Sonneck
Encyclopedia
The Sonneck is a 2260 metres (7,414.7 ft) high mountain in the Kaisergebirge
range of the Northern Limestone Alps
in Austria. On its broad peak stands a solid summit cross
, the panorama is comprehensive and there are particularly good views of the Ellmauer Halt
, the highest mountain in the range, the Treffauer
and Lake Hinterstein.
and Kopfkraxen in the west and Ellmauer Halt and Treffauer further east. It is one of the higher Kaiser peaks, but is rarely climbed.
The start point for this route is Scheffau am Wilden Kaiser
. Cars may taken as far as the Gasthaus Jägerwirt (910 m). Thereafter the route continues on foot, initially quite gently through woods and meadows reaching the Kaiser Hochalm meadow after just under 2 hours. After that it becomes steeper, running past the southern side of the Sonnenstein, then across slopes of mountain pine
and open schrofen
terrain, a demanding section up to the Kopfkraxen, a lower peak. On sunny, warm days it is essential to set off early otherwise the ascent will be tortuous. From the Kopfkraxen the route becomes more challenging along the airy, but secured ridge with a short climb up to the summit of the Sonneck. The last section requires surefootedness and a head for heights.
The base for this route is Sparchen, a suburb of Kufstein
. Initially this route involves a long approach march, but it is very scenic nevertheless. The trail runs through the Kaisertal
valley past the Pfandlhof farm and St. Anthony's Chapel (Antoniuskapelle) and reaches the Anton Karg Haus
in Hinterbärenbad after 2½ hours. It is possible to stay overnight here. The marked, but rarely used route now follows the "Beggar's Trail" (Bettlersteig)for half an hour towards the Kaindl Hut
, until the route to the Sonneck branches off. The trail climbs a continuously steep slope, which is none too exciting, high into the "Chamois Cirque" (Gamskar, which is aptly named) and runs along the Gamskarköpferl finally crossing a scree cirque painstakingly to reach the summit of the Sonneck.
It is possible to follow the entire ridge from the Sonneck over the Kopfkraxen, Wiesberg and Hackenköpfe
to the Scheffauer
. This route is, however, energy-sapping, lengthy, unmarked and unsecured and, in places, very exposed and laced with quite a few ascents. It may only be tackled by surefooted mountaineers with a head for heights and local knowledges and Alpine experience. The whole crossing from the Sonneck to the Scheffauer takes about 3 hours; and must be followed by a descent to the Kaindl Hut
or to Lake Hinterstein. This ridge crossing may also be done in the opposite direction, but its length and difficulty is frequently underestimated.
Kaisergebirge
The Kaisergebirge is a mountain range in the Northern Limestone Alps and Eastern Alps. It consists of two main mountain ridges – the Zahmer Kaiser to the north and the Wilder Kaiser to the south. The entire range is situated in the Austrian state of Tyrol between the town of Kufstein and the...
range of the Northern Limestone Alps
Northern Limestone Alps
The Northern Limestone Alps are the ranges of the Eastern Alps north of the Central Eastern Alps located in Austria and the adjacent Bavarian lands of southeastern Germany. The distinction from the latter group, where the higher peaks are located, is based on differences in geological composition...
in Austria. On its broad peak stands a solid summit cross
Summit cross
A summit cross is a cross on the summit of a mountain or hill that marks the top. Often there will be a "summit register" at the cross, either in a container or at least a weatherproof case....
, the panorama is comprehensive and there are particularly good views of the Ellmauer Halt
Ellmauer Halt
The Ellmauer Halt is the highest peak in the mountain massif of the Wilder Kaiser in the Kaisergebirge range in the Austrian state of Tyrol. To the east is the summit of the Kapuzenturm, a striking and isolated rock pinnacle...
, the highest mountain in the range, the Treffauer
Treffauer
At , the Treffauer is the third highest mountain in the Kaisergebirge range of the Alps. It lies in the Austrian state of Tyrol.- Location :The Treffauer rises south of the main ridge and is therefore the most striking mountain in the Wilder Kaiser...
and Lake Hinterstein.
Location
The Sonneck rises in the western part of the Wilder Kaiser on the main crest between the HackenköpfeHackenköpfe
The Hackenköpfe are a row of peaks in the western Kaisergebirge range in Austria. Their maximum height is . They are located in the ridge running west from the Sonneck between the Treffauer and Scheffauer. To the north their rock faces, up to 800 metres high, drop into the Kaisertal valley; to the...
and Kopfkraxen in the west and Ellmauer Halt and Treffauer further east. It is one of the higher Kaiser peaks, but is rarely climbed.
Routes
The Sonneck is one of the easiest, but also rather unknown summits in the Kaisergebirge. It may be tackled by experienced and fit mountaineers either from the south or the north on two different routes.- South route: 4 hours to ascend, 3 hours to descend, 1,350 metre height difference
The start point for this route is Scheffau am Wilden Kaiser
Scheffau am Wilden Kaiser
Scheffau am Wilden Kaiser is a municipality in the district Kufstein in the Austrian region of the Sölllandl. It is located 8.50 km southeast of Kufstein as well as 13 km northwest of Kitzbühel and has 3 sub-districts. Main source of income is Summer tourism; the village possesses a...
. Cars may taken as far as the Gasthaus Jägerwirt (910 m). Thereafter the route continues on foot, initially quite gently through woods and meadows reaching the Kaiser Hochalm meadow after just under 2 hours. After that it becomes steeper, running past the southern side of the Sonnenstein, then across slopes of mountain pine
Mountain Pine
Pinus mugo, the Mountain Pine or Mugo Pine, is a high-altitude European pine, found in the Pyrenees, Alps, Erzgebirge, Carpathians, northern Apennines and Balkan Peninsula mountains from 1,000 m to 2,200 m, occasionally as low as 200 m in the north of the range in Germany and Poland, and as high...
and open schrofen
Schrofen
Schrofen is a German mountaineering term that refers to steep terrain, strewn with rocks and rock outcrops, that is laborious to cross, but whose rock ledges offer many good steps and hand holds. It is usually rocky terrain on which grass has established itself, but it can also refer to purely...
terrain, a demanding section up to the Kopfkraxen, a lower peak. On sunny, warm days it is essential to set off early otherwise the ascent will be tortuous. From the Kopfkraxen the route becomes more challenging along the airy, but secured ridge with a short climb up to the summit of the Sonneck. The last section requires surefootedness and a head for heights.
- North route: 6 hour to ascend, 4½ hours to descend, 1,750 metre height difference
The base for this route is Sparchen, a suburb of Kufstein
Kufstein
Kufstein is a city in Tyrol, Austria, located along the river Inn, in the lower Inn valley, near the border with Bavaria, Germany, and is the site of a post World War II French sector United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration Displaced Persons camp.Kufstein is the second largest city...
. Initially this route involves a long approach march, but it is very scenic nevertheless. The trail runs through the Kaisertal
Kaisertal
The Kaisertal is a striking mountain valley between the mountain chains of the Zahmer and Wilder Kaiser in Austria's Kaisergebirge range in the Tyrol. In the ravine on the valley floor flows the stream of the Kaiserbach , which discharges north of Kufstein into the Inn...
valley past the Pfandlhof farm and St. Anthony's Chapel (Antoniuskapelle) and reaches the Anton Karg Haus
Anton Karg Haus
The Anton Karg Haus is an Alpine club hut belonging to the Kufstein Section of the Austrian Alpine Club in the Kaisergebirge mountains in the Austrian state of Tyrol...
in Hinterbärenbad after 2½ hours. It is possible to stay overnight here. The marked, but rarely used route now follows the "Beggar's Trail" (Bettlersteig)for half an hour towards the Kaindl Hut
Kaindl Hut
The Kaindl Hut is a privately-run mountain hut at a height of in the Kaisergebirge mountains in the Austrian state of Tyrol.- Location :The Kaindl Hut lies in the western part of the Kaisergebirge on an Alpine meadow, the Steinbergalm, and at the foot of the Zettenkaiser, Scheffauer and...
, until the route to the Sonneck branches off. The trail climbs a continuously steep slope, which is none too exciting, high into the "Chamois Cirque" (Gamskar, which is aptly named) and runs along the Gamskarköpferl finally crossing a scree cirque painstakingly to reach the summit of the Sonneck.
- Ridge crossing
It is possible to follow the entire ridge from the Sonneck over the Kopfkraxen, Wiesberg and Hackenköpfe
Hackenköpfe
The Hackenköpfe are a row of peaks in the western Kaisergebirge range in Austria. Their maximum height is . They are located in the ridge running west from the Sonneck between the Treffauer and Scheffauer. To the north their rock faces, up to 800 metres high, drop into the Kaisertal valley; to the...
to the Scheffauer
Scheffauer
The Scheffauer is a high mountain in the Kaisergebirge range of the Northern Limestone Alps. It forms the western buttress of the Wilder Kaiser and is one of the most frequented summits in the Kaisergebirge.- Location :...
. This route is, however, energy-sapping, lengthy, unmarked and unsecured and, in places, very exposed and laced with quite a few ascents. It may only be tackled by surefooted mountaineers with a head for heights and local knowledges and Alpine experience. The whole crossing from the Sonneck to the Scheffauer takes about 3 hours; and must be followed by a descent to the Kaindl Hut
Kaindl Hut
The Kaindl Hut is a privately-run mountain hut at a height of in the Kaisergebirge mountains in the Austrian state of Tyrol.- Location :The Kaindl Hut lies in the western part of the Kaisergebirge on an Alpine meadow, the Steinbergalm, and at the foot of the Zettenkaiser, Scheffauer and...
or to Lake Hinterstein. This ridge crossing may also be done in the opposite direction, but its length and difficulty is frequently underestimated.