Starting Point
From the parking lot above the Mentaalm, follow the access road—which is closed to public traffic—into the Jamtal valley. The route runs along the Jambach stream, past Alpele, Schnapfenalm, and Scheibenalpe, all the way to the Jamtalhütte at 2,165 meters. The approach to the hut is also suitable for mountain bikes or e-mountain bikes. If biking, plan on about 1 hour and 20 minutes; on foot, about 3 hours and 15 minutes.
From the Jamtalhütte, head south at first and follow the signs toward Pfannknecht or Chalausferner. After crossing the stream, leave the trail leading to the glacier and ascend the slope to the left. Faded markings and cairns indicate the way forward.
Crossing a mountain ridge and traversing extensive scree and boulder fields, you’ll reach the former glacial basin. The route then leads through a wide scree hollow and over possible remnants of old snow up to the Pfannknecht Saddle. From the Jamtal Hut, you should allow about 1.5 hours for this section.
Route Description
This alpine via ferrata follows the south ridge of the Pfannknecht and is rated difficulty level C. There are hardly any artificial aids such as ladders or foothold clamps. You’ll be climbing mostly on natural rock and using the continuous steel cable for guidance.
At the start, the route leads over a rocky outcrop and then crosses to the other side of the ridge. This is followed by a dihedral, a diagonal traverse across a slab, and several exposed rock sections.
The final section runs along a narrow and exposed ridge to the rocky peak, where you’ll find a summit logbook and a small metal cross. You should plan on spending about 30 minutes on the via ferrata itself.
Descent
From the summit, you first descend northward via sections secured with wire ropes. The route then leads over steep scree and possible patches of old snow down the eastern flank. Below a prominent rocky hump, keep to the right and continue descending to the valley floor. You then follow the clearly visible trail along the Futschölbach stream back to the Jamtalhütte. From the hut, you return to the parking lot via the same access road.
