Oberbachernspitze 2677m

A wide, well-frequented winter hiking trail runs parallel to the cross-country ski trail on the flat Fischleinboden up to the Talschlußhütte. Behind the hut, the Einser rises, splitting the valley into two arms. To the right, in the Altensteintal, it goes to the Dreizinnenhütte; to the left of the Einserkofel, in the narrow Bacherntal, to the Zsigmondyhütte. Both ascents are suitable for climbing the Oberbachernspitze. We choose the Bachern Gorge for the ascent: At the turning point of the ski trail, one leaves the secured area and hikes over alpine hillocks toward the narrow gorge. On the orographically right side of the stream, the ascent climbs higher over short steep steps and around many boulders directly within the Bachern Gorge on the slopes of the Elferkogel. Because the valley is surrounded by very steep flanks, avalanche danger must be considered — there is no option to detour here. During our ascent, part of the gorge is filled with old avalanche debris. A steep Dolomite peak – Hohe Leist – serves as a signpost. In front of it, the path becomes briefly somewhat wider and flatter before we again turn right into a very narrow gorge. Immediately behind it, a short steep slope must be overcome, after which the northern foothills of the Zwölferkofel are reached. In the valley around them, one now turns north and ascends over moderately steep slopes past the Zsigmondy-Comici hut on the left into gradually more open terrain. Over beautiful ski terrain (ridges, hollows, knolls), one ascends northwest towards the already visible Oberbachernspitzen. A short descent into a hollow leads to the now steeper summit slope. On its left side, several switchbacks climb up under the rocks of the Central Oberbachernspitze. Here there is the option to traverse left onto the ridge to the Büllelejochhütte. However, we turn right under the rocks and first ascend somewhat steeply and narrowly through crags to the west ridge of the Eastern Oberbachernspitze. Slightly south of the ridge edge, we soon reach the summit formation and in a few switchbacks easily reach the iron summit cross.

Descent follows the ascent route. More interesting, however, is the descent via the Büllelejoch into the Altensteintal: From the summit, you return along the ascent path to below the rocks of the Middle Oberbachernspitze and a little lower to a notch. A short counter-ascent (50 meters) leads to the Western Oberbachernspitze. From here, it goes with easy ups and downs and over a narrow rock band to the Büllelejoch. But we enter directly into the west hollow below the Western Oberbachernspitze and descend the steep slope to below the rock cliffs of the Büllelejoch. Here, one must carefully slide out onto the wide hollow that descends from the Büllelejoch at the rock base. Now, one skis in very nice terrain with moderate steepness down to a large flattening. Crossing almost level over a terrace from west to north, you reach the easier descent slopes of the Sextener Stein. However, we immediately turn northwards down a quite steep, partly rocky slope. Left or right over steep gullies or directly on the steep slope, one reaches the final bowl of the Altensteintal. Over the scree slopes of the Oberbachernspitzen on the right side of the valley, you can ski freely down to the valley outlet of the Altensteintal. Alongside the ski trail, it is almost flat back to the Talschlußhütte and then flat along the groomed hiking trail back to the starting point.