269 views
Ascent From the “Bei den sieben Quellen” car park, you walk about 300 m over the grit that runs down from the eastern Geierkopf and then cross the northern flank of the Kreuzspitze on a slightly ascending forest path until, finally, you go through mountain pines and then up to the Hochgrieskar in steep serpentines. It is somewhat laborious to follow the footprints and leave the cirque northwestwards to a saddle (1,676 m) before it becomes steeper - because of the risk of rockfall. Below the Schwarzenköpfel (1,897 m) you come to the end of the cirque and then follow the mountain pine ridge eastwards to the summit rise of the Kreuzspitze. On the last 150 m, there are some easy climbing sections of grade II to overcome before you can enjoy the impressive panoramic view from 2,185 m. After the crossing, I went over the north ridge to the Schellschlicht, which, like the previous ridge, is only exposed, but the more difficult climbing is very worthwhile. Descent When you look at the small secondary peak with the wrought iron cross, you can already tell that this descent is demanding. The short, exposed ridge over and the few meters down to a small notch (slabby step!) require absolute surefootedness in the brittle terrain. It is much more relaxed to continue on footsteps, directly on the ridge or on the western flank to a depression (1,900 m). After that comes a step (III) and the counter-ascent to the Kreuzspitzl (2,089 m). First south to a saddle (1,927 m), then west, soon through mountain pines down to the next saddle (1,666 m), which marks the border to the Geierköpfen. The long descent follows a little-used path above the Neualmbach down into the Gries and to the car park.