meters of elevation are climbed east into the notch.

Variant 2 (only if there is still enough time and strength): From the lower end of the Ochsenkar, instead of crossing immediately to the right towards the Mitterfeldalm, descend straight down the wonderful ski slopes into the Höllntal. In the "Pfarrwirtsboden" the skins are put back on and about 400 meters of elevation are climbed again to the Mitterfeldalm.