Degenhorn

The Great Degenhorn stands at 2,946 metres in the Villgraten Mountains, where the borders of three Tyrolean villages meet. It rises between the Storfenspitze to the west and the Wagenstein to the northeast, with unnamed cols and the Ochsenlenke marking the gaps between them. A small lake, the Deggenhornsee, lies in the cirque formed by the mountain’s north-east and south-east ridges. Climbers and hill-walkers reach the summit from every valley around. The shortest route starts at the Mooseralm lift station above St Jakob, passing the Leppleskofel and Wagenstein before crossing the Ochsenlenke and circling the lake. From the east the Volkzeiner Hütte and Heinkaralm lead up steep steps to the Schrentenbachboden and a high corrie dotted with pools. South-western approaches follow the Stallertal past two alpine farms and then climb grass and scree slopes to the ridge. Paths cross flower meadows and rough rock, while marked trails lead to the Kleine Degenhorn before the final ridge scramble. Klettersteig routes of UIAA grades II and III+ offer harder choices on the north-east and west ridges. The summit gives wide views over the Defereggen valley and the peaks of the Venediger group.