With its distinctive, symmetric, pyramidal shape and its mighty northwest face which rises 350 metres above the Obersulzbachkees glacier at a gradient of 50°, it is the most prominent landmark in the entire Upper Sulzbach valley.

It was first climbed on 20 August 1871 by the Alpinist, Richard Issler, and mountain guide, Michael Groder from the Johannis Hut to the south.

The nearest sizeable settlement is the Tyrolean village of Hinterbichl near Prägraten 10 kilometres away as the crow flies in the Virgental valley.

Their route initially followed the Dorferbach upstream to the middle of the very heavily crevassed Dorferkees at a height of about 2,700 metres and then swung west over firn at a gradient of 30° to the so-called Ostsporn (East Spur).

More demanding climbing routes, of UIAA grades III to IV, lead up the northwest face and along its flanking arêtes, some as combined tours (ice and rock).