Debanttal - Keeskopf (Nossberger Weg)

Access to starting point:
From the Karawanks Tunnel, we continue on Tauern highway past Beljak to Spittal, where we turn in the direction of Lienz. At the entrance in Lienz at the roundabout, we follow the signs for valley Debanttal and mountain hut Lienzerhütte. On in parts rough road we continue to a large parking lot at the cargo cableway (for the mountain hut by the lake Wangenitz), where a gate is preventing further driving.

Path description:
On a macadam road, and soon also on a marked footpath which runs parallel with it, we ascend to the mountain hut Lienzerhütte 1974m, (1h). Comfortable mountain hut has real from a wood carved zoo, children's playground, forma viva, bathrooms and shoe dryers. Right in front of the mountain hut we go on a marked footpath towards the mountain pass Niedere Gradenscharte, which runs towards the mountain hut Adolf Nossberger by the lake Graden. First, we descend a little, we stride across the stream and we follow a footpath left over the slope, full of blueberries. A well visible cross by the path, we reach in a good half an hour. A little further at the marked crossing we turn towards the right (and straight footpath runs towards the notch Gossnitz). Comfortable path wraps around the south ridge of Keeskopf, and becomes a little steeper. Next very well-marked crossing goes to the right better path towards the mountain hut by the lake Wangenitz, and we continue straight upwards. Blazes lead us on scattered terrain of a granite scree to the notch. On the notch, we get help from few meters of a steel cable. From the mountain hut to 2796 meters high notch we (in a group) needed around 3 hours. Here some glacial lakes surprises us, one literally just before we get into the notch. From the lakes we notice a cross on conical summit. Around the lakes we walk about 15 more minutes to moraine with a large cairn, where we leave the marked path and we turn left towards the summit. Cairns make orientation a little easier on broken terrain, but the footpath is in some parts well-beaten. Right below the summit we have to be a bit more careful, because few meters of the steep path is crumbly and muddy. For less skilled at least when returning belaying is recommended, and skilled can climb around this spot (I grade). On the top, there is a big cross with an inscription book, and around there is not much space. A view is phenomenal: from Lienz Dolomites to Hochalmspitze, only Grossglockner is shyly hiding behind nearby Klammerkopf.
Parking lot - mountain hut 1 hour; mountain hut - saddle 3 hours, saddle - peak 1 hour.

On the way: koča Lienzerhütte (1974m), sedlo Niedere Gradenscharte (2796m)