The endless looking for routes where we could drive to the snow line and climb
up turned up a route that used the same car park as the approach route to Neue
Bamberger hutte. Tim & Michael had checked it out after giving Steve a lift
back to his campsite yesterday. This would also be a recce for if/ when we chose
to go up to the hut (we had been recommended it as a good place with lots of
local tours that were not too strenuous.
We drove down the valley from Kelchsau, stopping at the ticket booth for a
ticket to use the approach road (5 euro) and continued to the large(ish) car
park beside the Gasthof Wegscheid. This was frozen over but we found a
relatively flat parking spot and got ready. We were looking to take the path to
Schneegrubenspitz, but the reality that we would probably only make the schart
of the same name, as it took time to get her and we were late leaving.
The route went up a forest road behind the Gasthof and followed a series of
zigzags.
The track maintained a white ribbon through the trees sometimes the full width
other times a narrow stripe.
The track continued in the trees before coming out into the upper meadows.
However there was a bare section and also a steep section that had numerous
stones sticking out. This would be a challenge on the way down - a dilemma to
sideslip or walk!
We then followed a stream on a wide flatter track up in the bottom of the
valley.
At a bend in the river we paused for a break and look up to the head of the
valley where we were targeting.
Continuing up the track to a point where it narrowed to an undulating path.
The track ended at a bridge below the next band of trees, and the route seemed
to climb a steep slope completely covered with descending tracks and was very
slippy in places where it had been scrubbed to ice.
Up this slope and across the undulating meadow above aiming for a band of
trees.
There were several tracks through the trees, and the one we chose was slightly
high once we got through to the clearing behind. We dropped to the higher
concentration of tracks that led to a stream crossing.
A narrow snow bridge over the stream and into the "patchy" landscape on the
other side.
Over the undulating terrain and followed by more stream crossings as we
traversed the tributaries. Here was like crossing glacial moraine remnants - all
bumpy and full of obstacles.
This then led us to the back of this bowl from where we selected one of the
several tracks going uphill - once again disguised by downhill tracks.
We climbed steeply (once again plagued with everything cut up by descent tracks
and I had a mental debate over harschissen).
Climbing up the slope was using a series of ascent tracks avoiding the turns
where descenders had cleaned the snow off.
This led us to a track that traversed the slope to a hut on the far side
(Schneegrubenalm). The party was getting very tired by this time and a strategic
decision was made to call the day and head to the hut.
We changed it almost immediately for a knoll with a tree on it - to stop for
lunch and prepare for the descent.
Lunch was on a piece of rock sticking out behind the tree, relatively dry.
Up to the ridge above and the scharte we targeted.
Down the valley towards the car park.
A few photos, then we prepared for the descent. Traversing to the hut across
very varied snow - breakable crust, powder and hard firm,
Down beside the hut on a steep and wide section before a small flat area that
led to a narrower steeper section
This required tight turns in the previous tracks.
We ended up in the moraine in the depths of the bowl with several stream
crossings
Then back across the main stream with the snow bridge - now very degraded
and through the tree belt. This time we followed a lower route which resulted in
a short grass and pine needle ski.
Across the steep slope above the wide track back beside the stream.
Now back on the wide track down to the forest edge. Next the first steep drop down an icy track with
rocks sticking out. Bryon, Steph and I all took the skis off and walked down.
Then back on the track with a couple of objective bangers from random rocks
where the snow had melted during the day, before having to take the skis off for another bare section.
back on again and helter-skelter skiing down the track and around the hairpins
back to the Gasthof.
Time for us all to gather in the Gasthof for a quick drink before returning to
the apartment.
