Snowshoe hiking & winter walking

Step by step towards a holistic experience

The hiking paradise of Sölden also has a marvelous winter season: 49.5 km of cleared, signposted winter hiking trails take walkers straight through snow-covered forests, white meadows and along Ötztaler Ache mountain brook. Adventure-seeking vacationers grab their snowshoes and listen to the crunching snow under their feet while lively Sölden disappears in the background. Trudging through the untouched white either on your own or accompanied by a local guide you will take new insights on the way to rustic mountain huts.

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Finstertaler Schartenkopf

Ski Touring • Oetztal

Responsible for this content
Ötztal Tourismus

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Photo: Ötztal Tourismus
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Photo: Ötztal Tourismus
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Photo: Ötztal Tourismus
/ Finstertaler Schartenkopf Skitour
Photo: Ötztal Tourismus
/ Finstertaler Schartenkopf Skitour
Photo: Ötztal Tourismus
/ Finstertaler Schartenkopf Skitour
Photo: Ötztal Tourismus
/ Finstertaler Schartenkopf Skitour
Photo: Ötztal Tourismus
/ Finstertaler Schartenkopf Skitour
Photo: Ötztal Tourismus

The Tour

Firntourklassiker im Bereich der Schweinfurterhütte

moderate

20.8 km

4:20 h

1644 m

1309 m

All ski touring destinations within the area of Schweinfurterhütte 2028m can also be reached from Niederthai 1548m provided that the 5.5 kilometer long ascent incl. 500 altitude meters from Niederthai 1548m to Schweinfurterhütte 2028m isn't too challenging - walking time is about 1h 45min. All those in search of a classic corn snow tour in the surroundings of Schweinfurterhütte 2028m should choose Finstertaler Schartenkopf 2855m as the slopes are exposed to the south and offer perfect downhill skiing conditions also in the early ski mountaineering season. If you start the tour on the valley floor and the snow conditions are still good, the shortest ascent route leads via Weites Kar cirque along a steep south-facing slope (gradient of up to 35-40°) located above Großhorlachalm. For a bit you keep to the summer hiking trail which travels westwards to Finstertaler Sennhütte. Soon you have to climb in countless switchbacks up to an altitude of 2200m. In stable corn snow conditions and if you are experienced in making kick turns you ascend without major problems. Once on top, the terrain levels out and you continue easily towards the wide open Weites Kar cirque nestling in the foothills of Finstertaler Scharte 2777m and Finstertaler Schartenkopf 2855m. If you start the ski tour at Schweinfurterhütte 2028m or if the snow conditions are bad on the southern slope above Großhorlachalm you keep to the ascending summer hiking trail to Weites Kar, which leads from the hut to Finstertaler Scharte 2777m. The very last climb on your way to the peak takes you right next to the southern flank of Finstertaler Schartenkopf 2855m on a partly very steep 30-35° slope towards the ridge and further on to the peak on the south-eastern saddleback. Favorable corn snow conditions and excellent kick-turn techniques are strongly recommended for this tour. If the avalanche risk is very low and if you are a good off-piste skier you should ski down the almost vertical line with a gradient of 35-40° on the southern flank.

Details

Difficulty

moderate

Stamina

Experience

Landscape

Altitude

2851 m

1542 m

Best time of year

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Rest Stop

Groß-Horlach-Alm
Jausenstation Larstighof

Safety information

Avalanche Hazard Scale

1 (LOW)

Triggering is generally possible but only from high additional load in isolated areas of extremely steep terrain. Only small-sized sluffs and natural avalanches are expected. Snow layers are generally stable.

2 (MODERATE)

Avalanches may be triggered in case of truly heavy loads, especially on a few explicitly indicated, steep slopes. Large spontaneous avalanches are not expected. In general, the snowpack is well bonded except on some very steep slopes. Choose your route carefully, avoid the indicated slopes and exposed sections.

3 (CONSIDERABLE)

Triggering is very probable even from low additional loads, particularly on the indicated steep slopes. On some steeper slopes, medium or even fairly large spontaneous avalanches may occur. On most steepslopes the snow layer is only moderately or weakly stable. Expertavalanche knowledge is required. You must avoid the indicated steepslopes and highly exposed sections.

4 (HIGH)

Avalanches are likely to be triggered on many of the indicated steepslopes even if only light loads are applied. In some places, numerous medium-sized and also large-sized natural avalanches are expected.The snowpack is poorly bonded on most steep slopes. Choose your route according to these criteria, select only moderately steep terrain by avoiding the avalanche runout zones. Very expert avalanche knowledge is required.

5 (EXTREMELY HIGH)

Numerous huge or very large-sized natural avalanches are expected also in moderately steep terrain. Safe skiing is not possible anymore, not even in the marked ski area. The snowpack is poorly bonded and largely unstable. Don‘t go ski mountaineering at all!

Also visit lawine.tirol.gv.at

Equipment

Recommended Ski Mountaineering Equipment

The „standard ski mountaineering equipment“ is: touring skis with touring bindings, telescopic poles, climbing skins, ski crampons, digital avalanche transceiver, avalanche shovel, avalanche probe, firstaid kit and mobile phone. A „complete glacier equipment set“ contains: sit harness, two prusik loops of different lengths and ascenders, two HMS biners, icepick, climbing irons and rope. Pack your rucksack carefully and don‘t forget extra clothes for the descent, sun protection/cream, cold protection, enough food and drink. If you stay overnight at a mountain hut take toiletry articles and a hut sleeping bag with you!

LEVELS OF DIFFICULTY

Easy: Short or moderately long tours, always easy, with ascents not steeper than 25° or slightly steeper only on short sections.
Intermediate: Moderately long or long tours of intermediate difficulty with ascents up to 35° or slightly steeper only on short sections.
Difficult: Very challenging and long or very long tours with ascents that can exceed 40°, comprising also climbing sections up to difficulty grade II (UIAA).

Tips, hints and links

Ascending aid: no

Max. Slope: 35-40 °

Glacier: no

Tour type: High Alpine tour

Ski technique: medium

Climbing technique: 1st degree

Maps: AV card Stubai Alps - Sellrain 1:25 000

Best season: Mar, Apr

Ski Mountaineering Rules

If you enjoy activities amid nature always respect the local guidelines when you set out on a ski tour (for example: wildlife preserves, hunting enclosures, reforestation areas, information boards, etc.).
Don‘t enter protected wildlife zones or feeding areas amid naturelandscapes, and avoid noise.
Cross forest areas in winter only on sign posted trails or marked routes as wild animals can panic if they hear loud voices or noise.
Learn more about the habitat of wild animals in the mountains, avoid getting too close to them. Watch them only from a safe distance. Please put your dog on a lead, it is absolutely irresponsible to take dogs into the forest without leashing them because wild animals suffer from food deficiency and weakness in winter.
Excellent planning and time management: start your tour early enough and return before darkness. In spring you should be back on the hut or in the valley at 12 noon (avalanche hazard!) at the latest.
Never cross forestation zones and areas with young plants and trees.

Ötztal Tourismus doesn‘t take any responsibility for the suggested tours. It is strongly recommended to enlist a certified local mountainguide. Glacier crossings are allowed only in a group by using a rope.

Before you set out on a tour you should inform someone down in the valley about the tour‘s destination and when you plan to be back. Anavalanche transceiver is an absolute must for Alpine ski mountaineering tours.

More details about ski mountaineering tours in Ötztal: https://www.oetztal.com/skitouren

Turn-by-turn directions

Start

Niederthai (1542 m)

Coordinates:

Geographic

47.128540, 10.968140

UTM

32T 649267 5221327

Destination

Niederthai

Turn-by-turn directions

Für alle Tourenziele im Einzugsgebiet der Schweinfurterhütte 2028m gilt, dass diese auch als Tagestour direkt von Niederthai 1548m aus machbar sind, sofern einem der ca. 5.5km lange und in etwa 1Std und 45min dauernde Zustieg von Niederthai 1548m über fast 500 Höhenmeter bis zur Schweinfurterhütte 2028m nicht zu viel an Kondition raubt. Wer dabei eine Firntour sucht, wählt am besten den Finstertaler Schartenkopf 2855m als Ziel aus. Die fast ausschließlich in südlicher Richtung exponierten Hänge sind dabei schon recht früh gut umgesetzt und lassen im Einzugsgebiet der Schweinfurterhütte 2028m im Frühjahr am ehesten auf gute Firnbedingungen hoffen. Erfolgt der Aufstieg direkt vom Tal und liegt noch genügend Schnee so ist der kürzeste Anstieg hinauf ins Weite Kar über den stellenweise 35° bis 40° steilen Südhänge oberhalb der Großhorlachalm zu suchen. Hier hält man sich zu Beginn für kurze Zeit an den Sommerweg, der gegen Westen weiter zur Finstertaler Sennhütte führt. Aber schon bald geht es nun nur noch in zahlreichen Spitzkehren bis hinauf in eine Seehöhe von 2200m. Bei sicheren Firnverhältnissen und guter Spitzkehrentechnik stellt dieser Hang kaum ein Problem dar. Nun legt sich das Gelände deutlich zurück und der weitere Aufstieg im schönen und übersichtlichen Gelände des Weiten Kars führt uns unproblematisch an den Fuß der Finstertaler Scharte 2777m, beziehungsweise des Finstertaler Schartenkopfes 2855m. Wer auf der Schweinfurterhütte 2028m die Tour startet, oder im Südhang oberhalb der Großhorlachalm zu wenig Schnee vorfinden sollte, wählt als Aufstieg hinauf ins Weite Kar den Sommerweg, der von der Hütte zur Finstertalerscharte 2777m führt. Der Schlussanstieg zum Gipfel führt neben der direkten Südflanke am Finstertaler Schartenkopf 2855m zunächst über stellenweise 30° bis 35° geneigtes Gelände in Richtung Scharte und weiter über den Südostrücken zum Tourenziel. Bei einer Tour mit stabilen Firnverhältnissen stellt der Schlussanstieg, sofern man einer sicheren Spitzkehrentechnik mächtig ist, keine Probleme dar. Bei derart idealen Verhältnissen kann bei der Abfahrt, wem es mit 35° bis 40° nicht zu steil ist, auch die direkte Linie über die Südflanke gewählt werden.

Getting There

Public transport

Enjoy a both comfortable and relaxing train ride to the train station in Ötztal Bahnhof. You get off the train in ÖTZTAL Bahnhof where you change to a public bus or local taxi. The current bus schedule can be found at: http://fahrplan.vvt.at

Getting there

Niederthai is located in the western part of Austria in the state TYROL, in a southern side valley of the Inn valley - the ÖTZTAL. For your arrival by car, you can plan the best route from your home town with the route planner online at https://www.google.at/maps