Bergstation Hafelekar - Kemacher (Innsbrucker Klettersteig)

Access to starting point:
From Ljubljana, we drive on the highway past Salzburg in the direction towards München. At the multilevel junction Dreieck Inntal we go on the road A93 in the direction of Innsbruck/Kufstein/Brenner. When we return to Austria we continue to the exit 79 in the direction of Innsbruck-West. In Innsbruck we join the road B174 and we continue to the junction on the road 171, which we follow to the turn-off for Hungerberg (Sonnenstrasse). On an ascending road we continue driving to the hamlet Hungerburg, where we follow the signs for Hungerburgstation. We park on a large parking lot at the station of funicular; parking fee is 6 EUR for all day, and when buying the ticket for the cableway, it will be refunded. To Hungerburg we can drive also by funicular from the center of Innsbruck.

The second option (avoid buying Austrian vignette): from the main Slovenia on the highway A2 we drive to one of the border crossings with Austria and we continue towards Lienz. We continue on the road number 108 past Matrei and Osttirol and on the main road over the mountain pass Felbertauern (the road is payable, in 2020 the price was 11€ for personal cars). In the settlement Mittersill we go on the road B165 and on a narrower road we ascend to mountain pass Gerlos (1628 meters; payment 10€). From there we descend to eponymous settlement and we continue to the junction on the road B169. After a good 20 km we join the road B171 (direction Schwaz/Jenbach/Wörgl/Strass i.Z.), which we follow all the way to Innsbruck and the turn-off for Hungerburg. From there further we follow the upper description. To Innsbruck we can come also from the north Italy.

Path description:
From the upper station of the funicular, to which we can get with funicular from Hungerburg or we ascend on one of the footpaths.. We go towards the east, following signs for "Innsbrucker Klettersteig". We cross below the route of an easier short ferrata Geierwally and after good ten minutes of walking from the starting point, we get below the initial wall "Innsbrucker Klettersteig".

The initial ascent runs on a moderately high vertical line, and besides the steel cable, we also get help from stemples with in parts a little longer spacing (C). After we pass a short western wall of Seegrubenspitze, the path becomes easier and on a secured crossing of northern slopes above Karwendel we soon find ourselves just below the summit Seegrubenspitze (2350 meters), which is only a stone's throw from the path. From the top, we descend on in parts exposed, well-secured ridge path (difficulty to B) to the saddle between Seegrubenspitze and rocky massif Kaminspitz.
On gravel terrain in 10 minutes we walk to the walls of Östliche Kaminspitze, where a sign again points us on a secured path. On steep terrain, partly with the help of stemples we ascend on the ridge (B/C) and on a sharp ridge we get to panoramic Östliche Kaminspitze (2435 meters), where there is a big inscription book. From the ridge peak we descend on technically easier but still exposed ridge to a narrow notch (B), from which with the help of stemples we vertically ascend back on the sharp ridge (C). Continuation on the ridge is easier, and the path offers great views towards the south on Innsbruck and on the mountain chain Karwendel on the north (to B). After crossing towards the south below the sharp ridge, we soon get to a short attractive hanging bridge, which is well secured, and behind it we continue towards Kemacher, which we see in front of us in the distance. Soon after the bridge follows a demanding, almost vertical, but well-secured descent into a notch (B/C), from which we again ascend on the sharp ridge (B). The ridge widens a little and it brings us to a shorter band (C), and soon after it, the path again starts descending on exposed sharp ridge. After a short crossing of the south slopes with the help of iron spikes we cross an exposed slope to the notch below the rocky massif of Kemacher. From the notch, we ascend over an attractive, less difficult chimney and following the steel cable we get to a very panoramic peak (difficulty of the last part to B).
The only logical option for a descent from Kemacher is continuation on ferrata to the end of the first part of "Innsbrucker Klettersteig" on the saddle Langer Sattel, which we see on the west below us. The descent is technically a little easier as the ascent (spot B/C, mostly A/B), but in parts very exposed, but on all key parts we get help from steel cables. In the lower part of the descent towards the saddle, the ridge widens and becomes grassy and easier passable. From the top of Kemacher to Langer Sattel there is approx. 45 minutes of descent.

From Langer Sattel we can continue on the second part of "Innsbrucker Klettersteig", which runs over peaks, towers and dihedrals of Sattelspitz and it is a little more demanding, but also shorter than the first part (approx. 2 hours of climbing). In case if we want to return, we can cross below the ridge of Nordkette to the station Seegrube and from there we return into the valley with a funicular. From the saddle, we can on several paths also directly descend to Hungerburg (fastest way is partly on the path 217 past Höttinger Alm and Umbrüggler Alm, to Hungerburg there are 2 hours and a half). Even though "Innsbrucker Klettersteig" doesn't reach a technical difficulty of modern sports ferratas (it was made in the year 1986, when there were different standards) and because of additional fixed safety gear it resembles more of classic Dolomites than modern extreme ferratas, but the path is not to be underestimated. Because the climbing part is long (especially at the ascent from the valley), it includes numerous ascents and descent and there are a lot of quite exposed spots, and the rock in limestone mountain range isn't always solid. Because almost to the beginning of ferrata it is possible to come with a funicular and the path offers great views on Innsbruck and scenic Karwendel, it is very well visited. A helmet and self belaying are mandatory.

On the way: Seegrubenspitze (2350m), Östliche Kaminspitze (2435m)