The Gilfert is a peak in the

Tux Alps The Tux Alps (german: Tuxer Alpen) or Tux Prealps (''Tuxer Voralpen'') are a sub-group of the Austrian Central Alps, which in turn form part of the Eastern Alps within Central Europe. They are located entirely within the Austrian federal state of ...

. It is the most northerly extent of the

Rastkogel The Rastkogel is a 2,762 metre high, pyramidal, mountain on the main crest of the Tux Alps in the Austrian federal state of Tyrol. Location and area The Rastkogel lies five kilometres north-northeast as the crow flies of '' Vorderlaner ...

Massif and can therefore be seen from almost anywhere in the Lower Inn Valley.

Location and countryside

The summit bears a large

cross A cross is a geometrical figure consisting of two intersecting lines or bars, usually perpendicular to each other. The lines usually run vertically and horizontally. A cross of oblique lines, in the shape of the Latin letter X, is termed a sa ...

, as do the two northwesterly subpeaks ( Wetterkreuz) and the northeasterly Sonntagsköpfl (2,244 m). Hollowed out of its eastern flank is ''Das Kar'', a nearly three-quarters enclosed rock basin (''Felskessel''). It is drained by the Lamarkbach stream into the lower Zillertal valley. Although the massif of Gilfert-Rastkogel has a very distinctive

ridge A ridge or a mountain ridge is a geographical feature consisting of a chain of mountains or hills that form a continuous elevated crest for an extended distance. The sides of the ridge slope away from the narrow top on either side. The line ...

with many branches, the

rock face In geography and geology, a cliff is an area of rock which has a general angle defined by the vertical, or nearly vertical. Cliffs are formed by the processes of weathering and erosion, with the effect of gravity. Cliffs are common on coa ...

s are mainly oriented in a north-south direction. This geological feature gives the heavily divided mountain group its own character.

Paths

The summit of the Gilfert is easily climbed from Innerst near

Weerberg Weerberg is a municipality in the Schwaz district in the Austrian state of Tyrol. Geography Important peaks in the parish territory are the 2,762 m high Rastkogel and the 2,506 m high Gilfert The Gilfert is a peak in the Tux Alps. It is the mo ...

(south side of the Inn valley) via the Nonsalm (1,785 m). The route from Innerst to Nonsalm can be climbed as a

ski tour Ski touring is skiing in the backcountry on unmarked or unpatrolled areas. Touring is typically done off-piste and outside of ski resorts, and may extend over a period of more than one day. It is similar to backcountry skiing but excludes the u ...

or with snow shoes in the winter and spring, because the route is relatively safe from avalanches. A second route runs almost parallel to it from

Pill Pill or The Pill may refer to: Drugs * Pill (pharmacy), referring to anything small for a specific dose of medicine * "The Pill", a general nickname for the combined oral contraceptive pill Film and television * ''The Pill'' (film), a 2011 fil ...

or the district town of Schwaz up to the summit. File:20071225-Nonsalm am Gilfert MQ.jpg, Nonsalm am Gilfert File:20071225-Gilfert MQ.jpg, Ski ascent of the Gilfert in December

Ski region versus nature reserve

For many years discussions have taken place over whether to develop the Gilfert as a ski region, or designate it as a nature reserve. On the one hand, it has been envisaged for a long while to create a ''Gilfert-Rastkogel'' reserve (''Ruhegebiet''). On the other hand, the Inn valley municipalities around Weer have striven to provide access to the Hochfügen-Hochzillertal ski region, whose facilities would extend to the ridge. A regional planning policy decision about the future of the Central Alps around Hintertux is pending.

External links

{{commonscat
Gilfert ski tour via Hochfügen - route description and photos

Gilfert mountain tour - route description from Loas Saddle with photosGilfert ski tour - route description from Innerst with photos

References

Mountains of the Alps Mountains of Tyrol (state) Two-thousanders of Austria Tux Alps

Location and countryside

Paths

Ski region versus nature reserve

See also

External links

References