Popular but very rewarding ski tour in the Hohe Tauern National Park, where you are rewarded with views of the Großglockner and Großvenediger at the summit.
Ascent
With lift support, we head to the Rudolfshütte. The actual ski tour starts from there. After a short descent from the mountain station to the Weißsee, it's time to skin up and ascend around the southern shore of the lake in the direction of Ombrometer. From there, head across the Sonnblickkees towards the Granatspitze (south-eastern peak) and the Stubacher Sonnblick (north-western peak). If conditions are safe, you can choose the ascent route in the steeper eastern part of the Sonnblickkees. The more westerly and flatter ascent variant also leads in a long left-hand bend to the flat summit plateau. From there, you can choose one of the two summits.
However, if the snow conditions are good, it is advisable to make the Stubacher Sonnblick first and ski down from there towards Granatspitze. If you want, you can leave your skis at the foot of the Granatspitze rock formation and climb up to the Granatspitze with crampons and possibly an ice axe (depending on the conditions). This summit is much more secluded than its neighbor, the Sonnblick.
Descent
There are two downhill options:
1st descent along the ascent track. The wide Sonnblickkees offers plenty of downhill options with varying degrees of steepness.
2nd descent from the Granatspitze ski depot via the Granatspitzkees to Erdiges Egg (east slopes). There you have to climb another 200 meters in altitude to the Karlser Tauern and from there ski down towards Weißsee (ski area).
From Weißsee to Rudolfshütte you can use the T-bar lift. From the Rudolfshütte, follow the ski slope towards the parking lot. If the snow conditions are good, you can ski down to the parking lot. If this is not possible, take the gondola from the middle station to the parking lot.
Information
Difficulty (5-level scale): ***
Special dangers: High altitude ski tour, glacier in ascent and descent
Average steepness/maximum steepness: 30°/ 45°
Exposure: Summit slope Stubacher Sonnblick E, glacier (Sonnblickkees) NE and descent to Erdiges Egg E.
Altitude difference start and finish: Rudolfshütte 2311 m | Stubacher Sonnblick 3088
Altitude difference uphill and downhill: 850 m (1100 m), 850 m (1100 m) (data in brackets with descent to Erdiges Egg)
Duration: Granatspitze, 3086 m, walking time: max. 03:00; Sonnblick, 3088 m, walking time: max. 03:00. The times are from the Rudolfshütte.
Best time of year: Mid-December to May
Accommodation:Rudolfshütte and some accommodation at Enzingerboden
Addresses:Weisssee-Gletscherwelt
How to get there: Take the Mittersiller Straße from Mittersill or from Zell am See to Uttendorf and then continue into the Stubachtal valley towards Weißsee Gletscherwelt/ Enzingerboden. There is a large and free parking lot at Enzingerboden
Topographical maps: ÖK 153 Großglockner, ÖK 152 Matrei, AV map Granatspitzgruppe (with ski routes)
