Sonnenwand, Olperer, and Großglockner—Hikes in Tyrol, June 2018

At the start of the 2018 summer season, thanks to the weather gods, I led these three beautiful tours in my home region of Tyrol:

Vordere Sonnenwand, 3,159 m, in the Stubai Alps: This beautiful peak flanks the left side of the Gleirsch Valley in the northern Stubai Alps. Although the greater Innsbruck area is primarily known as a ski touring paradise, this idyllic valley offers a varied, challenging, and secluded high-altitude tour via the north ridge to the Vordere Sonnenwand. The beautifully situated and excellently managed Pforzheimer Hut served as our starting point.

Olperer, 3,476 m, Zillertal Alps: Right after that, I headed to Schlegeis in the Zillertal. This was followed by a leisurely ascent to the Olperer Hut, where my next guest was waiting for me. After an excellent dinner—I can’t praise the hut’s team highly enough—I sank into a deep but brief sleep, only to set out with my guest for the Olperer at 5 a.m. the next morning. For the ascent, we chose the southeast ridge, also known as the “Schneegupf” ridge. After gaining some elevation over hard, grippy old snow, we enjoyed an entertaining climb on solid Zillertal gneiss. Despite gathering clouds and fog on the ridge, the summit treated us to fleeting rays of sunshine and a brief but magnificent panoramic view.

Großglockner, 3,798 m, Hohe Tauern: After a short break, I set out for Austria’s highest mountain. My guest had requested the standard ascent from the Stüdlhütte. The general weather conditions had changed drastically since the Olperer: instead of muggy, thunderstorm-prone air, the wind—originating from a low-pressure system over Poland—was blowing from the northeast. Strong, cold winds, a light dusting of snow overnight, and clear air created these conditions. With perfect conditions and excellent visibility, we were able to shake hands at Austria’s highest point.