Klammbrückl - Große Gamswiesenspitze (Madonnen Klettersteig)

Access to starting point:
Through the Karawanks Tunnel, we drive to Austria, and then we continue driving towards Spittal and forward towards Lienz (a little after Spittal highway ends). Further, we drive on a relatively nice and wide road through Drau valley. In the center of Lienz, in main roundabout we continue »left« and we continue driving towards Italy (exit from the roundabout in the direction of village Leisach, Anras and Silian). Soon behind the village Leisach, we will on the left side of the road notice signposts, which point us on narrow wooden bridge over the river Drava / Drau (direction Kerschbaumer Alm, ÖTK – Schutzhaus 1902 meters). The road only a little after the bridge narrows and starts ascending steeply. The mentioned road, we follow to the parking lot at Klammbrückl.

Path description:
From the parking lot, we continue on the road which is closed for traffic. Already after few ten meters, we come to a crossroad where we continue right following the signs “ÖTK Schutzhaus”. Further, we can all the time follow mountain road or we go on a footpath which runs through the forest and later few times for a short time joins the mountain road.
When the road ends we continue on a footpath which starts ascending on the right side of the valley. The path through a thin forest brings us on little steeper slopes and then to the vantage point from where we can nicely see the waterfall Klapffall. After that, the path turns slightly to the left and gets close to mountain stream. Next follows an ascent by the stream and then the path brings us to the mountain pasture Kerschbaumer alm. The path here runs on the left side of the mountain pasture and then follows only a short ascent on a grassy slope past rare trees to the mountain hut Schutzhaus. From the mountain hut, we continue left after signs Kerschbaumer Törl. At first, we cross a grassy slope and riverbed of a torrent and then we come to a crossing. At the crossroad, we continue straight and through larch forest we cross slopes on the right side of the valley. After that, the path turns slightly to the left and crosses some smaller streams. Later, the path turns again to the left and then runs on the left side of the valley. Here we come in dwarf pines and we start ascending a little steeper. The path is for some time still ascending through dwarf pines, and then we come to a crossing where we go left following the signs “gr. Gamswiesenspitze”.
The path is then ascending on a partly grassy slope and soon brings us to another crossing and with that to the entry of a climbing part of the path. We continue left on extremely demanding path “Madonnen Kletersteig”. The path already at the beginning starts ascending by the steel cable on a steep slope. Further, the path few times crosses a slope slightly to the left, otherwise it is all the time ascending towards the north steeply upwards. Later, the path turns left and crosses a steep exposed wall, which brings us to hanging bridge. After the crossing of the bridge, the path turns again right upward and by the steel cable brings us to the inscription box, which is situated before the entrance in hardest part of the path.
From the inscription box, we continue left upwards and then few times we almost vertically ascend by the steel cable. Such a path brings us on the west side of the mountain. Here we will in front of us notice interesting rock, to which they added “halo”, so that from far looks lilke statue of virgin Mary. After that, the path turns slightly to the right, so that it goes around mentioned rock, and then turns to the left and few times vertically ascends by the steel cable. This part of the path is extremely demanding and is marked with difficulty level C. Towards the summit path becomes less steep and after a short ascent on a ridge from the right side joins easier path. From here follows only a short ascent on a panoramic ridge to the top. The described path is extremely demanding and it is appropriate only for most skilled mountaineers with enough strength in arms and with mandatory self belaying. The ascent is especially demanding because entire path is secured only with a steel cable, and it is often placed the way that we can use it only for belaying, and not as help for climbing.
The descent is recommended on an easier path (Normalweg) over notch between Große Gamswiesenspitze and Kleine Gamswiesenspitze.

On the way: Klapffall (1690m), Kerschbaumeralm Schutzhaus (1902m)