Lenzanger - Goldzechkopf (via Hoher Sonnblick)

Access to starting point:
Through the Karawanks Tunnel, we drive to Austria, and then we continue driving on Tauern highway. Further, we drive through the tunnel Katschberg and later also Tauerntunnel, we follow the highway towards Salzburg only to exit for Bischofshofen, from where we continue driving on a four-lane road towards the already mentioned town. From Bischofshofen we follow the signs for settlement Zell am See through the valley by the river Salzach. At the end of the settlement Taxenbach we turn towards the settlement Rauris. Further, we drive through the valley Raurisertal through the settlement Rauris and Wörth. We then follow the ascending road all the way to a large parking lot Lenzanger. In the last part, the road is payable (9€ - August 2013).

Path description:
From the parking lot, we continue by following the signs »Naturfreundehaus« on the road which is further closed for traffic. The road which immediately after the gate becomes a macadam at first leads through the forest and it brings us to a crossroad. Right slightly downwards leads the road towards the mountain pasture Grießwiesalm, and we continue slightly left on the road towards the mountain hut Naturfreundehaus.
The road then soon brings us out of the forest and leads us by the stream Scheidbach with beautiful views towards the summit Hoher Sonnblick. Here we come soon to the crossing where right over a bridge footpath 123 towards the notch Goldzechscharte and summit Hocharn branches off.
We still continue on the road and we are soon at a crossing again. Left leads the road towards the mountain hut Ammerhof, and we continue right and on a gentle road we soon come to the hut Naturfreundehaus.
At the mountain hut, we continue following the signs »Hoher Sonnblick, Schutzhaus Neubau«. The path brings us into the forest through which for some time we are ascending towards the south. Further, the path leads us past waterfall Barbarafall and from the path increasingly beautiful views starting to open up on the nearby peaks and valley Raurisertal.
Out of the forest we then come on grassy slopes where in the summer months livestock is grazing. Here signposts point us to the right and then follows a crossing towards the west. When we come near the stream, the path turns left again upwards and then for quite some time ascending on mostly grassy slopes upwards.
Shortly before the hut, we come to a crossing where the path towards the mountain hut Niedersachsenhaus branches off to the left. At the crossing, we continue right and only a short ascent follows to the mountain hut Neubau, which we already see in front of us.
From the mountain hut, we continue towards the west following the signs »Hoher Sonnblick«. Right then circular path Tauerngold-Rundwanderweg branches off, by which we can see attractions connected with gold mines in this area. After that, the path soon crosses a stream and it brings us to a marked crossing. Left continues the path Tauerngold-Rundwanderweg towards the glacier, and we continue slightly right towards the mountain hut Rojacherhütte and summit Hoher Sonnblick.
From the crossing, the path is then for some time ascending on slopes on the eastern side of the peak Hoher Sonnblick. Higher, the path turns a little left towards the south and soon a view opens up on a glacier Goldbergkees. Here then path towards the notch Niedere Scharte branches off to the left, and we continue slightly right and then follows a few ascents on a rocky slope to the hut Rojacher Hütte.
At the mountain hut, we continue towards the northwest following the signs »Hoher Sonnblick«. The path leads us on a rocky slope and brings us on at first still wide ridge. From the left then joins a little poorly visible path over a glacier, and the ridge further becomes narrower and quite steep, on some spots is also slightly exposed so some caution is needed. At the ascent on a ridge occasionally we also get help from a steel cable and few stemples and iron spikes. In the last part towards the summit Hoher Sonnblick path on the ridge becomes even a little more demanding, we have an option on this part, to bypass a steep ridge on a glacier. In the case of ice or hard snow we will need an ice axe and crampons. The path on the ridge on this part for a short time steeply ascends with the help of few stemples and iron spikes. Ridge then soon becomes less steep and then follows an undemanding ascent on very panoramic path to the top.
From the top, we descend to a glacier and we continue towards the northwest following the signs »Alter Pocher, Heiligenblut«. Further, we are slightly descending on a glacier in the direction of northwest, while walking on the glacier we will need an ice axe and a crampons. It is also recommended to walk in a roped party, especially when the path isn't beaten.
When we come past the notch Pilatusscharte, we leave the path towards the mountain hut Alter Pocher and go slightly right and start ascending diagonally below the slopes of the peak Goldzechkopf. Glacier then becomes a little steeper and then follows an ascent to a rocky slope on the south side of the peak Goldzechkopf.
Glacier here ends and then follows a very steep ascent with the help of steel cables and few stemples. For less experienced it is highly recommended to belay. When we come on the ridge we continue left and then follows few more ascents by the steel cable. Later, the ridge becomes less demanding and only a short ascent follows on a panoramic ridge to the top of Goldzechkopf.
We can descend on the ascent route or we continue on the ridge past the notches Goldzechscharte and then we descend on the path 123 back to the starting point.

On the way: Naturfreundehaus Kolm Saigurn (1598m), Schutzhaus Neubau (2175m), Rojacher Hütte (2718m), Hoher Sonnblick (3106m)

Trip can be extended to: Hocharn (1 h 35 min)