Raucheck

From the car park at Unterholz (about 1,080 m) above Pfarrwerfen, a farm track and forest road lead to the Alpengasthof Mahdeggalm (1,208 m) in under an hour. Behind the inn a very steep forest road climbs until marked path 227 for the Griesscharte branches off left. The path continues steeply through forest and a belt of dwarf pine, then turns north up a broad scree fan into the Eiskeller, the steep scree trough below the south ridge of the Hiefler, overlooked on the right by the walls of the Großes and Kleines Fieberhorn. Toil up the right-hand arm of the trough on loose scree; at the top a few rock steps (UIAA I) lead to the broad Griesscharte (2,270 m), about 2½ hours from the inn. At the col turn left (north) on path 230 towards the Edelweißerhütte, over limestone pavement and up a rise to the junction at the Vorderes Streitmandl (2,354 m). Do not go to the nearby hut but keep left: the path winds roughly west-north-west with small ups and downs over limestone ribs, round several knolls and hollows (I), and finally climbs grassy slopes south to the cross on the broad summit dome, about 40 minutes from the junction. The Edelweißerhütte is a 10-minute detour. Descend the same way, about 3 hours to the car park; allow for at least 50 m of re-ascent on the summit plateau. The scree above about 1,400 m is tiring in both directions and the south-facing slopes heat up early. The plateau is hilly, confusing and almost featureless: in fog, the cairns and paint marks are essential, and fresh snow hides the deep fissures in the limestone. The Wengerau route via the Werfener Hütte and the Thronleiter (ladder and cables) and the Hochkogelsteig from the Eisriesenwelt (UIAA II, secured) are harder alternatives.