Vogelkarspitze

The Vogelkarspitze rises to 2 522 metres on the border between Bavaria and the Tyrol, forming the second-highest summit in the Northern Karwendel chain. Its steep grass-and-scree flanks lie above the Karwendelhaus at 1 771 metres, a high Alpine refuge that serves as the usual starting point. The first climber, Hermann von Barth, reached the top on 4 July 1870 during his pioneering traverse of the range. The route from the hut is a two-and-a-half-hour scramble that demands sure-footedness and route-finding. A narrow gap through dense dwarf-pine scrub leads to the cirque floor, then the unmarked South Ridge rises over mixed turf and slabs. Short sections reach UIAA grade I difficulty, but the overall exposure and steepness make the descent especially hazardous when wet. Most parties therefore plan an overnight stay at the hut or ride up on mountain bikes from the valleys below. From Scharnitz in the north the total walking time is about seven hours, while the route from Hinterriß via the Kleine Ahornboden takes roughly six. The summit itself offers wide views across the Karwendel peaks and far into the Inn Valley. On clear days the Zugspitze and the Wetterstein chain appear to the west, while to the east the peaks of the Kaisergebirge come into sight.