Wackendorfer Spitze
Petzen massif looks pretty impressive when approached from northern side as there is more than 1.5 km of elevation difference. It’s a pretty rewarding experience to get to the top peaks even in the summer, let alone in the winter. Wackendorfer Spize is the first peak with prominence higher than 2 thousand meters from the western side of Petzen massif.
Starting from Wackendorf we walk a bit through the village to slowly enter the forest with 4x4 road. This is where the steepness starts to rise but only for the first 300 meters after which trail takes us to the moderately steep path zigzagging and traversing the slopes of Jelen mountain through pine forest. At some point the terrain gets almost event for a short stretch. Then we follow more zigzags cutting forest roads till we reach Wackendorfer Alm.
We are on a nice alpine meadow with a mountain hut, in the summer time we need to watch for the cattle that is being fed in here. We can also already see the peak of Wackendorfer Spitze or at least its presummits. Up and we traverse slopes of Feuersberger Spitze (trail does not go through it directly). We land on vast saddle between Feuersberger Spitze and Wackendorfer Spitze. Now the steepness rises and another 300 meters are quite strenuous but also pretty rewarding in terms of views around because we leave the forest. Getting to around 2000 meters of elevation the terrain gets more flat and after couple of pre summits we land on the top of Wackendorfer Spitze.
Presumably in the summer months the trip can be continued to Feistrizer Spize which is located about 1km and 100 meters of ascent but I could not afford that due to winter conditions and hiking with 8y old son. From there an alternative return path can be taken to get back to Wackendorf.
Pretty warm for February, most of the ascent I did in single merino layer, adding some wind stopper for the upper part. Sunny and bit windy in the summit sections. Inversion of temperature - when leaving Wackendorf the grass was covered in frost.
Marked sufficiently, a bit problematic at the start - not very dense in marking in Wackendorf. Well marked in the forest part, about the upper part cannot say much as rocks with markings were mostly covered in snow. Still some were sticking out and it was quite obvious in which direction go next.
No info.
Starting point reached by car. Parking next to church building (probably not a good idea during Sunday).
No tourists were met on the trail, it was approached on a working day although during winter holidays.
Trip done with 8 year old kid.
Trip is safe. Just summit section needs a bit of care as there is a cliff from the northern side of the peak.
30l rucksack, trekking poles, gaiters, snowshoes
