Overview
Hinterer Tajakopf (left) between Griesspitzen (background) and Ehrwalder Sonnenspitze
There are several subridges branching off to the north from the west - east running
Mieminger Berge main ridge. The summits of these subridges are less high than the main summits. Nevertheless these summits are of interest for mountaineers.
The double summit of
Vorderer Tajakopf and
Hinterer Tajakopf build the second subridge, seen from the west. They divide the huge
Drachenkar (dragons cirque) with the beautiful mountain lakes Seeben See and Drachensee and with the frequented mountain hut
Coburger Hütte to the west from the more remote and calm
Brendelkar to the east.
There are two important cols:
Vorderes Tajatörl between the two summits and
Hinteres Tajatörl, the latter connecting the two cirques and separating the two summits from the main ridge.
Taja is a raetoromanic word for mountain pasture and both, the “mountain pasture front head” (Vorderer Tajakopf) and the “mountain pasture rear head” are looking down to a huge mountain pasture zone:
Ehrwalder Alm, in summer lush meadows, in winter an overcrowded ski area with easy downhill slopes, good for families and beginners.
Hinterer Tajakopf is located south of Vorderer Tajakopf and north of the huge rockface of
Griesspitzen, the latter being a real obstacle for a good summit view from Hinterer Tajakopf, because they are about 350 m higher than our summit.
Nevertheless Hinterer Tajakopf is often visited: as a nice hiking summit and as “home mountain” of Coburger Hütte in summer and autumn, as an interesting summit for ski mountaineers ascending via Brendelkar or Drachenkar and as a nice add-on of the
Grünstein ski loop.
Some people do the traverse Vorderer to Hinterer Tajakopf, an easy rock scramble after finishing the difficult Tajakopf via ferrata to Vorderer Tajakopf.
And even though the views to the south are rudely blocked by high Griesspitzen our summit allows a thoroughly study of the Mieming range with its impressive northern rock faces and offers great views to the southern rockfaces of Zugspitze and Hochwanner. To the west bold
Ehrwalder Sonnenspitze rises above Seebensee and Drachensee and to the farer west and northwest Ammergauer Alps and Allgäu and Lechtal Alps show their many peaks and hights.
Getting There
Winter ski ascent to Hinterer Tajakopf with Zugspitze rock faces
Main trailheads for Hinterer Tajakopf are
Ehrwald - parking area of
Ehrwalder Alm cablecar - and
Biberwier (summer / autumn only).
You reach Ehrwald or Biberwier:
from Munich
from Innsbruck / Sankt Anton
from Reutte / Lechtal / Füssen
Hinterer Tajakopf as seen from Hochwand | Hinterer Tajakopf as seen from Hochwanner |
By railway
The “
Außerfernbahn” links Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Reutte with a railway station at Ehrwald, Zugspitzbahn. There is a shuttle bus to Ehrwalder Almbahn or to Biberwier.
Check the
railway schedule here
Routes Overview
Hinterer Tajakopf and western Mieminger range
Summer / Autumn
Brendelkar ascent: Ehrwald - Ehrwalder Alm - Iglsee / Seebenalm road - Brendelkar - Hinteres Tajatörl - summit
Drachenkar ascent: Ehrwald - Ehrwalder Alm - Seebenalm road - Coburger Hütte (trail number 812) or Biberwier - Biberwierer Scharte - Coburger Hütte (trail number 814); then: Hinteres Tajatörl (trail number 812) - summit
Both ascents can be combined to a little loop tour.
Tajakopf via ferrata: Ehrwald - Seebensee via trail number 812 or by using Seeben via ferrata (very difficult) - Coburger Hütte - via ferrata to Vorderer Tajakopf - Vorderes Tajatörl - Hinterer Tajakopf - Hinteres Tajatörl and back to Coburger Hütte or descent via Brendelkar.
A southern ascent via Höllreisse - Grünsteinscharte (trail number 812) and Hinteres Tajatörl is possible, too.
Winter / Spring
Brendelkar ascent: Ehrwald - Ehrwalder Alm - Iglsee / Seebenalm road - Brendelkar - Hinteres Tajatörl - summit
Drachenkar ascent: Ehrwald - Ehrwalder Alm - Seebenalm road - Coburger Hütte - Hinteres Tajatörl - summit
Both ascents can be combined to a little loop tour. Downhill fun is higher if skiing down Brendelkar. Some people ascend via Brendelkar, ski down to Coburger Hütte, zigzag back up to Tajatörl and ski down Brendelkar. Can be great powder fun in January and February.
Ehrwalder Sonnenspitze as seen from Hinteres Tajatörl | | Vorderer Tajakopf as seen from Brendelkar |
Grünstein ski loop: A highly recommended ski tour classic; Hinterer Tajakopf can be bagged easily when traversing Hinteres Tajatörl.
Red Tape & Accommodation
Hinterer Tajakopf and Hinteres Tajatörl
Mieming range and Hinterer Tajakopf have no special restriction.
Valley accommodation of all kinds are to be found at:
Ehrwald
Lermoos
Biberwier
Coburger Hütte, closed in winter, is a nice alpine mountain hut.
You can use
Lehnberghaus on the south side of Mieming range when you choose the southern ascent / descent.
Gear & Mountain Condition
Hinterer Tajakopf as seen from Brendelkar
Hinterer Tajakopf is a
year round summit.
In summer and autumn it is a classic hiking tour with a bit of rock scramble near the summit. In combination with the Tajakopf via ferrata to
Vorderer Tajakopf the ascent is difficult.
Normal hiking gear is sufficient, for the via ferrata you need your belaying gear.
As a winter or spring ski tour Hinterer Tajakopf is not too difficult. The Brendelkar and Drachenkar ascents even are for beginners who want to test their skills. Grünstein ski loop is for the advanced ski hikers due to the length of the route (and if you don´t facilitate things by using Marienberg cablecar for the first ascent!).
You need your ski tour gear and avalanche gear during these ski hikes.
Brendelkar can produce huge avalanches, be careful there!
Check the
Tirol avalanche bulletin here.
Current Weather:
Map & Guide Book
Ehrwalder Sonnenspitze as seen from ski ascent to Ehrwalder Alm / Tajakopf
Map
Alpenvereinskarte 1 : 25.000, Blatt Nr, 4/2, Wetterstein- und Mieminger Gebirge, Mittleres Blatt
Zugspitze, Mieminger Kette: Ehrwald, Lermoos, Garmisch, Reutte. Wander-, Rad- und Skitourenkarte. 1:50.000
KOMPASS-Karten, Innsbruck, Februar 2009
Guide Book
Wutscher, Rudolf:
Alpenvereinsführer Mieminger Kette
München : Bergverlag Rother, 1989.
The "old" classic (probably sold out)
Pfanzelt, Helmut:
Alpenvereinsführer Wetterstein und Mieminger Kette.
München : Bergverlag Rother, 1971.