The Pidinger via ferrata on the Hochstaufen above Bad Reichenhall

From the car park at the sawmill in Urwies, a forest path leads us uphill in a south-westerly direction. We follow this path, which has good signposting from the car park towards the Pidinger Klettersteig, in the direction of the Steiner Alm and turn left at a clearing (boulder with bench). At first we stay on the forest road for a while, then follow the clearly visible via ferrata tracks to the entrance (1020 m).

Description of the route:

A steep entrance wall (C) is followed by short walking passages (A) along a scree gully. The path becomes steeper in places (B) and crosses the gully (A). A longer, flat section follows to cross the wall to the right (A). At the end of the traverse, an emergency exit can be made to the right. A very steep section of wall (C/D) leads to another traverse to the right (A/B). Over a steep pillar (C) the route continues upwards. A short traverse brings us to a steep gully (B/C). Over a boulder ridge (A/B) we reach a steep pillar (C). We descend to the left over small steep steps and traverse a good distance to a gully to the left (A/B). A slab passage (B) leads us past a debris basin and brings us to the foot of a very steep wall. Over this (C) up to a smooth ramp (C/D/A). A very steep section (D) follows and around a ledge we reach the wall book in easier terrain (C/B/A). Steep passages follow until the exit, which become easier towards the top (C/B/A).

Descent:

We follow the normal route downhill in a north-westerly direction. At a fork, we keep in the direction of Piding and Urwies. We descend through the forest and meet the forest road again in the area of the Steiner Alpe. We follow this (at a fork we keep right in the direction of Urwies) down to the car park.