Ascent to Karleskopf and Polleskogel

The road from the Braunschwaiger Hütte rises along a clear path towards the small Karleskopf range. The view of the ice arena, including Tyrol's highest mountain Wildspitze, is constant.

Another classic view of this tour is the pair of glaciated three-thousanders Innere Schwarze Schneid and Linker Fernerkogel.

Behind the mighty glaciers directly opposite you rises the northern, glacial wall of the Wildspitze, as if surrounded by other peaks. From the south, for example from the top of the Kreuzspitze, it looks much more monumental.

If you want to climb to the top of Karlskopf, you have to turn from the main path, after about half a kilometer of walking, to a slightly less clear path. The clearance is minimal and you will have another, although not three thousand, lookout hill on the list.

From the top there is also a great view of the jagged ridge of the Kaunergrat and the popular lake Rifflesee

From the top of Karlskopf, there is also a nice view of the main path rising in the grassy slope. Nature is really powerful, it was enough a few years after the retreat of the glacier and it's already green. The main goal of this tour – Polleskogel rises directly on the horizon.

After enjoying the views, take the same path back and continue along the main trail. Looking back, you can see everything that you already have in store.

If you are at least a little lucky, it is not a problem to meet an ibex here.

Just below the Polleskogel (approx. 100 meters above sea level), a comfortable footpath ends and the ascent to the Pitztaler Jöchle saddle and further to the top of the mountain begins.

After you climb into the Pitztaler Jöchl saddle (by the way, easily accessible from the other side, see HERE.) You will have to decide whether to climb the last 40 altitude meters to the adjacent Polleskogel mountain. Many tourists discourage cracked rock walls, but in the end the ascent is not as terrible as it seems at first glance.

There is not much space at the top of the mountain, but the views are impressive, of course mainly to the glacier arena led by the Wildspitzi.

The weakest views are to the southeast, to the remains of the Rettenbach glacier and the ski resort around. Directly below you is the car park at the end of the famous Ötztaler Gletscher Strasse – Austria's highest road. Photo report HERE.

Directly from the top of Polleskogel, the Geigenkamm ridge continues, through which the challenging Mainzer Höhenweg hiking trail leads. Far on the horizon you can see the highest mountain of this ridge, which separates the Ötztal and Pitztal valleys – Hohe Geige.

However, the most beautiful are the views you looked at practically throughout the ascent. From here, however, they are the most panoramic. Number two is probably the dramatic ridge of the Kaunergrat.

However, the top view is still inside the glacier arena. If you are not bound by a car, you do not have to return the same way and you can descend to the Ötztal.