Nördlinger hütte – Solsteinhaus

Having gradually left ‘civilisation’ behind during the first stage, the second day sees you enjoying breakfast at a refuge up in the mountains. Stage two offers spectacular views as you head south-east before coming to the Ursprungsattel ridge.

• Starting point: Nördlinger Hütte
• Endpoint: Solsteinhaus
• Highest point: 2239 m
• Recommended equipment: ankle-high mountain boots, sufficient water
• Difficulty: difficult / black mountain trail

The second stage of the Karwendel High Alpine Trail leads across the Ursprungsattel ridge and the Eppzirler Scharte gap before coming to the Solsteinhaus.

Stage description:
Leaving the Nördlinger Hütte, you begin by heading east but soon follow the trail north as it passes below the eastern cliffs of the Reither Spitze mountain. The trail then takes you east once more and brings you to the Ursprungsattel ridge (2087 m). Here, you do not head in the direction of the Freiungstürme mountains, but instead keep to the trail as it descends towards the north-east. At the Breiter Sattel ridge (1794 m), you branch off to the right on trail 74 in the direction of the Eppzirler Scharte gap. After crossing the large field of scree at the Kuhljoch and making a somewhat winding ascent, you will come to the Eppzirler Scharte gap (2102 m). From here, you embark on a climb with an elevation gain of around 200 metres up the lime gravel-filled Höllkar cirque (trail 212) before following the gentle undulations of trail 211/212 as it leads to the Solsteinhaus.

Summit along the stage:
If you still have time and stamina, you can take the following peaks on this stage by making a side trip:

• Kuhlochspitze (2297 m); ascent: +2 h
• Freiungen Westgipgel (2333 m); ascent: +2 h
• Erlspitze (2405 m); ascent: +3 h

Good to know:
On the way through the large boulder field of the impressive and mighty Kuhljoch, with a little luck we can spot chamois on the grassy areas between the rocks. The Kuhljoch, like the Erlspitze, belongs to the Erlspitzgruppe and, in contrast to the large chains whose summits mostly consist of horizontally stratified limestone beds, is built up of dolomite. The layers, which are mostly vertically stacked, have been heavily eroded and today present themselves as a bizarre rocky landscape of numerous turrets, reminiscent of the South Tyrolean Dolomites.