The day turned out to follow the forecast and a clear sky greeted the day. We
had planned a route up to the Birgitzjochhaus - the closed hut at the col
overlooking Axamer Lizum that we had seen from the top of Birgitzköpfl. We also had to pack up from the apartment as our time was up there, which did not delay us, but did mean we had a car full driving around.
We would park in the ski area car park for the Götzens gondola that goes up to
the Muttereralm ski area. We had been up the other side of the ski area in 2024,
but also this side had an easier navigation onto the skiweg marked on the map.
The down side was that this ascended a red run and we would discover later the
consequences.
We drove around and parked in the lift car park - paying for the privilege (this time 10 Euro). Then walked up to the piste - stopping at the facilities since we had paid!
The short start led to the first of a series of steep rollers and up to a flatter section.
Bryon was struggling on this climb as his skins did not like the cold icy surface, and his harscheisen dropped into the gaps in the corduroy. However he found a way to make them work although at an effort.
Steph and I continued up the side of the piste, while Bryon took a series of zigzags.
Using the piste saves the lift cost, but it is not very rewarding in views - like walking along the side of busy road.
the track crossed under the gondola cables a few times on its meandering climb
Finally, as the slope eased up, we reached some of the pistes towards the top of the station, and we started looking for the right path to leave on.
After passing a track to Götzner Alm, that had not seen much use we continued up. Bryon was more comfortable on these slopes now and struggled less.
A short while after this we found the correct junction - even the sign pointed to the right destination. The track had been heavily used so there was no doubt.
This "skiweg" followed a forest track around the side of Pfrimeskopf in a very gentle climb - enough that we knew there would not be a need for poling coming down.
As the forest road came around into the valley that drops down from Birgitzköpfl there was a warning of avalanche danger. Obviously one to remember if using the track during higher levels of risk.
The track continued around Zwölferspitze contouring around above the stream.
The track broke up a little here as it climbed a slope but then came together again over the top.
The track crossed the stream as the slope eased up on both side and continued in a zigzag up the far side.
Finally coming out into the bowl below the Birgitzköpflhaus - this was sitting on the ridge above.
This side of the ridge had an old T-bar lift that had not been used for a while and was crossed by many days of ski tracks from people following the same route as ourselves.
The final slope up to the ridge under the T-bar.
At the top was a chair lift coming up from Axamer Lizum, and the T-bar, as well as the Birgitzköpflhaus.
We wandered over to the terrace outside the haus to find several other parties sunning themselves before their descent.
Looking over to Axamer Lizum and its ski area, as well as the descent around the side of Zwölferspitze - this had avalanched several times (to be noted!)
We sat in the sun on the terrace and had lunch, as well as drying off - the climb had been in full sun for the most time and we had lost a lot of liquid.
Then it was time to descend.
A look down the top bowl from the haus.
The snow down the top bowl and onto the zigzags was very spring like and good skiing.
The along the track to the forest road - again very like a piste.
The forest road was a simple schuss to the main pistes. These had softened in the sun of the day and gave very good skiing down to the bottom. Bryon had completely forgotten the trials of the climb here and charged off into the distance.
1200m of ascent (our most this trip) deserved a reward at the café in the valley station, as well as sustaining us until dinner.
We would now cross over the Brenner valley to find our beds for the night below Patscherkofel.
