Ski touring and Freeride in the Kaunertal
Mont of the year: january - april
Duration: 8 days
Scheduled departure:
In the Otztal region, if you wish to find a rather wild valley with a minimal presence of ski lifts (not so easy in Austria), we propose here the Kaunertal, a jewel of ski mountaineering and freeride.
Based in the village of Feicthen at an altitude of 1300 m, in winter you can take advantage of the two sides of the lower valley, for beautiful ascents and descents in the woods and open slopes, at altitudes up to 3000 m. If the conditions are favorable, you can also go forward to the upper valley (beyond Lake Gepatsch), up to altitudes of 3000 -3500 m, even on the glacier, partially (and optionally) using the lifts.
A curiosity: the Black Ibex piste here is the steepest in all of Austria, with a wall at 39 °.
The possibilities in the Kaunertal are plenty, so, in relation to the conditions of the mountain and the snow pack, you can choose the best itineraries with a good chance of enjoying a top quality skiing adventure.
The itineraries have varying difficulties and vertcial gain between 1200 and 2000 m, so they can satisfy every type of ski mountaineer, from the occasional tourist to the super trained pro.
The proposed programme is normally carried out as mix of freeride and ski mountaineering days, but according to the needs of the team we can also organize a program that is only freeride or only ski mountaineering.
*** ON REQUEST ***
-> Steep Skiing Option, with a choice of slopes and couloirs for high technical level skiers, approach with skins and / or lifts.
*** OTHER SKI MOUNTAINEERING PROGRAMS IN AUSTRIA ***
-> A week of ski mountaineering and freeride in Arlberg, top quality made in Tyrol;
-> Carinthia: Goldberg, Angkogel and Kreuzeck groups (January – March), Schober group (steep skiing), Glockner group (glacier skiing, late spring);
-> other areas in Otztal, and in the Hohe Tauern; also: Zillertal, Stubai
Challenge: FITNESS 2 TECHNICAL 2 ADVENTURE 2
Accomodation: hotel or apartment
Local transfers: car or minivan
Services included: all local transport by minivan; accommodation (7 nights) in an apartment (with living room, kitchen, bathroom and bedrooms) or hotel; description of the itineraries and maps.
Optional services: flights and transfers to / from destination; hotel accommodation upgrade; insurance; assistance by an Avalco tour leader or mountain guide; steep ski option; extensions or other variations to the program.
Special notes: Steep Skiing option is reserved for pre-established groups, or also for individual participants when the assistance of a mountain guide is included.
DAILY PROGRAM
Day 1
Arrival in Feichten-Kaunertal, with different transport means according to the place of departure. (For those coming by plane, the nearest airports are Innsbruck 90 km away and Munich 200 km away).
Days 2-7
A ski mountaineering tour every day, starting from Feichthen or taking the car or minivan for short travels.
In the lower valley, the east-facing slope (Fisslad) offers steeper slopes and channels; the west facing slope (Waze, Verpeil, Lockerkogel) allows for powder snow conditions until March.
From the Gepatsch lake 1750m there are beautiful itineraries into the Kassertal and Wurmtal. Further on in the valley, beyond the lake, you can make tours to higher altitudes and partly on the glacier, starting from the end of the road (Ochsenalm 2150 m) or from the intermediate lift station 2450 m.
If you want to do a few days of freeride, the cable car to the Weissseejoch 3044 m gives access to beautiful lines in the Krummgampen basin, with possible nice descents in the Riffel valley. The Norderjoch ski lift allows, with a further short ascent by snowcat or with skins, to access the fantastic off-piste of the Norderberg, as far down to Ochsenalm. All the slopes served by the lifts have a predominantly north orientation, so you can often find beautiful powder until late spring.
Day 8
Return to your place of residence. If the times is compatible with the return schedule, a short skiing tour may be arranged in the morning.
NOTE
The program will be adapted according to the mountain conditions and the needs of the team. The final choice of the itineraries will have to be made on site, also evaluating all the safety criteria.
–> CONTACT US
to request a customized program
cover photo: Kaunertaler Gletscher
REQUEST INFORMATION FOR
Ski touring and Freeride in the Kaunertal
Trip code: EX20052
Key Definitions
Trip dates, Duration, Departure
The period of time given in the trip description sheet is indicatively the most recommended for optimun conditions for the planned activities. Different periods are possible, especially during season with special climate situations. Duration is referred to the “standard” programme as per description sheet, however it could change according to the local conditions and/or the team’s requirements. If the trip is included in the Scheduled Trips list (yearly planner), the departure date is the one given in the planner; otherwise it will be decided according to the requests we have received. In any case we suggest to contact us for more precise information. In customized trips, departure date and duration are established according to customer’s request
Challenge scoring
By means of the scores given in the trip decsription sheet we wish to provide an indicative assessment of the challenges to be expected, divided in the following three categories:
FITNESS
Grade 1: adult performing a minimum sport activity (4-8 hours/week), or teenager in medium fitness conditions
Grade 2: adult performing sport activity (8-16 hours/week) or teenager in good fitness conditions
Grade 3: adult performing regular sport activity (16-20 hours/week) or teenager in very good fitness conditions
Grade 4: adult only, regularly performing sport activity and intense training (more than 20 hours/week)
TECHNICAL SKILLS
Grade1: no prior experience in the activity is required, just a natural predisposition
Grade 2: prior experience in the activity as beginner to medium level
Grade 3: prior experience in the activity at medium to high level, with regular practice since min. 3-5 years
Grade 4: excellent technical skills with long experience in the activity (more than 5 years)
ADVENTURE:
Grade 1: no prior experience in adventure travel id required, just a positive attitude to adapt
Grade 2: prior, yet limited, experience in adventure travel, with a strong attitude to adapt and determination
Grade 3: prior experience in adventure travel including remote area and wilderness, or extreme wheather, or uncertainty in route finding
Grade 4: prior experience in adventure travel including remote area and wilderness, or extreme wheather, or uncertainty in route finding, strong determination to overcome unforeseen events
Accomodation
The type of accomodation as planned is indicated in the trip sheet (hotel, lodge, tents, etc..).
Transfers
The means of local transfers are indicated as planned (flight, bus, 4WD vehicle, ferry, etc.). Some changes are possible in relation to the actual availability on site and/or the terrain and wheather conditions.
Service included and Prices
We do not have a price list. Quotes are sent on request only. Details of services included, excluded, or optionally available, will be specified in the quote and confirmed at the time of booking. Prices depend on number of participants and on the specific requirements of the group. They will be definitely set at the time of booking after definiton of all trip details and confirmation of dates. Special prices can be granted according to number of participants, and/or for pre-established groups, clubs and associations, guides with own clients, active athletes, tour operators and travel agents, journalists, physicians, rescue operators, schools, staff of organization running an humanitarian or research project.