The Gefrorene-Wand-Spitzen are twin peaks in the Tuxer Kamm range of the Zillertal Alps, and thanks to the glacier cable cars from Hintertux, they're among the most accessible 3000-metre summits in the entire Alps. The north peak reaches 3288 m, the south peak 3270 m, and the two are just 300 metres apart.

Seen from the north the mountain looks like a blunt, snow-capped dome, but from the east it shows a dark, forbidding wall - the origin of its name, meaning 'Frozen Wall'. The peaks sit surrounded by glaciers: the Gefrorene-Wand-Kees to the west, the Große Riepenkees to the southwest reaching above 3000 m, and the smaller Friesenbergkees and Kleine Riepenkees. As the highest points of the Hintertux Glacier summer ski area, they're a popular day-trip destination, with views to the Olperer (3476 m) and the Riffler (3231 m) along the ridge.

How to reach the summit

• Spannagelhaus (2531 m) - the easiest standard route, south via the Wildlahnerscharte onto the Gefrorene-Wand-Kees glacier, then up the northwest ridge (UIAA grade I), about 2.5 hours, involves easy climbing
• Friesenberghaus (2498 m) - approach from the east along the Berliner Höhenweg, then across the Friesenbergkees firn field to the northeast ridge, about 3 hours
• Top station of the Hintertux glacier cable car - the shortest option, about 20 minutes along an exposed but technically easy, cable-secured ridge

Good to know

• The route from the cable car starts right at the top station of the Gefrorene Wand chairlift, marked with a sign warning that onward travel is at your own risk
• In winter the ridge is often corniced, making the climb considerably harder
• The south peak requires UIAA grade II climbing, notably harder than the north summit

The north peak was first climbed in 1867, while the south peak was first reached on 7 September 1872 by brothers Max and Richard von Frey from Salzburg.