Hinterautal-Vomper Chain

The Hinterautal-Vomper Chain forms the main ridge of the Karwendel Alps, running from Scharnitz in the west to Vomp in the east. It is the longest chain in the range, with many peaks above 2,500 metres. The Birkkarspitze, at 2,749 metres, is the highest summit in the Karwendel. The chain divides into two parts: the Hinterautal chain in the west and the Vomper chain in the east. Its eastern side features a dramatic 1,000-metre rock face, especially at the Laliderer Wand. The Toni Gaugg Mountain Path follows the western section of the chain, offering a challenging high-alpine route. It links the Pleisen Hut to the Karwendelhaus, allowing experienced walkers to cross the Hinterautal chain. The only glacier in the Karwendel, the Eiskarln, lies below the Eiskarlspitze on the northern slopes. The chain is bordered to the north by the Northern Karwendel Chain and to the south by the Gleirsch-Halltal Chain. Walkers encounter steep northern slopes, cirques and ridges along the route. The chain includes thirty-four named summits, from the Pleisenspitze in the west to the Fiechter Spitze in the east. Peaks such as the Ödkarspitzen and Sonnenspitzen rise above 2,600 metres, while the Barthspitze honours the 19th-century explorer Hermann von Barth. Views stretch across the Northern Limestone Alps, revealing the wild terrain of the Karwendel.