Untere Rötspitze

The Untere Rötspitze stands on the border between East Tyrol and South Tyrol, forming part of the Venediger Group in the Hohe Tauern range. Its summit reaches 3 289 metres above sea level, and it is linked to the higher Rötspitze by a long north-east ridge. The peak is a secondary summit, or ‘Rückfallkuppe’, on that ridge, with Virgilkopf and the Vorderes Umbaltörl further along the same crest. The first ascent was made on 1 August 1871 by Theodor Harpprecht and Joseph Schnell during their pioneering climb of the north-east ridge of the Rötspitze. The route normally follows the ridge from the Philipp-Reuter-Hütte or the lower Clarahütte to the Vorderes Umbaltörl. From there the Virgilkopf is crossed before the firn-covered summit of the Untere Rötspitze is gained via a narrow gap in the ridge. An easier alternative starts from the Lenkjöchlhütte and ascends the western flank. The surroundings are dominated by glaciers on both sides of the border. To the west lie the Nördliches and Mittleres Rötkees, while to the east the Welitzkees spreads below the peak. The South Tyrolean slopes belong to the Rieserferner-Ahrn Nature Park, and the Tyrolean side falls within the Hohe Tauern National Park. From the ridge the view extends across the Venediger Group and the surrounding high valleys.