Schlieferspitze 3290m

Ascent to the Kürsingerhütte: If the road to the Hopffeldboden parking lot is still closed, plan for 1660m elevation gain and 7-8 hours of ascent; otherwise, 1500m and about 6 hours to the hut. If taxi transport to the material cable car is possible (see hut homepage), the ascent shortens to 600m and just under 2 hours. From Hopffeldboden, depending on snow conditions, continue on foot or skis along the alpine pasture trail to the material cable car of the Seebachalm (avalanche zones!) and ascend in a few switchbacks over a steep section to the Berndlalm. Then, with a view of the Großer Geiger, proceed relatively flat and lengthy to the Postalm and 700m south to the Obersulzbachhütte. The road switchbacks up to the Oberen Keesboden can be well shortened. Past the valley station of the Kürsingerhütte material cable car, the winter trail leads quite flat southwards to the valley head. A steep section is overcome in a few long switchbacks up to the glacier lake ("former Turkish tent city"). If the lake has a secure ice cover, it can be crossed; otherwise, it must be bypassed on the west side. Along the orographically right lateral moraine, ascend eastwards along the orientation poles over moderately steep slopes, a steep gully, and flatter hollows past the hut. A steep slope leads northwards to a tub-shaped flattening, above which it goes steeply westwards above hut level. A flat descent leads westwards to the Kürsingerhütte, only visible late.

Schlieferspitze from the Kürsingerhütte: From the hut, ascend eastwards to the fork in the path (= descent to the Obersulzbachkees). Skin up. Slide steeply eastwards into a hollow, then after a few meters ascend slightly and ski steeply southwards down. Do not follow the pole markings westwards into the gully but descend southwards to the Obersulzbachkees. Cross it southwards with little gradient. Under the lead roofs, orientation poles again point down a steep hollow to the glacier lake. Midway, cross as high above the lake as possible to the glacier arm flowing from the Großer Geiger. Skin up / possibly rope up. (This can be reached directly when ascending from the Postalm). The steep glacier slope is overcome in a few wide switchbacks westwards to a flattening. Then walk towards the right rock, bypass a large marginal crevasse, and ascend on a firn band in the rock westwards to the massive ice bulge. Slightly swinging left, ascend this fairly steep ice bulge in a few switchbacks. Above, you are on the flat glacier arm descending from the Krimmler Törl. Cross it westwards to the striking firn gully ("cannon tube"). Overcome the steep gully on skis under good snow conditions, otherwise on foot (possibly with crampons) up to a flat boulder field. Here you enter the Sonntagskees and cross it flat below the firn slopes of the Sonntagsköpfe to their north ridge. A trapezoidal, steep firn slope leads to a saddle of the ridge. Beyond that, cross with mild ascent below the Schliefertürme to the summit slope of Schlieferspitze. This increasingly steep, broad east slope is ascended in long switchbacks to a notch in the southeast ridge. Ski depot. On the usually heavily overhanging summit ridge, climb very exposed and steeply in firn or light climbing to the metal summit cross of Schlieferspitze.

Cautious descent to the ski depot. Then descend over the summit slope, the crevassed and steep Sonntagskees, and in a wide right arc through the steep gullies of the Sonntagsbach to the Oberen Keesboden. Near the material cable car, cross the Obersulzbach, then glide back along the ascent route past the Postalm and Berndlalm (both places to stop for food and drink) through the Obersulzbachtal to the starting point (on foot or by taxi if snow is missing).

Of course, the Schlieferspitze can also be ascended from the valley along the descent!