Hundskopf climbing

Crag: Hundskopf, Stripsenkopf, Wilder Kaiser
Routes: Lupo (f4:sec), Idefix (f5:led), Amadeus (f4+:led)
After our uneccessary reccie of the other crags, and the 10 pitches of the Fuhrerweg, we perhaps should have retired to the hut for Strudel. However, we were conscious of the mixed forecast for the week, and decided to take advantage of the sunshine to climb on the Hundskopf. Again, I had been here before: doing the via ferrata in 2011. This time, we took the gear and fried, both on the steep walk up, and in the direct sunshine on the west facing crags. As ever, stupendous views across to the walls of the main Wilder Kaiser, and a great place to pick out the line of this morning's long route. The climbing on the Hundskopf is undistinguished, particularly given the grand surroundings, but it was a pleasant place to spend the afternoon. Vic led Lupo, which took a wide and twisting crack to a steeper section up juggy ledges. I led Idefix, a tad harder, up the vague arete to the right. This had some nice moves up to a steep slab below an overhang. Moves right gain a sharp arete and a pull over to the finish: longish pitch. Amadeus was another longish ridge pitch to the left, after which it was a race against time to avoid the next thunderstorm galloping in from the west: the first rumbles and flashes came as Vic failed on a harder route. We both abbed off to retrieve the gear, packed the stuff in record time, and ran back to the hut. This time, in contrast to last night, we got there just in the nick of time as the heavens opened. A splendid evening of refuelling followed: superb beer, soup, Wiener Schnitzel and Topfenstrudel.