Karlspitzen
Encyclopedia
The Karlspitzen is a twin-peaked mountain in the middle of the Kaisergebirge
range of the Northern Limestone Alps
in Austria. The two peaks are the northern Hinteren Karlspitze (2,281 m) and the southern Vorderen Karlspitze (2,263 m) with its summit cross
; they are linked by a sharp, exposed, rocky arête. Seen from the south the Vordere Karlspitze is a huge and very prominent block of rock, whereas the Hintere Karlspitze is hidden behind other (lower) neighbouring mountains.
saddle and Steinerne Rinne couloir to their east and so lie in the heart of the Wilder Kaiser mountains. To the east rise the rather lower summits of the Goinger Halt
and Predigtstuhl
, immediately to the north are the Fleischbank
and Totenkirchl
and, further west, separated by the Kopftörl arête, is the higher Ellmauer Halt
. Thanks to its location the Karlspitzen have extensive views over both the Wilder Kaiser and also the neighbouring mountain ranges.
and is only marked by a pair of cairn
s. Cairns should not be relied on in any case, many are misleading. However, traces of the trail are generally easy to recognise. They lead through a rocky and generally steep Schrofen
which involves light climbing of up to grade II difficulty. It takes an hour to reach the Karlspitzen arête where the route branches to the Hinterer and Vorderer Karlspitze.
Kaisergebirge
The Kaisergebirge is a mountain range in the Northern Limestone Alps and Eastern Alps. It consists of two main mountain ridges – the Zahmer Kaiser to the north and the Wilder Kaiser to the south. The entire range is situated in the Austrian state of Tyrol between the town of Kufstein and the...
range of the Northern Limestone Alps
Northern Limestone Alps
The Northern Limestone Alps are the ranges of the Eastern Alps north of the Central Eastern Alps located in Austria and the adjacent Bavarian lands of southeastern Germany. The distinction from the latter group, where the higher peaks are located, is based on differences in geological composition...
in Austria. The two peaks are the northern Hinteren Karlspitze (2,281 m) and the southern Vorderen Karlspitze (2,263 m) with its summit cross
Summit cross
A summit cross is a cross on the summit of a mountain or hill that marks the top. Often there will be a "summit register" at the cross, either in a container or at least a weatherproof case....
; they are linked by a sharp, exposed, rocky arête. Seen from the south the Vordere Karlspitze is a huge and very prominent block of rock, whereas the Hintere Karlspitze is hidden behind other (lower) neighbouring mountains.
Location
The Karlspitzen peaks tower over the Ellmauer TorEllmauer Tor
The Ellmauer Tor is a 2,000-metre high rock saddle in the middle of the Kaisergebirge in the Austrian state of Tyrol.It is the deepest saddle on the main ridge of the Wilder Kaiser between the Ostkaisers Ackerlspitze in the East Kaiser and the Ellmauer Halt in the Central Kaiser mountains...
saddle and Steinerne Rinne couloir to their east and so lie in the heart of the Wilder Kaiser mountains. To the east rise the rather lower summits of the Goinger Halt
Goinger Halt
The Goinger Halt is a mountain in the Kaisergebirge range in the Northern Limestone Alps in Austria. It has a double summit: a northern summit to the rear, the Hinterer Goinger Halt , and a higher, southern peak in front, the Vorderer Goinger Halt...
and Predigtstuhl
Predigtstuhl (Kaisergebirge)
The Predigtstuhl is a 2,116 m high mountain in the Wilder Kaiser range in the Northern Limestone Alps in Austria, east of Kufstein in the Tyrol.The mountain is one of the well-known climbing mountains in the Northern Limestone Alps...
, immediately to the north are the Fleischbank
Fleischbank (Kaisergebirge)
The Fleischbank is a 2,187 m high mountain in the Wilder Kaiser range in the Northern Limestone Alps in Austria, east of Kufstein in the Tyrol....
and Totenkirchl
Totenkirchl
The Totenkirchl is mountain, 2,190 m high, in the Wilder Kaiser range in the Northern Limestone Alps in Austria, east of Kufstein in Tyrol....
and, further west, separated by the Kopftörl arête, is the higher Ellmauer Halt
Ellmauer Halt
The Ellmauer Halt is the highest peak in the mountain massif of the Wilder Kaiser in the Kaisergebirge range in the Austrian state of Tyrol. To the east is the summit of the Kapuzenturm, a striking and isolated rock pinnacle...
. Thanks to its location the Karlspitzen have extensive views over both the Wilder Kaiser and also the neighbouring mountain ranges.
Routes
The Karlspitzen are among the more difficult and hence less-frequented summits in the Kaiser. No signposted or secured route runs up to the double peak; all the more reason why Alpine experience, a sense of direction, safe climbing ability and a head for heights are necessary. The normal way starts at the Ellmauer TorEllmauer Tor
The Ellmauer Tor is a 2,000-metre high rock saddle in the middle of the Kaisergebirge in the Austrian state of Tyrol.It is the deepest saddle on the main ridge of the Wilder Kaiser between the Ostkaisers Ackerlspitze in the East Kaiser and the Ellmauer Halt in the Central Kaiser mountains...
and is only marked by a pair of cairn
Cairn
Cairn is a term used mainly in the English-speaking world for a man-made pile of stones. It comes from the or . Cairns are found all over the world in uplands, on moorland, on mountaintops, near waterways and on sea cliffs, and also in barren desert and tundra areas...
s. Cairns should not be relied on in any case, many are misleading. However, traces of the trail are generally easy to recognise. They lead through a rocky and generally steep Schrofen
Schrofen
Schrofen is a German mountaineering term that refers to steep terrain, strewn with rocks and rock outcrops, that is laborious to cross, but whose rock ledges offer many good steps and hand holds. It is usually rocky terrain on which grass has established itself, but it can also refer to purely...
which involves light climbing of up to grade II difficulty. It takes an hour to reach the Karlspitzen arête where the route branches to the Hinterer and Vorderer Karlspitze.