The weather was getting better, however we woke up to a frost as well as clouds
filling the valley below. There was a biting wind causing plumes off the tops as
well, so we chose to stay low and go for an explore up the very end of the
valley, past Toldern and Ladins.
Setting off I had to put on some extra layers as well as break out the gloves,
since although it looked spring like, the temperature was still below zero.
We dropped down into Toldern and walked up the hill to the tunnel past the water
mill and flower garden (where we had been before), with views up the second
valley from here- this has some ski tours but also lots of avalanches.
Taking the bypass to the tunnel road we continued up the valley to Ladins
where we finally got some sunlight to warm us up a little.
From here we continued through the village in the same direction looking back on
Jochgrubenkopf - this was a potential tour but we could see the top bowls were
in the wind and would be packed hard making difficult skinning.
Entering the narrow, steep sided valley that was the continuation the road first
turned to gravel , and then as it turned right we met the first of the avalanche
debris fields.
As the valley kept turning we went over more and more debris fields - it seemed
every gully above th valley on both sides had purged into it.
Eventually we could see around into the meadows beyond where the valley opened
out. We stayed on the side of the river still crossing debris fields until we
reached a bridge to cross on (despite the awkward step down onto the planks). At
last in the sun we started to warm up a little
From here we followed the trail up to Kluppernalm ( a series of huts, one of
which was a kiosk in the summer with benches all around). Stopping for a bite
before returning.
We came back the other side of the open meadows, which made for an interesting
river crossing, before returning over all the debris fields int he narrow gorge.
Once back in Ladins we returned the same way as we went out (on the road and
tunnel bypass) Lookign at the mountains in front of us now, and spotting any
fresh avalanches. We were in the sun now and things had warmed up, but the wind
was still vicious.
From Toldern it was a well worn path back to the apartment. To our surprise we
had done nearly 500m of ascent, almost without noticing.
