Wilder Kaiser

The highest point of the Wilder Kaiser, the Ellmauer Halt (2,344m/7,691ft), with its three jagged peaks, can be climbed either from the Anton-Karg-Haus at Hinterbärenbad in the Kaisertal (about five hours) or from the south by way of Grutten-Hütte (1,620m/5,315ft) at Ellmau; from Hinterbärenbad the Sonneck (2,260m/7,417ft; about 4.5 hours) can also be climbed. To the north it is a two hours' climb to the Stripsenjoch (1,580m/5,186ft) at the foot of the Stripsenkopf (1,810m/5,940ft; three quarters of an hour). Keen rock-climbers make their base at the Stripsenjoch hut (1,580m/5,186ft), immediately below the northern face of the difficult Totenkirchl (2,193m/7,195ft); from here the route descends through the dark Steinerne Rinne to the Gaudeamus hut (1,270m/4,167ft) near Ellmau. Names such as Teufelswurzgarten ("Devil's Herb Garden") and Teufelskraxe ("Devil's Climb") serve as reminders of the searches for legendary treasure inside the mountains.