Wassertalkogel

The Wassertalkogel is a 3 252-metre peak in the Geigenkamm range south of the Puitkogel. It stands slightly in the shadow of its much larger neighbour yet still attracts many climbers because the Mainzer Höhenweg crosses its summit ridge. From the wide summit plateau marked by cairns the mountain falls away steeply in block slopes to the west into the Pitztal and to the east into the Pollestal. The last three-thousand-metre summit on the Mainzer Höhenweg towards the Rüsselsheimer Hütte is the Wassertalkel. On the western edge of the plateau stands the Rheinland-Pfalz-Biwak, a spacious emergency shelter with nine bunks.

The mountain was probably climbed long before the first recorded ascent by Rudolf L. Kusdas on 29 August 1895. Kusdas came from Mittelberg, climbed to the Pollesjoch and then traversed the Geigenkamm peaks to reach the Wassertalkogel. After standing on the summit he descended towards the col between the Sonnenkogel and the Wassertalkogel. The southern route starts in the Pitztal, crosses the Rettenbachferner and follows the marked Mainzer Höhenweg along the ridge.

A western route from Mandarfen leads up steep grass slopes past avalanche barriers to a metal cross visible from the valley. From there climbers follow a broad gully to a gravel ridge, climb a steep step and then move along a rib to the summit ridge. The broad block crest leads easily southward to the top where wide views open across the Ötztal and Pitztal.