Kleines Degenhorn

The Kleine Degenhorn is a 2,849-metre peak in the Villgratner range, marking the border between Innervillgraten and Außervillgraten in East Tyrol. It stands south-east of the main ridge, linked to the higher Grosse Degenhorn by a south-east ridge. The mountain drops southwards through the Kleine Arnlenke and Trogschneide to the Arntaler Lenke and the Kugelwand. A small lake, the Deggenhornsee, lies in the basin between the north-east and south-east ridges of the Grosse Degenhorn and north of the Kleine Degenhorn. Climbers usually treat the Kleine Degenhorn as a stop on the way to the Grosse Degenhorn. The shortest route starts from the north using lifts at St. Jakob in Defereggen. Walkers leave the Mooseralm lift station below the Grosse Leppleskofel and Hochleitenspitze, pass the Deggenhornsee and reach the Ochsenlenke before ascending the summit. From the north-west a path follows the Brugger Almbach valley from Lacken past steep steps to the Brugger Alm and Ochsenlenke. An eastern approach uses the Volkzeiner Hütte and Volkzeinalm, climbs steeply to the Schrentenbachboden and a high corrie with pools, then gains the Ochsenlenke and the north ridge. The south-west route follows the Stallerbach and Arntal valleys past Unterstalleralm and Oberstalleralm. Near the farm garden the path turns north-west across meadows and scree slopes toward the Grosse Degenhorn and continues to the Kleine Degenhorn. An alternative unmarked line leaves the Arntal at the Arntaler Lenke, crosses the Trojer Spitze and ascends the south ridge of the Kleine Degenhorn.