Weißhorn

I have compiled a detailed photo report of the tour >>HERE<<.

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Starting from the parking lot on the northern shore of Offensee, we initially followed the forest road that circles the lake. There was no sign of winter yet - spring had clearly arrived here. So the skis and ski boots were first attached to the backpack and we started our tour in hiking boots. After a few minutes at the Offensee shore, we finally reached the junction of the high trail leading to Almsee. Here, we left the Offensee circular route and followed the marked path. At first, we ascended gently through the forest until we reached a gravel field. Here it started to get considerably steeper. Well marked, we crossed the gravel field and entered the forest again until we reached a sign reading "Steep path - steeper road". We chose the path, which was no exaggeration - the path is quite steep. After a few minutes, the path and the road merged again, and it continued on a forest trail, which eventually led to a cart track. This now runs less steeply to the Gschirrsattel, which we reached after about 45 minutes. 

Straight ahead, we followed the cart track further, descended a few meters, and reached a fork with several forest roads. The forest road going straight uphill was our further route. Ascending moderately, we followed the forest road to its next fork, where we kept left going uphill. We now followed the forest road to its end. Here, a narrow forest trail branches off, whose course we could clearly see thanks to some tracks in the snow. Steep and slippery, it went uphill through the forest for about 100 meters in elevation until the dense forest began to thin. Here, we decided to change from hiking boots to ski boots and strap on the skis. So the last piece of the forest trail led uphill until we reached a forest road. We followed it to the left and after a few minutes arrived at a steep and densely vegetated forest slope we continued climbing. The forest soon began to thin again, and the terrain changed from steep rises to moderately ascending passages while we ascended between Raukogel and the steep slopes of Weißhorn. The closer we got to our goal, the more spectacular the view - starting with the distinctive Rosskogel, over the deeply snow-covered peaks of the Totes Gebirge. After about 2 hours and 40 minutes, the Weißhorn summit first appeared in our view. Gently ascending, we circled it on the east side and tackled the final summit ascent from the south side. We climbed in several switchbacks until we reached some rocks. Here we had to take off the skis and scramble over the rocks in ski boots. Once this passage was overcome, the summit was reached after a total of 3 hours of ascent - with the summit register box at the highest point and a small cross slightly below. The view up here was breathtaking - a perfect spot for a lengthy summit rest! Above all, the Rinnerkogel attracted all attention, also the Rosskogel, the Feigentalhimmel, and the vast landscape of the surrounding plateau. Far below, we could see our starting point, Offensee.

After thoroughly enjoying the view and the sun, we set off for the descent. This followed our ascent route down to where we had left our hiking boots. From here, it was time to strap the skis back on the backpack and hike down the last approx. 550 meters in elevation. After about 1 hour and 50 minutes, we arrived back at Offensee and looked back at our wintry day's goal in spring-like 16° temperatures.