The clouds were floating around in the valley ... some sunny periods above
us, but in general forecast for clouds all day, there was also a fearsome wind
building up. So to make navigation and route finding easier and remove any need
to carry skis like the other day, we dropped down to the Brenner valley and the
town of Steinach am Brenner - this is the place where the Brenner tunnel is
being bored from. Beside the motorway up to the Brenner pass is a little ski
resort that goes by the name of Bergeralm. The ski resort was in its last throws
of death for the year and was holding out for the Easter Weekend before closing
up for the season, however the webcams showed that there was a ribbon of snow
all the way to the valley.
After driving through the town and finding the right road we parked up in the
nearest car park to the gondola station - it happened to be under the motorway
flyover, right next to the Brenner tunnel exhibition. There were only a few car
in the car park and it was a bit eerie getting ready and walking around the
ticket office to get to the piste coming down beside the elevated motorway.
Going up was going to be simply following this thin white strip of the only
piste open until we reached the middle station and restaurant complex.
This comprised of a series of very steep sections - right at the limit of the
skins capability to hold on the snow - and some recovery sections of lower
gradient.
All around was green, showing strong signs of spring, and behind us were good
views back down into the Brenner valley, as the track angled away form the
gondolas. The cloud cover was gradually lifting above us.
We were not the only ones skinning up the slope as we were passed in this
section by a lycra clad speed merchant and a couple of lads.
The track returned to the gondola lines as we climbed the last steep section
before the middle station and a pause.
Continuing up the next piste to the top station was more of the same thing, with
the exception that there were now area of residual snow beyond the piste limits.
Climbing parallel to the top lift - a speedy 6 person chair.
We were passed by two other people skinning here the first only just faster than
us and the the second following her, if things were not careful there would be
more people skinning than skiing!
We were still blocked in by the woods on either side and the only views were
backward down the valley. Although this was quite spectacular there is no
surprising we were climbing at quite a rate 400m per hour - well above the
average (300m/ hr) we normally manage.
As we started to reach the final curve away from the top lift, the woods thinned
out, however the cloud around limited some of the views, although there were
some spectacular movement above the valleys on the East side of the Brenner.
The top station came into view as we curved back to the lift line, but so did
the wind - so far we had been sheltered but now it got quite bitter. Above it we
could see the cross on the summit of this mountain.
A wooden post came sliding past us down hill - this had either dropped loose int
he melt or was nudged, but headed gently down hill to be stopped by a helpful
individual and put in the gutter.
At the top station we found a little corner out of the wind and used it as a ski
depot.
Skis left behind we walked up the wind ravaged slopes mostly bare of snow to the cross.
Hanging around only for the obligatory photos before scuttling back down
to the top station, and shelter.
Down the opposite side we could see the alternative route to this summit - we had reasoned (correctly as it turned out) that it woudl involve a good bit of walking and some contorting around the various snow patches.
Lunch over and skins stripped off we started the descent. Hard packed snow at
the top with the chilly wind lead to a fast descent.
Pausing only to catch our breaths before continuing down to the middle station
passed an almost empty reservoir used for snow making. By now the snow was
gettign softer and more banked up.
Past the middle station the snow got really soft, and there were bare patches
that had opened since the overnight grooming, and our morning climb. At least
the trees were now sheltering us from the wind and we could warm up a little.
Down at the bottom, skiing past the motorway on slushy ice, brought us back to
the car park - 20 mins for the descent, and 3 hours up - much better than our
average.
Although the climb was not mentally stimulating, and the descent was in the
final throws of life, it was quite nice overall, and our highest height climbed
in one go so far this trip. I did not even mind the 6 Euros to get out of the
car park as it was fair compensation for using their facilities on this awkward
day.
Postscript.
While I was writing up the day and making dinner, Bryon went to follow the way markers behind the village, to discover a chapel in the woods.
