Mittlere Schwenzerspitze (2882 m) from Obergurgl

Technical difficulty: 4/10
Fitness: 4/10
Objective danger: 4/10
Landscape: 8/10
Busy: 2/10

A short-and-sweet 2900er above Obergurgl with a big-mountain backdrop.

Starting point: Turn-off to Timmelsjoch
Ending point: Turn-off to Timmelsjoch
Ascend: 1100 vm / ~3.5 h
Exposition: North/ North-west

Route:

There is a small parking next to the road right after the turn-off to Timmelsjoch mountain road. We start by walking about 100m by the road towards Obergurgl. The summer trail starts climbing steeply east just after Ferienwohnungen Poschacherhof. This is the best option for late spring and the most direct access the valley. We likely have to carry the skiss through the forest for a bit, but after about 200vm the forest opens up.

After about 300vm the valley broadens in front of us - the wide and relatively flat Königstal. We continue throught the valley upwards. Pay attention to the north-facing slopes on the right hand side of ascend, they are relatively steep and can be dangerous when loaded with snow.

There is a clearly visible old customs hut sitting on a step at about 2700 meters in the middle of the valley. We ascent towards it. Just before the step, we traverse left following the terrain to a side valley. The summit of MIttlere Schwenzerspitze is now visible before us, with a steep north-western slope to the summit.

We continue to ascend towards the steep slope and eventually through the right-side shoulder towards the summit. It gets very to extremely steep towards the end and is often wind-affected, so crampons might be necessary. Eventually we reach a small summit-plateau without summit cross.

Descent:

The same as ascent. Many options through the valley.

Pro tip: this tour is easy to combine with any of the other summits in the Schwenzerspitze group for a bigger day.

Photos by @the.running.nomad, @bennibru, @troopni, @sontschi2604, @annikasuess and @nelesieben