Weiss See (2300m) - Medelzkopf (2761m)

Why worthwhile? Highlight of a tour holiday! The Weiss See is one of the more beautiful mountain lakes in the region and the view from the Medelzkopf is very much worth the effort.

Starting point: Parking lot at the valley station of the Rudolfs Bergbahnen in Enzingerboden [Enzingerboden 1483m – Oberpinzgau, Salzburgerland]

Time: 4½ – 5 hours.

Details: Adventurous tour through the high mountains. Heinz Gruber Weg is a (relative) simple “via ferrata”-ish route with steel cables and steel stairs. Climb to the Medelzkopf intense upward journey across large boulders (pay attention to markings and Steinmännchen). When there’s a lot of snow don’t underestimate complete tour (tiresome). Additional difficulty level: [A] (around the Weiss See).

Route description:

Take the “Rudolfs Bergbahnen” to the “Rudolfs Hütte” (2315m). From the mountain cabin descend towards the “Medelzkopfbahn” (chair lift). Right before the lift we go right and that way walk straight past the “Weiss See” (we walk past a small tower). We cross the large reservoir and climb up some stairs on the other side.

From here the “Heinz Gruber Weg” begins: a nice climb alongside the steep rock face. The path is well maintained and clearly marked (red-white-red). With help from steel cables and 4 steel stairs we climb higher and higher. Than a relatively level passage follows, mostly across left over snow, towards an “ombrometer”. Here there’s also a fork in the road: we go down the mountain back towards the Weiss See. This path is the “Gletscher Panorama Weg” and takes us alongside the base of the “Sonnblick Kees”. On this part there can also be many remains of old snow. After this, sometimes steep, descent we approach the Medelzkopfbahn again, but first we come across another fork. Here we follow road no. 711 towards “Kalser Tauern”, one of the few glacier free passages to Kals am Glockner.

When there’s little snow, this route is no problem: reasonably steep, but nowhere really tiresome. During our trip we had quite a bit of old snow. 2 large, steep snow fields made this climb a lot more tiresome!

Once we reach “Kalser Tauern” (2515m) we take a left up (east) through large boulders. After a while we approach the mountain station of the Medelzkopfbahn (the number of tourists increase ;). We keep right here and cross large stone “plateaus” and follow the large Steinmännchen. The markings are red-white. To our left we see our goal: the Medelzkopf.

The markings skilfully guide us through the large collections of rocks of the, partially steep, slope of the Medelzkopf. For several passages the use of your hands is required (no steel cables or the like). Once we clear this part we’re almost at the top. We orientate ourselves and find the route (watch out for markings, Steinmännchen and such.), a well worn path than quickly takes us to the top.

On the way back it’s important to orientate yourself between the boulders. Once back at the mountain station of the Medelzkopfbahn we take it back to the Rudolfs Hütte so as not to miss the last ride to Enzingerboden.

Done in 2004.