Speikboden (South Tyrol)

Speikboden is a massif in the Central Eastern Alps located between the three valleys Weißenbach, Mühlwald and Ahrntal. Running in a south-easterly direction, it forms the eastern part of an outlier of the western Zillertal Alps. Its highest point, likewise named Speikboden, is 2,517 m. Further well-known peaks in this massif include Seewassernock (2,516 m), Große Nock (2,400 m), Kleine Nock (2,227 m) and Gornerberg (2,475 m).

Villages in the valley include Lappach, Luttach, Mühlwald, Sand in Taufers, St. Johann and Weißenbach.

Skiing and hiking area
The Speikboden massif is home to an extensive ski area of the same name with downhill runs leading all the way to Drittelsand at the far end of the Ahrntal valley. Created in the early 1970s by local investors with the support of Bavarian Bernhard Glück, the ski area, which was extended several times over, was originally called Michlreis-Speikboden, Michlreis being the name of the lower part of the ski resort.

The ski area is made up of two zones, the first being the full-length valley run. It is a red-graded (moderate) slope, named Michl. The slope starts at the mountain station of the gondola lift Speikboden and goes along Michlreis down into the valley (Drittelsand). The entire valley run from top to bottom is 7 kilometers long.

The upper section, a basin known as the „Speikboden Alm“, has four red-graded slopes, two blue (easy) pistes and three black pistes which can be reached using detachable chairlifts and gondola lifts. Compact and with an easy-to-navigate network of immaculately groomed slopes, this upper section is ideal for beginners and families. The area offers 40 kilometres of pistes in total. The nursery slope beside the bottom station with two „magic carpet“ conveyor belts offers the perfect terrain for learning and practicing basic skiing techniques.

The lift facilities are open during the summer months too. Speikboden has a vast network of well-maintained hiking trails as well as two via ferratas (difficulty levels B/C and A).

Snowpark
Located at the edge of the Seenock piste is a 400 meter-long snowpark with jumps and rails covering all levels of difficulty.

Toboggan runs
There are two toboggan runs starting from the top station of the Speikboden gondola. One leads down to Weißenbach, the other to Luttach where a free ski-bus is available to take tobogganers back to the Speikboden bottom station.

Paragliding and hang-gliding
Speikboden has become world-renowned among cross-country paragliders thanks to Kurt Eder. Although he seldom leaves his home region, the South Tyrolean is a "regular" on the winners’ podium at international XC paragliding championships – a testimony to the excellence of this paragliding location. Speikboden offers a superb XC destination for newcomers to the sport and experienced pilots alike. Flying is possible all year round but the months between June and September offer the best conditions. The panoramas from the launching sites are vast and sweeping; on the south side you can see all the way to the Central Dolomites. Speikboden is located directly to the south of the Zillertal Alpine Divide which means it is poorly shielded from the wind from the north and flying is not recommended if this wind is too strong. The towering Durreck range behind Speikboden does, however, protect the launching areas from moderate north-winds.

Hiking
The development of Speikboden as a hiking area began as far back as the 1870s. Founded by Josef Daimer in 1873, the Sand in Taufers section of the German and Austrian Alpine Club constructed the Sonklarhütte refuge and, leading up to the hut, the "Herrenweg" track which was renamed "Daimerweg" in 1903 in honour of Josef Daimer. The construction of the Chemnitzer Hütte mountain hut by the Alpine Club Chemnitz section in 1895 can also be credited to the initiative and untiring efforts of Josef Daimler. The high-altitude trail "Kellerbauerweg" was created in 1906 with the purpose of connecting the two mountain shelters Sonklarhütte and Chemnitzer Hütte.

In the 1990s efforts were rekindled to improve and expand the network of hiking trails centred around the Daimerweg and Kellerbauerweg trails - a process that is still on-going today. The Speikboden massif now boasts 90 kilometres of hiking tracks. The maintenance and further extension of this network are carried out by the employees of the lift company.

Speikboden via ferrata
The via ferrata on the Speikboden offers a moderately graded yet challenging climb with 350 meters of vertical gain up to the Speikboden summit cross at an altitude of 2,517 m
 * Level of difficulty: B/C (moderately difficult)
 * Start/finish: Speikboden Alm at 2,000 m, accessible via the Speikboden gondola lift
 * Total ascent: 500 vertical meters| walking time: 3 hours
 * Access track to the via ferrata: 150 vertical meters | walking time: 40 mins.
 * Return walk to the Speikboden Alm lift station:
 * Via trail no. 27 | walking time approx. 1 ½ hours
 * Via the panorama trail | towards Sonnklarnock: 3 hours or towards Großer Nock: 2 hours
 * Using the Sonnklar chairlift | walking time: 30 mins.
 * Total time required: Min. 4 hours
 * Last descent with the Sonnklar chairlift: 4.30 pm
 * Last descent with the Speikboden gondola: 5.00 pm
 * Safety and securing aids: Steel ropes, clamps, rope bridge, hanging bridge
 * Best time of year: June–October
 * Views: Dolomites, Rieserferner Group, Venediger Group, Zillertal Alps
 * Equipment: Climbing harness, via ferrata set, helmet, sturdy footwear (rental equipment is available from the Speikboden Alm gondola station)

Speikboden via ferrata for children
The children’s via ferrata on the Speikboden was specially created for kids between the ages of 6 and 12 years. Based on a pirate theme, it offers a child-friendly route for practicing the art of climbing.
 * Level of difficulty: A (easy)
 * Start/finish: Speikboden Alm at 2,000 m, accessible via the Speikboden gondola lift
 * Access track to the via ferrata: 50 vertical metres, 20 mins.
 * Ascent: 70 vertical metres, 1 hour
 * Total time required: min. 2 hours
 * Equipment: Climbing harness, via ferrata set, helmet, sturdy footwear (rental equipment is available from the Speikboden Alm gondola station)

Ski pass association Skiworld Ahrntal
The two ski arenas Speikboden and Klausberg including the two town lifts Weißenbach and Rein in Taufers form together the Skiworld Ahrntal. The ski pass allows to use 21 lifts and 74 kilometers of slopes (from 950 to 2510 meters sea level). In the summer season the association Skiworld Ahrntal exists too. The tickets in summer can be used in the areas Speikboden and Klausberg.