Page Type Page Type: Mountain/Rock
Location Lat/Lon: 47.07373°N / 12.58899°E
Additional Information Elevation: 10604 ft / 3232 m
Sign the Climber's Log

Overview

geographical classification: Eastern Alps > Hohe Tauern > Granatspitze Group > Muntanitz

view from Kalsview from Kals

Muntanitz is the highest mountain of the Granatspitze Group which is a part of the Hohe Tauern range in Austria and fills the gap between the well-known Venediger Group and Glockner Group. The name of the group refers to the Granatspitze, which has only a height of 3088 m, but is situated in the center of the group where the two main ridges meet. Muntanitz is about 6 km south of it. It can be seen from the village of Kals am Grossglockner, but it doesn't look very impressive because the nearer Kendlspitze has a sharper shape.
Muntanitz consists of two summits: the "Kleiner (=little) Muntanitz", 3192 m, and the "Großer (=big) Muntanitz", 3232 m. The normal route touches both peaks. It is easy to climb, the only exposed section is the descent from the Kleiner Muntanitz, where an iron cable helps through a little, mostly wet chimney. So hikers often stay at the Kleiner Muntanitz.
Combined with the long hiking routes from the cablecars above Kals or Matrei and with staying one or two nights at the cosy Sudentdeutsche Hütte hut, you will have some nice days in the mountains of the Hohe Tauern National Park. Being the highest mountain between Grossglockner and Grossvenediger, the mountain offers great views to these main mountains of Austria #1 and #4.

The first ascent was done by Arthur von Schmid with guide Thomas Groder on September 2nd 1871, directly from Kals

Getting There

normally you will climb the mountain from the villages either Matrei in Osttirol or Kals am Grossglockner. both are in East Tyrol.
Matrei is situated at the Felbertauern road (connects Kitzbuehel and Lienz) south of the Felbertauern tunnel. Kals is situated east of this main road that you leave at the village Huben.
nearest train station is Lienz. From there there are public busses to Kals and Matrei.

An access via the Silesia Hoehenweg hiking trail would start at the Rudofshuette alpine center. This is to reach from the Stubachtal valley (village Uttendorf) in upper Salzburg.

Camping

There is an official campyard in the valley at Matrei:
Camping Edengarten, Familie Steiner, A-9971 Matrei, Edenweg
Tel. ++43/4875/5111, Fax. ++43/4875/5111

At the mountain itself camping is not necessary because of the ideal position of the Sudetendeutsche Huette hut.

Sudetendeutsche Huette (2650 m)



The Sudetendeutsche Huette hut (2650 m) is the main basis for the climb. This is a very recommendable hut. It has been renewed in recent years and has now obtained an award for standards concerning the environment.
The hut is guided from end of June to end of September. Outside these times access to a "winter room" is possible and no special key necessary
phone numer of the hut when guided: +43 (0)4875 6466
homepage (in german) with many infos, pictures and links.

marked trails to the hut are

a) from the village Kals. Highest possible starting point is the top of the cablecars at the Rossbichl, 2302 m. 3,5 h walk

b) from Matrei. Starting point is the top of the cablecars at the Goldried, 2150 m. 5 h walk along the "Sudetendeutsche Hoehenweg" hiking trail


c) from the hamlet Glanz (1545 m) above Matrei (parking). 4 h

d) from the Felbertauernstrasse road at the "Felbertauernstüberl" inn (1160 m), meets route c) at Steiner Alm pasture (1909 m): 4,5 h


e) from the Felbertauernstrasse road at "Landecksäge" (ca. 1400 m) 4,5 h along the "Dr. Karl Jirsch Weg" trail. 4,5 h (very steep!)


f) from the Rudolfshuette (2315 m, to be reached by cablecar from the Stubach valley, Enzingerboden, along the "Silesia Hoehenweg" trail, crossing the main ridge of the Alps at the Kalser Tauern pass (2518 m), 7 h

here you can find an overview map of the hiking possibilities

normal route

This is a marked hiking trail ("Karl-Schoettner-Weg"). It leads from the Sudetendeutsche Huette hut to the south west ridge of the mountain that you reach at the Wellachkoepfe (2960 m). Following the path left of the ridge you climb the fore-summit Kleiner Muntanitz (3192 m), 2 h from the hut.
An iron cable helps to get down through a chimney to the pass Kampl (3129 m), then it is again easy to the summit. 1/2 h in addition, so in total 2,5 h from the hut.
(see also Bor's route page)

other routes

other routes are not common. There are:

- south east ridge, UIAA II. 2,5 h from Sudetendeutsche Huette hut. The ridge is to enter above the "Muntanitz-Balfen"

- north west ridge, UIAA II-. 1 h to climb, but 4 h approach from the Felbertauern road via Kessler Alm

- north east face, called "Loameswand", UIAA IV (?) infamous because of it's very bad rock quality

- there used to be a route over the Gradoetz glacier directly to the pass between Kleiner and Grosser Muntanitz. But there is not much ice left, so this cannot be recommended any more.

When To Climb

end of June to end of September is the best time. At his time the Sudendeutsche Huette hut is guided and provides beds and meals. An ascent with ski would be possible from March to May but it is not common because the access to the hut is not safe and the hut is not guided.

summit views

placed between Grossglockner and Grossvenediger Muntanitz is a very fine lookout mountain

Red Tape

No permits, No summit fees. You are in the Hohe Tauern National Park but climbing activity isn't restricted.

Mountain Conditions

weather report in german from austrian alpine club

maps and books

The normal route is marked with red spots. So a simple hiking map (common are those from Kompass or Freytag&Berndt) is sufficient. The best map available is the one from the german alpine club, "Alpenvereinskarte Nr. 38 Granatspitzgruppe", new edition 2002, available at amazon.de

online map available at www.austrianmap.at

other pctures

that do not fit to the other sections ore that are too similar are stored here



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Granatspitze GroupMountains & Rocks