Habicht

Park behind Gasthaus Feuerstein (1,281 m) in the Gschnitztal, beside the valley station of the hut's goods cableway. A broad track crosses the Gschnitzbach; just past an old farmhouse a steep forest path zigzags north-west through scrub and then over alpine meadows to the Innsbrucker Hütte (2,369 m) by the Pinnisjoch, in about 2½–3 hours and 1,100 m. The hut can also be reached from Neder in the Stubai valley through the Pinnistal (4–5 hours, or less with the taxi to the Karalm). Most parties sleep at the hut. From the hut the marked path climbs a broad, partly grassy rib to a slabby step protected with cables, then goes briefly north over scree and blocks to the next rib and west up the rocky south-east flank. The steep boulder terrain with cables between about 2,650 and 2,850 m is the hardest part of the climb and is dangerous when wet. Where the small Habichtferner begins, the route stays left on the rib, then either crosses the flat, crevasse-free firn field or, as the ice has largely melted, keeps right over scree, to the right-hand start of the summit ridge. The ridge, broad at first and often followed on blocks or firn just below the crest, leads to a notch below the summit; from there the path traverses an exposed rock corner on the left and climbs steeply on cables to the surprisingly roomy summit. Descend the same way (about 3–3½ hours to the hut). Do not glissade or cut down the firn field on the descent; stay on the ascent track, as it breaks off into the Pinnistal and accidents have happened there. With dry rock the route needs no more than good boots; with snow or ice on the rock, or hard firn, crampons and an ice axe become necessary.