Sulzspitze / Cima Sulz

Overview

Sulzspitze / Cima Sulz seen from the Tagewaldhorn north ridge

Sulzspitze is one of the summits located in the Tramin Group in the north-east of the Sarntal Alps / Monti Sarentini. Its bases can be easily reached, either from Penser Joch / Passo di Pennes or from Grasstein / Le Cave in the Eisacktal Valley, Valle Isarco. The summit, however, is a different affair. The only way to reach it is the mountain's north-eastern ridge, a chossy slope which ends in an exposed crest, leading to the top. In the end you are awarded great views of the surrounding alpine groups, most significantly the Stubai Alps, Zillertal Alps and Western Dolomites.

Sulzspitze is rarely climbed, mainly because the huge elevation gain of 1500m on its normal route. Also, the easier summit of Tatschspitze / Montaccio di Pennes is located directly to the north and the similarily precarious Tagewaldhorn / Corno di Tramin can be found directly to its south. The route is often very exposed which - together with the chossy quality of the crest makes the climb rather uncomfortable. On the other hand, the summit itself is very beautiful to behold, especially when seen from Tagewaldhorn or from Traminscharte. From this side (south) it looks like a fine cone shaped pyramid.

The first part of this normal route is a well used hiking trail, from Grasstein Le Cave in Eisacktal Valley / Valle Isarco to the east. It leads to Puntleider See, where two trails lead to the two neighbours, Tatschspitze and Tagewaldhorn. The Sulzspitze ascent heads up right in the middle, evading the summit of Schönjoch / Giogo Bello. It is marked by cairns but sparsely. The maps, listed below don't show this route though the map in the guidebook (also listed below) does.

In winter Sulzspitze is the destination of a ski tour from Penser Tal / Valle di Pennes, that is from the western side of the mountain.

Summit views

Sulzspitze is a great lookout summit though my pictures don't really show it due to the weather:-(

Getting There

Sulzspitze / Cima di Sulz can be easily reached from the Brenner Motorway A22. Leave it at Sterzing / Vipiteno and head for the highway SS12 heading south to Brixen / Bressanone. At Grasstein / Le Cave leave the highway and drive through the village. Approximately 200m after the last houses the road is closed. Here you can find a small parking lot with signs leading to Puntleider See (marked #14).

Red Tape

There is no red tape in the Sarntal Alps though free camping near the lake is not allowed. Rather make use of the inns in Eisacktal Valley or of the campgrounds and hotels near Sterzing.

Accommodation

See the following links for rooms and apartments

Sterzing / Vipiteno

Brixen / Bressanone

Weather Conditions

• South Tyrol weather information

Maps & Books

Maps

• Digital Maps
  • www.atlanteitaliano.it
    
  • www.austrianmap.at
  
  
• Regular Maps
  • Sarntal/Val Sarentino
    Kompass Map WK 056
    1:35.000
    ISBN: 3-85491-340-0
    
  • Sterzing / Vipiteno
    Kompass Map WK 44
    1:50.000
    ISBN: 3-85491-050-9
    
  • Brixen / Bressanone
    Kompass Map WK 56
    1:50.000
    ISBN: 3-85491-063-0
    
  • MONTE SARENTINI / SARNTALER ALPEN
    Tabacco Map 040
    1:25.000

Books

• Rund um Sterzing
  Henriette Klier / Walter Klier
  Rother Verlag
  ISBN: 3-7633-4167-6
  
• Rund um Meran
  Henriette Klier
  Rother Verlag
  ISBN: 3-7633-4290-7

Images

View Sulzspitze / Cima Sulz Image Gallery - 17 Images