Linker Fernerkogel 3277m crossing

With the route map, you take the Glacier Express to the Pitztal Glacier ski area. One descent on the glacier lake slope brings us to the Mittelberg cable car. Behind that, we follow the cross-country ski trail to its lowest point. Put skins on. We hike flat eastward along the Mittelberg Glacier, crossing the high trail several times. We head towards the wide glacier hollow between Linker Fernerkogel and Mutkogel. We follow the hollow, which rises moderately in a few steps, in a wide left curve to the north. The broad saddle (Tiefenbachjoch) between the east ridge rock tower of Linker Fernerkogel and Tiefenbachkogel is aimed for. From the saddle, we traverse about 30 meters northwest below the east ridge rocks into a hollow. The following steep slope is climbed in a long, ascending traverse up to the rock island. Finally, it goes very steeply around a cornice-like terrain edge. The north-exposed summit slope is reached. In a few wide switchbacks, the steep slope is overcome, and we approach the metal summit cross on the now quite flat summit east ridge.

(Descent along the ascent and via the emergency path or the Glacier Express back to Mittelberg).

If conditions allow, we descend the crevasse-rich and steep Hangender Ferner. We swing directly from the cross down the steep, north-exposed summit slope. Below the rock island, we veer slightly right to the glacier arm of Tiefenbachjoch. We bypass the central serac zone on the left and soon enter the flatter Karlesferner in front of the Braunschweiger Hut. Below the rock spur of the north ridge, we turn left and traverse as high as possible above the rock faces southwestward. With a slight counter ascent, we reach the moderately steep moraine slopes, which we descend to the flat Mittelberg glacier. We cross its tongue to the visible emergency path. This groomed, wide path leads past the glacier eye into an impressive rock gorge. The path leads over the right rock face after a left curve into the gorge bottom. A rock knoll is bypassed on the left. Behind it, tight switchbacks lead steeply down to the wide valley bottom, which we follow flat to Mittelberg to the valley station parking lot.