Rastkogel
Encyclopedia
The Rastkogel is a 2,762 metre high, pyramidal, mountain on the main crest of the Tux Alps
in the Austria
n federal state of Tyrol.
of Vorderlanersbach (municipality of Tux) in the Tuxertal
, the westernmost side valley
of the Zillertal
. Its neighbouring peaks are: to the west, separated by the Nurpensjoch saddle , the Haslspitze at 2,574 metres, and beyond that over the Wattentaler Lizum
, the Hirzer . To the north lies the Roßkopf and - jutting far out into the Inn valley - the Gilfert
and, to the east, separated by the Hoarbergjoch , the Pangert at 2,550 metres.
Due to its prominent location in the south of the Tuxertal, the Rastkogel is an oft-frequented mountain. At its summit the crest divides like a cross into the three aforementioned directions, although its rock faces are mainly oriented in a north-south direction. To the south the massif drops relatively steeply into the Tuxertal.
On the southwest flank of the Rastkogels there is a skiing area that is reached from Vorderlanersbach on a ski lift
.
A popular route for those staying in Mayrhofen is to take the Penken lift to the top station and then walk along route 23 to Penkenjoch with stunning views actross the Zillertal Alps. Route 57 should then be followed(clearly signposted)past the Wanglalm hut. Route 57 then climbs up to the summit of the Wanglspitze at 2420m continuing on to Hoarbergjoch at 2590m. Continue NNW along route 57 until it joins route 51. Continue along route 51 which becomes steeper until the ridge is reached. Turn west along a well marked trail that leads to the summit of Rastkogel. The final km involves some mild scrambling. The recommended time for the walk is 3.5 - 4hrs each way. These timings are for an average walker in good conditions. It should be noted that the Penken lift starts at 9.00 am and the last trip down is at 4.30pm (2011). It is worth checking before you start as if you miss the last lift down it is another 2-3hrs walk down to Mayrhofen! (The 1:35000 Mayr map 33 Zillertaller Alpen has all the route numbers for the area clearly marked.)
Tux Alps
The Tux Alps or Tux Prealps 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 Tyrol. The Tux Alps are one of three mountain ranges that form an Alpine backdrop to the city...
in the Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n federal state of Tyrol.
Location and area
The Rastkogel lies five kilometres north-northeast as the crow fliesAs the crow flies
"As the crow flies" or beelining is an idiom for the shortest route between two points; the geodesic distance.An example is the great-circle distance between Key West and Pensacola, at either end of the U.S...
of Vorderlanersbach (municipality of Tux) in the Tuxertal
Tuxertal
The Tuxertal lies in Tyrol, Austria and is a side valley of the Zillertal, from which it branches at Mayrhofen. It is about 13 km long and accessible on the Tux Road . From Mayrhofen to Hintertux in the municipality of Tux, the village that gives the valley its name, there is a height...
, the westernmost side valley
Side valley
The terms side valley and tributary valley refer to valleys whose brook or river is confluent to a greater one.Upstream, the valleys can be classified in an increasing order which is equivalent to the usual orographic order: the tributaries are ordered from those nearest to the source of the river...
of the Zillertal
Zillertal
The Zillertal is the biggest valley branching off the Inn valley in Tyrol, Austria drained by the river Ziller. It is surrounded by the strongly glaciated Zillertal Alps to the south and east, the lower grass peaks of the Kitzbühel Alps to the east and Tux Alps to the west...
. Its neighbouring peaks are: to the west, separated by the Nurpensjoch saddle , the Haslspitze at 2,574 metres, and beyond that over the Wattentaler Lizum
Wattentaler Lizum
The Wattentaler Lizum is the name of the head of the Wattental valley which branches off the lower Inn valley near Wattens. Lizum means "alpine pasture at the head of the valley" in Tyrolese...
, the Hirzer . To the north lies the Roßkopf and - jutting far out into the Inn valley - the Gilfert
Gilfert
The Gilfert is a 2,506 metre high peak in the Tux Alps. It is the most northerly extent of the Rastkogel Massif and can therefore be seen from almost anywhere in the Lower Inn Valley.- Location and countryside :...
and, to the east, separated by the Hoarbergjoch , the Pangert at 2,550 metres.
Due to its prominent location in the south of the Tuxertal, the Rastkogel is an oft-frequented mountain. At its summit the crest divides like a cross into the three aforementioned directions, although its rock faces are mainly oriented in a north-south direction. To the south the massif drops relatively steeply into the Tuxertal.
Bases and routes to the summit
An ascent of the Rastkogel as an Alpine mountain hike along the normal route, which is the easiest one, takes about 3 hours, approaching from the north along the southeast ridge (Südostgrat) from the Rastkogel Hut . Another route runs from the Weidener Hut (1,799 m) to the northwest over the Haslspitze and the west ridge (Westgrat) taking a good four hours to gain the summit.On the southwest flank of the Rastkogels there is a skiing area that is reached from Vorderlanersbach on a ski lift
Ski lift
The term ski lift generally refers to any transport device that carries skiers up a hill. A ski lift may fall into one of the following three main classes:-Lift systems and networks:...
.
A popular route for those staying in Mayrhofen is to take the Penken lift to the top station and then walk along route 23 to Penkenjoch with stunning views actross the Zillertal Alps. Route 57 should then be followed(clearly signposted)past the Wanglalm hut. Route 57 then climbs up to the summit of the Wanglspitze at 2420m continuing on to Hoarbergjoch at 2590m. Continue NNW along route 57 until it joins route 51. Continue along route 51 which becomes steeper until the ridge is reached. Turn west along a well marked trail that leads to the summit of Rastkogel. The final km involves some mild scrambling. The recommended time for the walk is 3.5 - 4hrs each way. These timings are for an average walker in good conditions. It should be noted that the Penken lift starts at 9.00 am and the last trip down is at 4.30pm (2011). It is worth checking before you start as if you miss the last lift down it is another 2-3hrs walk down to Mayrhofen! (The 1:35000 Mayr map 33 Zillertaller Alpen has all the route numbers for the area clearly marked.)
Sources and maps
- Walter Klier: Gebietsführer Zillertaler Alpen (Nördlicher Teil) und Tuxer Voralpen, Munich, 1990, ISBN 3-7633-3258-8
- Walter Klier: Zillertal, mit Gerlos- und Tuxer Tal, Bergverlag RotherBergverlag RotherBergverlag Rother is a German publisher with its headquarters in Oberhaching, Upper Bavaria. Since 1950 the company, that formerly went udern the name of Bergverlag Rudolf Rother, has published the Alpine Club Guides in cooperation with the German Alpine Club , the Austrian Alpine Club and the...
, Munich, 2008. ISBN 978-3-7633-4175-7 - Freytag & Berndt-Verlag Vienna, Wanderkarte 1:50,000, Blatt WK 151, Zillertal, Tuxer Alpen, Jenbach-Schwaz. ISBN 978-3-85084-751-3