Nördlinger Hütte – Solsteinhaus

After the long third stage, you have breakfast this morning on the cosy Solsteinhaus. Stage two offers spectacular views as you head south-east before coming to the Ursprungsattel ridge.

• Starting point: Solsteinhaus
• Endpoint: Nördlinger Hütte
• 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 Eppzirler Scharte and the Ursprungsattel to the Nördlinger Hütte.

Stage description:
From the Solsteinhaus you follow trail 211/212 in a north-easterly direction, which leads in a slight up and down to the Höllkar (trail 212) filled with limestone gravel. From here, you climb steeply up to the Eppzirler Scharte (2102 m) for about 200 hm. From the Eppzirler Scharte the path descends over a few serpentines where you finally cross the large scree field of the Kuhljoch. Always keeping to the west, you follow trail 74 through the so-called “Kotzengruben” towards the Breiter Sattel (1794 m). From the Breiter Sattel, the path initially goes flat and then steeply up to the Ursprungsattel (2087 m). After a short rest you follow the path to the west and finally below the eastern break-offs of the Reither Spitze to the south, where you arrive at the Nördlinger Hütte.

Interesting information:
When you come to the Ursprungsattel ridge, you have two variants to choose from. The route described above is part of the Karwendel High Alpine Trail. Mountaineers who feel fully confident on Alpine terrain can choose to make the crossing from the Ursprungsattel ridge (2096 m) to the Eppzirler Scharte gap along the Freiungen High Alpine Trail. Although the rocky sections are secured with ropes, total sure-footedness and a good head for heights remain essential requirements. Mountaineers are recommended to bring a via ferrata set.