Mallnitz - Vordere Geislspitze / Vorderer Gesselkopf (via Feldseescharte)
Starting point: Mallnitz (1191 m)
| Lat/Lon: | 46,98182°N 13,17603°E |
| |
Name of path: via Feldseescharte
Time of walking: 6 h 50 min
Difficulty: difficult unmarked way
Altitude difference: 1783 m
Altitude difference po putu: 1810 m
Map:
Recommended equipment (summer):
Recommended equipment (winter):
Views: 305
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Access to the starting point:
Arriving by train to Mallnitz is a good option because you can walk over the mountains to the other side of the Hohe Taurn mountain range and return by train through the Tauern Railway Tunnel, which is the longest tunnel of the Tauern Railway system with the length of 8371 meters. The train is also used for a motor vehicles transport between Mallnitz and Bad Gastein. An alternative option by road is 178 kilometres long. Information for arriving by car: Drive to Spittal an der Drau and take an exit for Lienz. Follow the regional road via Lendorf, after which drive a few kilometres and then take a right turn in direction Möllbrücke, Mühldorf and Obervellach. Soon after Obervellach turn right in direction Mallnitz. In Mallnitz park at a railway station (with motorail connection with Bad Gastein via 8371 m long Tauern tunnel).
Path description:
Exit the train station (Hauptbahnhof Mallnitz) and follow a road to Mallnitz for 100 meters. Before a stream Seebach turn right to a footpath (also marked with "Via Alpina" signs). Walk along the stream until you reach the first houses of Malnitz. Cross the first bridge and turn right. After reaching the main road in Mallnitz continue to the crossroads with many green signposts and follow the left road with signs Jamnigalm and Hagener Hütte. Follow the road out of Mallnitz.
After reaching the last houses on this side of Mallnitz, turn right and ascend to a footpath (a less attractive alternative is to follow the road). The footpath will lead you through the forest at about 50 meters of altitude above the road, however you may only occasionally glimpse the road below. Since this path is also used for a nice summer walks just outside of the city, there are many benches and points of interest along the way. Follow the signs for Jamnihalm or Stockerhütte. Keep left at one point when the path is not marked. After that you will reach the road again. Cross the road and the path in the forest will begin to ascend more steeply. Soon the path to Stockerhütte will branch away (i.e. a hut near a boom gate and ticket machine). Follow a wide path and signs for Jamnigalm or a path number 110. The forest will thin and the slopes will get steeper. The path will lead you to a dusty road, follow it for 5 minutes until you reach Jamnigalm.
Turn left at mountain pasture Jamnig and follow the trail west. At this point the trail will lead you through the grassy landscape while you will very leisurely but steadily gain on altitude. Afterwards, the trail gets steeper. At this point the trail traverses vast fields of blackberry (very popular among locals). Occasionally there are some mountain streams that you will need to cross (it might be difficult for some children). The trail is the most steep in the last part (one third) of the way. It finally reaches and joins with the trail Hagenerweg leading to the Hagener Hütte. The bivouac and Feldsee saddle (German: Feldseescharte) is 5 minutes walking distance to the right.
Turn right in direction to Hagener hut, but walk only a minute or two in this direction. After that, seek a passage to the ridge. Have in mind, that you approach the ridge after two small peaks (that rise 10-20 meters above the ridge). It is worth mentioning that the path in continuation is easier than it seems from the distance. The approach to the ridge is not marked and a trail is hardly seen at first. Yet once on the ridge, the route is logical. Direct yourself to the steep gully full of talus. Ascend the gully. Beautiful green lakes below will steal a moment or two as well. The amount of scree is the most abundant at the foot of this southern mountain face. With the higher altitude it soon decreases. Make one or two turns under the southern mountain precipice and head west. Overcome some meter high rocks, pass the small but deep hole and arrive to the ridge between mountains Vorderer and Hinterer Geißlkopf.
Turn right and follow a trail to the top of Vorderer Geißlkopf. A few meters of steel rope are fixed below the peak, but it is easier to go around it, since there is an easier passing to the top just about 10 meters away. A summit cross and a metal box with a book will await you at the top. Enjoy excellent views to the neighbouring 3000-meter-high mountains, i.e. Hochalmspitze and Ankogel to the east and Schareck and Sonnblick to the west.
Mallnitz - Jamnigalm (2h 30 min); Jamnigalm – Dr. Rudolf Weißgerber bivouac / Feldseescharte (3 h 10 min); bivouac – Vorderer Geiselkopf (1h 10 min).
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Discussion about the trail Mallnitz - Vordere Geislspitze / Vorderer Gesselkopf (via Feldseescharte)