Autumnal Alpine Panorama from Zwölferkofel

After a long and eventful day, and a short, frosty night, the hike from Campill to Zwölferkofel was scheduled for early morning. The mountain forms a cornerstone at the entrance to the Zwischenkofel Valley and, at 2,384m high, promises excellent views.

While the wild and imposing north faces rise around 1,000m, the south side consists of grassy slopes, allowing for an easy ascent from the Antersasc alpine pasture. The starting point of the hike is the alpine meadows of the Muntcörta nature reserve. The path continues along forest tracks and mountain trails through a mossy, damp mountain forest in the shadow of the Puezspitzen mountain range. Only shortly before the basin of the Zwischenkofelalm does the path emerge from the shade into the morning sun. The trail then leads easily to the summit over grassy slopes on the right. From there, a magnificent distant view extends to the peaks of the main Alpine ridge, for example, the Zillertal Alps or the Rieserferner Group. A thousand metres below me, the Campill Valley lies still, and I can retrace the entire route of the last two days’ circular hike to the Schlüterhütte and back via the Medalgesalm.

I reverently enjoyed this impressive atmosphere in solitude and silence before starting my return journey to Campill. Above the basin of the Antersasc alpine pasture, the rock bands and ridges of the Puezspitzen form a seemingly impenetrable barrier, but the narrow Puezscharte offers a passage to the Puezhütte. As this had already closed for the season, the circular hike via the Puez, Nives and Roascharte was unfortunately not possible this time. That’s certainly a reason to return to this beautiful valley again.

However, another highlight was still to come: the drive over the Würzjoch to Villnöß and to the Ranui Church, to gain a different perspective on the touring area of the past few days, with Peitlerkofel and Geislerspitzen.