SKI TOURING AT THE PITZTAL GLACIER

Highest mountain of tyrol

• very good shape needed
• starting point is the mountain station Gletscherexpress
• high alpine tour
• gradient more than 30 - 35°
• skiing technic: extrem
• ascend: 3,5 km with about 2 hours
• descend 15 km with about 1,30 hours
• Duration approx. 3 hours

Above all, the lifts of the Pitztal glacier ski area have made the ascent of the Wildspitze (3768m) a short day tour and accessible to almost everyone. Nevertheless, this tour can be reasonably encountered over a large glacier, as it has its difficulties, especially when the weather is bad. From the mountain station you have a short descent down to the valley station of the Mittelbergbahn. From here it goes over the Mittelbergjoch (3166m) down to the Taschachferner. The actual ascent begins at an altitude of approx. Attention: crevasses - with good visibility you can easily avoid them. A flat ascent leads in a loop over the glacier. The normal ascent leads over the southwest ridge already described, at the beginning of which the ski depot is created in a saddle. The classic downhill variant is via the Taschachferner. Only in the area of ​​the Taschachbruch (between 2500m and 2700m) does the glacier need to be used with extreme caution. Especially in bad weather and in spring when there is little snow, the risk of crevasses can also become a massive problem. In the course of the elongated Taschach valley, you now have to pass numerous avalanche lines over a length of 5.5 kilometers. It is therefore a great advantage if the avalanche lines have already discharged sufficiently in advance.

3.394 m DIFFFICULT

• very good shape needed
• starting point is the mountain station Rifflsee
• high alpine tour
• gradient more than 35 - 40°
• skiing technic: extrem
• ascend: 6,9 km with about 3,15 hours
• descend 9,8 km with about 1,30 hours
• duration approx. 4 - 5 hours

The Rostizkogel (3394m) requires a very good condition and alpine knowledge. More than the K2. Due to this high demand on the tourer, there are far fewer people trying to climb here. You also need much safer avalanche conditions on the Rostizkogel than on the K2. There are two ascent routes up the Northern Holes. The classic holds in the area of ​​the steep forehead moraine. The best way to reach the top of the Rostizkogel is via the broad northeast shoulder. The ascent can normally be done on skis to the summit. Due to strong winds, the summit upturn is mostly blown away and can therefore be assessed relatively easily. It is different with direct descent over the east flank. Winds from the west can easily lead to extensive accumulation of driving snow here, which is why a descent over the northeast shoulder in the area of ​​the ascent track is preferable. In general, the tour destination Rostizkogel (3394m) should only be used if the avalanche warning levels 1 to 2 are objectively safe.

3.253 m DIFFFICULT

• very good shape needed
• starting point is the mountain station Rifflsee
• high alpine tour
• gradient more than 30 - 35°
• skiing technic: difficult
• ascend: 6 km with about 3 hours
• descend 9,8 km with about 1,30 hours
• duration approx. 3 - 4 hours

The ascent with the Rifflseebahn (in high winter, the first ascent is at 9 a.m., in spring at 8:30 a.m.) shortens the ascent by 500 m. On the descent the Rifflsee (2232m) has to be crossed. Usually not a problem, but especially in spring it can happen that you take the somewhat longer, but safe bank path as a precaution. No matter which variant you choose, you should always have a few reserves here, because the 10 to 15 minute pushes are tough again.

3.324 m DIFFFICULT

• very good shape needed
• starting point is the mountain station Rifflsee
• high alpine tour
• gradient more than 40°
• skiing technic: extrem
• ascend: 7,4 km with about 3,15 hours
• descend 10 km with about 1,15 hours
• duration approx. 4 - 5 hours

The tour to the Löcherkogel (3324m) is one of the rarely used tours in the Rifflsee area. This is due to the fact that the tour to the Löcherkogel should mainly be viewed as a firn tour, as well as at the difficult to climb summit. The summit ridge has a climbing point in the upper II degree of difficulty. Up to here you climb an ideal ski touring area. Although quite steep, it is easy to master for experienced tourers. The start of the tour on the Löcherkogel is the same as for all tours in the Rifflsee area on the Rifflsee itself. Here you follow the valley floor towards the west. Following the first terrain level, the two ascents to the K2 (3253m) and Rostizkogel (3394m) branch off to the northwest. To the Löcherkogel, follow the valley floor (on the left side of the valley). To be able to take the next Kar in the direction of Rostizjoch (3083m) or Löcherkogel (3324m). The climb over this slope, which is up to 35 ° steep in the upper area, is unproblematic in good firn conditions. After that, the terrain covers a significant distance and becomes extensive, finally leading to the summit slope, which is steep in places up to 40 °. The summit ridge is then only something for experienced and experienced winter mountaineers. Coping with it requires unconditional alpine experience. But with or without a summit, the wonderful Firn descent leaves nothing to be desired.

3.251 m MODERATE

• very good shape needed
• starting point is the mountain station Rifflsee
• high alpine tour
• gradient more than 40°
• skiing technic: difficult
• ascend: 5,3 km with about 2,30 hours
• descend 9,3 km with about 1,30 hours
• duration approx. 4  - 5 hours

The Vizlkogel is in the maps often unnamed, unnamed summit that stands in the shadow of the mighty Seekarleschneid (3207m). Since the ski tour and the summit area are not easily visible from the Rifflsee, the Vizlkogel (3251m) hardly attracts any desires. So you will mostly be alone on this tour. The tour is only advisable in spring when the starting slope is more than 40 ° steep and a total of 500 meters high and has firn conditions. However, the second part of the tour, the further climb over the Seekarlesferner exposed to the east, often still has powder snow. In addition, the glacier area is extensive and spoils you with ideal touring terrain, both on the ascent and the descent. The last few meters to the summit represent very difficult terrain.

3.251 m MODERATE

• good shape needed
• starting point is the mountain station Rifflsee
• high alpine tour
• gradient more than 40°
• skiing technic: moderate
• ascend: 7,3 km with about 3,30 hours
• descend 10,7 km with about 1,30 hours
• duration approx. 5  - 6 hours

The tour to the Wurmtaler Kogel (3225m) is probably the safest and easiest summit climb in the Rifflsee area. With almost 1,000 meters of ascent, this can also be mastered by less well-trained tourers. In addition, the extensive and largely flat touring terrain makes hardly any technical demands. From the Rifflsee it is first of all for a long time in a slight incline following the course of the valley to the foot of the Rifflferner. There the beautiful glacier slope can be tackled differently depending on the snow and avalanche situation. Likewise, there are various options here on the descent. This glacier slope, which is up to 35 ° steep in its southern part, is at the same time the skiing pleasure of a tour that is generally unspectacular in terms of skiing technology. At the end of the glacier slope you come to a relatively flat glacier basin that easily leads us to the summit ridge. In Stapf, you can easily conquer the summit, in the area of ​​which a bivouac box is stationed. If the avalanche conditions are safe and there is sufficient snow, good skiers can also take their skis to the summit and then descend directly onto the Rifflferner via the western slope of the summit. In spring with firn conditions, it would also be advisable to go in the direction of the "ice box", Taschachhaus and further descent through the Taschach valley.

• Elevation: 2.820 m - 3.260 m | 440 altitude
• Length: 2 km
• ascent time: ca. 1 h - 1,5 h

• Elevation: 2.820 m - 3.440 m | 620 altitude
• Length: 2,5 km
• ascent time: ca. 2 h - 2,5 h