Weisskamm
Tirol / Alto Adige, Austria/Italy, Europe

Weisskamm

Page Type Page Type: Area/Range
Location Lat/Lon: 46.87714°N / 10.86098°E
Activities Activities: Hiking, Mountaineering, Trad Climbing, Ice Climbing, Mixed, Scrambling, Skiing
Seasons Season: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Additional Information Elevation: 12375 ft / 3772 m
Sign the Climber's Log
Sign the Climber's Log!

1 - Overview

 
Panoramic view Wildspitze and Hinterer Brochkogel
Wildspitze and Hinterer Brochkogel (Sebastian Hamm)

Weisskamm (German: White Crest) is the central and highest subgroup of the Ötztal Alps. As the name implies, it is heavily glaciated and indeed it carries the largest consecutive glaciers of the eastern Alps: Gepatschferner and Mittelbergferner belong to the largest single glaciers and together with Kesselwand-, Vernagt- and Taschachferner the cover is complete. With Wildspitze and Weißkugel, Weisskamm is home to the two highest mountains of the Ötztal Alps, which at the same time are No 2 and No3 in the list of Austrian peaks after remote Großglockner in the Hohe Tauern Range.

Weisskamm is a broad ridge of roughly 20km length, which starts with the ski slopes to the west of Sölden and runs in WSW direction. Its highpoint, Wildspitze, is close to the centre of the ridge, while iits second culmination point, Weißkugel is located near its western end. In general it is difficult to distinguish different ridges or subgroups, since the summits don't exceed the big glacier field by far. This is a general feature of the Ötztal Alps - huge glacier covered sloped plains are broken by summits which rise for some 200m from the glaciers.
 
Wildspitze 3770m
Wildspitze
 
Weisskugel / Palla Bianca (3734m, N Face)
Weißkugel
 
Fluchtkogel
Fluchtkogel

Since it is the central feature of the Ötztal Alps, Weisskamm connects to almost all other subgroups of the range The separation from the other subranges is not very distinct, often there are high passes, which themselves are often higher than or almost 3000m high.
  • To the south, Weisskamm is bounded by Venter Tal, Rofental and Hochjoch / Giogo Alto (2861m), which separates it from the Ötztal Alps Main Ridge. Upper Schnalstal / Val di Senales and Steinschalgtal / Valle delle Frane lead westward to Quelljoch (3349m), the saparation of Weisskamm and Saldurkamm.
  • To the west the separation from Planeiler Berge is Bärenbartjoch (3302m)
  • To the north Weißseejoch (2965m) separates Weisskamm from Glockturmkamm, Wannetjoch (roughly 3200m) from Kaunergrat and Pitztaler Jöchl (2996) from Geigenkamm.
  • To the east Weisskamm runs out into Ötztal between Sölden and Zwieselstein.

 
Wiesjagglskopf (3127m)
Wiesjagglskopf
 
the elegant north ridge to...
Weißkugel north ridge
 
Südliche Sexegertenspitze
Südl. Sexegertenspitze

Touristically, Weisskamm is best known for the Ski runs above Sölden, where roads run up to almost 3000m to make use of the glaciers around Karleskogel and Innere Schwarze Schneid. In the north, in Pitztal and Kaunertal, there are additional glacier ski runs while the southern ones near Hochjoch don't survive the summer months any more.

There are several panoramic hiking trails in the south of the range above Venter Tal but Weisskamm is more or less reserved for ski tourers in winter and mountaineers in summer. Apart from Wildspitze (and its vicinity like Hinterer Brochkogel) and Weißkugel the most popular mountains are the ones on the rim of Gepatschferner, namely Weißseespitze and Hintere Karlesspitze. Naturally, wherever there is a ski lift the mountains around it are climbed as well but most often you reach the summit by lift directly.
 
At the Urkundsattel
Pitztaler Urkund
 
Panorama Hinterer Brunnenkogel
Hinterer Brunnenkogel
 
Fluchtkogel
Fluchtkogel

Historically, Weißsejoch and Hochjoch have been trade and transhumance routes between the northern and southern parts of the Ötztal Alps. Hochjoch in particular is still used for these purposes. Twice a year in Spring and Autumn, sheep are driven from and to the Südtirol Valleys across the saddles onto the meadows in Rofental in the north. Nowadays it is a big touristic attraction in both Rofen and Kurzras.

2 - Weisskamm on SP

Enlarge
Weisskamm seen from the south-west

3 - The Summits

Hand drawn schematic map of...
 


  1. Gaislacher Kogel (3050m)

  2. Äußere Schwarze Schneide (3257m)

  3. Innere Schwarze Schneide (3369m)

  4. Karleskogel (3107m)

  5. Pitztaler Jochkopf (3023m)
  6. Linker Fernerkogel (3278m)

  7. Rechter Fernerkogel (3298m)

  8. Tiefenbachkogel (3309m)
  9. Mutkogel (3312m)

  10. Weißer Kogel (3409m)
  11. Taufkarkogel (3367m)

  12. Wildes Mannle (3019m)

  13. Karleskopf (2901m)

  14. Grabkogel (3052m)

  15. Mittagskogel (3162m)

  16. Mitterkamm (3222m)
  17. Mitterkopf (3347m)
  18. Vorderer Brunnenkogel (3393m)
  19. Hinterer Brunnenkogel (3440m)

  20. Schluchtkogel (3472m)
  21. Wildspitze (N:3772m, S:3770m)

  22. Ötztaler Urkund (3556m)

  23. Hinterer Brochkogel (3635m)

  24. Vorderer Brochkogel (3565m)

  25. Schwarzkögele (3070m)
  26. Petersenspitze / Taschachwand (3484m / 3358m)

  27. Hochvernagtwand (3400m)
  28. Pitztaler Urkund (3201m)

  29. Hochvernagtspitze (3539m)

  30. Sexegertenspitzen
    • Südliche Sexegertenspitze (3429m)
    • Nördliche Sexegertenspitze (3350m)
  31. Schwarzwandspitze (3467m)

  32. Hintergraslspitzen (3270, 3325m, 3313m, 3417m)
  33. Rauhe Köpfe (2990m, 2880m)
  34. Fluchtkogel (3500m)

  35. Ehrichspitze (3425m)
  36. Dahmannspitze (3401m)

  37. Kesselwandspitze (3414m)

  38. Gulslarspitzen
    • Hintere Guslarspitze (3151m)
    • Mittlere Guslarspitze (3126m)
    • Vordere Guslarspitze (3118m)
  39. Mutspitze (3257m)

  40. Hintereisspitzen
    • Vordere Hintereisspitze (3437m)
    • Mittlere Hintereisspitze (3451m)
    • Hintere Hintereisspitze / Punta della Cresta Bianca (3486m)
  41. Hochvernaglwand (3435m)
  42. Vernagl / Vernaga (3355m)

  43. Langtauferer Spitze / Punta di Vallelunga (3529m)

  44. Weißkugel / Palla Bianca(3739m)

  45. Innerer Bärenbartkogel / Cima Barba d'Orsa di Dentro (3557m)
  46. Innere Quellspitze / Cima della Sorgente di Dentro (3516m)
  47. Teufelsegg / Cresta del Diavolo (3227m)
  48. Im Hintern Eis / Punta della Vedretta (3270m)
  49. Steinschlagspitze (2861m)
  50. Adlerkopf (3200m)
  51. Weißseespitze (3526m)

  52. Falginer Karlesspitzen
    • Vordere Karlesspitze (3231m)
    • Hintere Karlesspitze (3160m)
  53. Wiesjagglkopf (3130m)

4 - Getting There

Fluchtkogel
Gepatschferner from Fluchtkogel (Blaze334)

  • Eastern Access
    This is the easiest way to reach Weisskamm:
    • Take the road through Ötztal Valley, which connects the Inntal Valley in the north with Meran / Merano in the south.
    • At Sölden take the road into Venter Tal Valley which leads to the south side of Weisskamm

  • Northern Access
    • From Imst take the road into Pitztal Valley as far as you can get
    • From Landeck take the road into Kaunertal Valley, again as far as you can get

  • Western Access
    • Take the road from Graun / Curon near Reschenpass / Passo di Resia into Langtauferer Tal / Vallelunga

  • Southern Access
    • From Vinschgau / Val Venosta take the road into Schnalstal / Val Senales until its end
    • From Schluderns / Sluderno (also in Vinschgau / Val Venosta) drive into Matscher Tal / Val di Mazia

5 - Accommodation

Enlarge
On Taschachferner (Sebastian Hamm)

On both sides of the border you have the choice among a lot of hotel rooms and apartments. Here is a selection of links:

Mountain Huts

Refuge / Hut Height Summer Winter Tel. Thumbnails
BraunschweigerHütte 2759m mid June - end Sept. self service for 11 +43/5413/86236
BreslauerHütte 2844m end June - end Sept. self service +43/5254/8156
Vernagthütte 2766m end June - mid Sept. beg. March - mid May +43/664/1412119
Hochjochhospiz 2413m end June - end Sept. mid March - mid May +43/664/540 25 74
BrandenburgerHaus 3272, beg July - mid Sept. n.a. +39/0340/4154306
Rauhekopfhütte 2731m beg. July - mid Sept. self service for 12 +43/664/5349044
Weisskugelhütte 2542 end June - mid Oct. beg April - end May on weekends +39/0473/633191

6 - Red Tape

Several Areas in the Ötztal Alps, Among them part of the western Weisskamm have been declared Ruhezone, Calm Zone. In these Zones Animals may not be disturbed in certain times of the year, mainly Spring and winter. Hunting is strictly forbidden, even entering the zones is not allowed. There will be signs along the regular hiking trails whenever you are entering one of these zones. Please follow the rules announced on them.

7 - Weather Conditions

8 - Maps & Books

8.1 - Maps


The best maps are the ones by Deutscher Alpenverein (German Alpine Club) for Ötztaler Hauptkamm there are two:
  • Ötztaler Alpen, Weißkugel
    Map No: 30/2
    1:25000
    ISBN: 978-3928777391
  • Ötztaler Alpen, Wildspitze
    Map No: 30/6
    1:25000
    ISBN: 978-3928777452


Kompass has some very good overview maps, scaled 1:50000 which show all the neccessary trails but don't go into too much detail:
  • Ötztaler Alpen
    Kompass Map WK43
    1:50000
    ISBN: 3-85491-049-5
  • Vinschgau / Val Venosta
    Kompass Map WK52
    1:50000
    ISBN: 3-85491-058-4

  • Maps Online

    8.2 - Books


    • Ötztaler Alpen
      W. Klier
      Alpenvereinsführer
      Rother Verlag
      ISBN: 3-7633-1123-8
    • Ötztal
      H. & W. Klier
      Rother Verlag
      ISBN: 3-7633-4094-7
    • Pitztal
      H. & W. Klier
      Rother Verlag
      ISBN: 3-7633-4058-0
    • Vinschgau / Ortlergruppe
      Kompass Wanderbuch 950
      Kompass Verlag
      ISBN: 3-87051-404-3

    Overview books (both out of print) with 20+ routes in the Ötztal Alps
    • Ötztaler Alpen, Silvretta, Ferwall (Bergwandern und Bergsteigen zwischen Timmelsjoch, Reschen und Arlberg)
      S. Schnürer
      BLV München 1990
      ISBN: 3-405-13171-5
    • Bergsteigen in Südtirol Band 2 (zwischen Bozen und Reschen)
      S. Schnürer
      BLV München 1982
      ISBN: 3-405-12212-0
    •

    Images

    View Weisskamm Image Gallery - 64 Images

    Table of Contents
    Geography
    Children

    Children

    Children refers to the set of objects that logically fall under a given object. For example, the Aconcagua mountain page is a child of the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits.' The Aconcagua mountain itself has many routes, photos, and trip reports as children.

    Album13 Mountains & Rocks
    Album1 Routes
    Album3 Albums
    Album1 Huts & Campgrounds
    Parents 

    Parents

    Parents refers to a larger category under which an object falls. For example, theAconcagua mountain page has the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits' asparents and is a parent itself to many routes, photos, and Trip Reports.

    Ötztal AlpsAreas & Ranges