Circular tour on the Guffert (2,195 m)

On this Sunday morning, the Tegernsee region is still tucked under a grey blanket of clouds and drizzle, so the silhouette of the Bavarian Prealps is only faintly visible in the dawn light. Past the Achen Pass, things are already drying up, and by the time I park the car in Steinberg am Rofan, the first gaps in the clouds are appearing. The goal of my tour is the summit of the Guffert (2195 m), which offers an outstanding panoramic view due to its isolated position, making it an extremely popular hiking destination.

On trips to the Tegernseer Hütte or the Blauberge, I’ve often looked at the steep, forbidding north face. The view from the south today is completely different, where wide slopes with mountain forests and mountain pines stretch up to just below the rocky pyramid. Out of the possible routes, I decided against the ascent via the demanding trail through the north face today, opting instead for the tour from the south and back via the Guffertstein and Luxeggalm.

The steep path gains height over many switchbacks and approaches from the east across a saddle that is wide at first but increasingly narrows. The final section leads along the exposed ridge to the summit. Wisps of cloud drift up from below, repeatedly enveloping me in mist, interspersed with sunny sections and better views—an atmospheric interplay of distant vistas and grey veils.

On the way back via the Guffertstein, I get to know Martin Faller from Brandenberg, who is up here today with his father gathering the sheep early because of the drought, moving them from the high pastures to a lower alpine meadow. We chat for a while before he gets back to his work and I continue my descent to Steinberg.

All images are also available in higher resolution in the Austria image gallery.