Günther Messner Trail

Follow trail markings for GM and 32A, heading south along a forest path, which is steep up to the tree line then has only a moderate grade (a slightly exposed position is secured), to a spring with a water trough on the western slope of Aferer Geiseln Peak (2,060 m); just over an hour from Russiskreuz. High Trail: from the water trough, stay with markings for GM, first flat across the grassy slopes of a little notch and quickly east at the crossroads (left: GM, right: 32 A). Turn left, up grassy slopes, and there is another flat crossing, past a large crater area, under the rock walls to the east, until you are under the cone-shaped Tullen Peak. From there, over scree and crags up to a fork, and turn right, towards the east, across cable-secured rock up to a further wind gap (about 2,600 m; around 2.5 hours from the starting point). From there, make a short crossing on the north side and then over a short via ferrata (Klettersteig), very exposed but with good fixed ropes, up to the ridge crest of Aferer Geiseln (small wind gap, about 2,630 m). From there, on the south side, it’s an easy descent to another wind gap, on the north side a brief descent and opposing ascent (usually snowy), then again the sometimes rocky, sometimes grassy southern slopes, crossing to the next notch, and up an iron ladder. Finally: first a southern then a northern crossing to a little grassy notch, and a grassy slope down to Trail No. 4 (option: half-hour detour, turning right to Schlüterhütte mountain hut) and left, heading north-east, over to Peitlerscharte (2,357 m); about 4 hours from the beginning of the high trail.

Descent: from Peitlerscharte, take Trail No. 4 down across snow and scree, until the GM Trail branches off to the left. Follow it for a longer hike traversing the entire north side of Aferer Geiseln at the tree line, and finally descending back to the starting point; about 2 hours from Peitlerscharte.