We had to find somewhere that would enable us to get up to the snow line... Just
west of Oberaudorf is the ski area of Sudelfeld ... This had a well supported
touring track up the side and on to the hill above it, so it seemed like a good
place for a recon,
We drove over the back road up to Tatzelwurm, where it became a larger
road.. I suspect that if we had lower snow this would have been closed. On
to the ski area car park, where we had to pay 15 Euro to park - this is the
commercialisation of touring on the ski area but we cannot complain.
The reception area was full of children of all ages - I cannot say if this was a
new term ski lessons or else a holiday here in Bavaria and everyone out - Later
found out it was school holidays for Shrove Tuesday/ Ash Wednesday.
We moved through the crowds and to the bottom of a red piste (#3 on the map) and
we cut over the off-piste area to join it at the turn.
Here it went up steeply up beside the chair coming from Bayrischzell. We kept to
the side of the piste in the rougher area.
From the top of that chair we kept to the off-piste below the lift up the next
steep section.
This came out onto a plateau with a noticeable lake - Waller Alm See.
From here we crossed over the highway and followed a traversing track that
climbed to the top station of the chair lift and the summit of the ski area.
Now we left to follow the obvious track climbing up the hill side through sparse
trees at a relatively steep angle over the lower summit slopes. The track was
very icy - mainly due the repeated use and lack of fresh snow, but also not
helped by the descent lines crossing it.
The track crossed over the slope to the far side and then followed its tree line
to the top (as we got closer there were some very slippy sections where the
descent tracks had scraped the line clean.
The top of this route (you continue on foot over to the next top Kleiner
Traiten) was a nice rounded top with some rocks sticking out. We stopped here
for lunch and a good look around in the bright sunshine and minimal breeze.
After the photos etc. Steph and I walked over the to the cross (it was slightly
separate and looking down into the valley below.
Then it was time to ski down. Side slipping the top meters to get onto the face
then turns down - the snow was packed and very little soft section, it was a bit
like a near piste mogul field.
Down across the connecting track between lifts and on the near piste slopes to
the plateau below. From here we continued down the centre of the ski area,
missing the connection track across to the side of a slope we had come up.
Regardless we continued down the blue run (#10) to the alternative base station
at Almgasthof Grafenherberg. From here it was a walk down the connecting road to
get back to the car park.
On the way back a quick check to see if the other option here was viable -
probably not given the lower altitude and the forest track needing snow.
Back to the apartment.. with views over the surrounding hills ... just to emphasize that all the south facing slopes were bare, and the north facing ones needed access at 1000m minimal for any really viable routes.
