Overview
Linderspitzen western rock walls
Karwendel ranges look like an unconquerable fortress when viewed from the west. The rockfaces from
Wörner summit, the huge sentinel at the northern edge of Karwendel to
Brunnensteinspitze above Scharnitz rise about 1400 meters above Mittenwald valley ground and seem impenetrable. Some of the pinnacles of this stronghold are the three peaks of Linderspitzen which are named, due to their geographical position,
Nördliche(2372 m), Mittlere (2339 m) and Südliche Linderspitze (2305 m). Mittlere Linderspitze is the least prominent, though not the lowest of these three sisters and even not named in the Karwendel Alpine Club guide book.
Located between
Sulzleklammspitze to the south and
Westliche Karwendelspitze to the north, Linderspitzen are often visited due to two main factors:
You can imagine the crowds of people up there.
Summit of Südliche Linderspitze with view to Mittlere and Nördliche Linderspitze
This cableway is the gateway for Mittenwalder Höhenweg and for those who don´t want to take the long and stamina - demanding routes from the valley ground. From valley ground to valley ground, Mittenwalder Höhenweg with all three of Linderspitzen is an 1800 meter tour and with Westliche Karwendelspitze you will have about 1900 meters of altitude difference to overcome.
Nördliche Linderspitze and Südliche Linderspitze both have meadow ridges up to their summits, the first on the north side, the latter on its south side. The connecting ridges of the three summits are high, airy, sometimes narrow and quite exposed. Without the iron ladders and fixed ropes of the via ferrata this would be UIAA grade III in parts. Südliche and Mittlere Linderspitze are framed by two meadow cols:
Gamsanger to the south with a wooden emergency shack and “
Am Gatterl” to the north, a broad col which separates Nördliche from Mittlere Linderspitze. Thus the traverse is a diversified and never a boring one: simple mountain trails alternate with secured climbing sections and the views are great, wide and deep.
As a comfort and an extra plus it may be added that around Linderspitzen, Mittenwalder Höhenweg and the adjacent summits there are a lot of welcoming mountain huts for a good break and some cool beer:
Mittenwalder Hütte high above Mittenwald,
Dammkarhütte in the middle of wild Dammkar below towering Viererspitze and
Brunnsteinhütte south of Mittenwald.
Getting There
Linderspitzen as seen from the south
You reach
Mittenwald or Scharnitz
All trailheads can be reached with railway, too.
See the
railway schedule here .
Trailheads & Routes Overview
Mittlere and Nördliche Linderspitze as seen from southern summit
Linderspitzen normal route is
Mittenwalder Höhenweg - the via ferrata traverses the summit.
Valley ground trailheads are:
Traverse from Mittlere to Nördliche Linderspitze | Ladder leading to Mittlere Linderspitze | Traversing Nördliche Linderspitze |
Main trails and routes
Red Tape & Accommodation
Südliche and Mittlere Linderspitze as seen from north summit
Red Tape
Linderspitzen and the whole of Mittenwalder Höhenweg is part of the
“Alpenpark Karwendel”, an important and strictly protected national park.
There is no entrance fee for the park but many regulations to follow.
Camping is forbidden within the parks boundaries.
Nördliche Linderspitze as seen from Westliche Karwendelspitze
Accommodation of all kind can be found at:
Leutasch
Seefeld
Scharnitz
Mittenwald
Garmisch-Partenkirchen
The following mountain huts offer food and lodging:
Dammkarhütte (private hut)
Mittenwalder Hütte
Brunnsteinhütte
Tiroler Hütte on the top of Rotwandlspitze (only food)
Larchetalm (private hut)
Shortly southwest of Gamsangerl col there is an emergency shelter shack below an overhanging cliff.
Gear & Mountain Condition
On the Linderspitzen ridge crest
Linderspitzen are normally accessible in late spring through summer and autumn until the first heavy snowfalls by using Mittenwalder Höhenweg or Heinrich Noe Weg. The via ferrata is not very difficult, beginners, however, should use full via ferrata gear.
In spring and early summer snow is lingering on the northeast slopes and in the cols of Linderspitzen thus making the approach more difficult. Crampons and an ice axe can be advisable in these times of the year.
Mittenwalder Höhenweg can be a winter adventure for the experienced, too. Please remind that this is a difficult undertaking and that the fixed ropes and iron ladders are not maintained during winter times.
Current Weather:
Map & Guide Book
Guide Books
Heinrich Klier, Fritz März, und Walter Klier
Karwendelgebirge. Alpenvereinsführer alpin: Ein Führer für Täler, Hütten und Berge. Verfaßt nach den Richtlinien der UIAA
Bergverlag Rother
2005
Bernd Eberle, Peter Mair, Mike Rutter, und Ralf Sussmann
Kletterführer Karwendel: Alpine Ziele & Klettergärten incl. Martinswand
Panico Alpinverlag
1. june 2004
Linderspitzen | Buttercup species on the summit meadows of Südliche Linderspitze |
Map
Alpenvereinskarte
Karwendelgebirge, West
Scale 1 : 25.000
Deutscher Alpenverein, 2005