Lukas Wimmer on the summit pin:
I have often seen photos of this unique rock needle in the Karwendel, more precisely in the Olympiaregion Seefeld- the Gipfelstürmernadel. However, the long approach has usually prevented me from climbing this unique limestone needle.
Lukas as summit cross
Now we've made it after all. After 2 hours, Niklas and I are standing on the Erlspitze in the Karwendel. We took the train to Hochzirl and via the Solsteinhaus to the summit needle. The needle is just before the summit and is only then visible. We were still shrouded in fog, which created an almost mystical atmosphere. After a short snack, we prepared ourselves for the actual ascent. The short descent to the needle requires alpine experience. It is not particularly difficult, but the rock is typical of the Karwendel - in other words, brittle.
The Gipfelstürmernadel at dawn
We decided to take the easiest route up the Nadel. After 40 meters of climbing, I was the first to reach the summit of the needle. The climbing is steep for the difficulty indicated and the normal bolts are probably still from the first climbers. The fog has now disappeared, giving me a view of countless lonely peaks in the Karwendel. There is a flag at the highest point of the needle and a summit register. There are not many ascents, but the book reads like a story. The entries date back to the middle of the 20th century and you could spend hours leafing through it. A detail on the side: the summit book urgently needs a new plastic bag, so I would be very happy if the next climbers could take a new bag with them. After a few photos, we abseiled down again and rounded off this beautiful ascent with a beer at the Solsteinhaus.
Your Lukas Wimmer
