The first mountain day of this years ski touring trip, and we needed to check out the real conditions on the slopes. The avalanche forecast had dropped form its unprecedented highs of the recent weeks and was now down to 2 below 2000m.
Looking out of our apartment window across to the Steinach ski area the lift goes to almost the top of Nosslachjoch - a route we had done in previous years from this northern side. However there was an alternative route up from the Brenner pass road and over the meadows, which seemed like an excellent way to evaluate the southern snow limit and also the conditions on the slopes above where the angle was not too excessive.
The skies were clear and there had been a sharp frost overnight. We took the road down to Steinach before picking up a back road that contoured around to the hamlet of Nosslach.
here we found a series of car parks (all with parking meters - coins only!)
Since all the fields were green here, we followed the road up to the Nosslachhutte, as shown on the large map of the routes in the area at the start point.
Through the barrier and up around the first corner before we deemed there to be enough snow (or ice in this case) to put on the skis.
Around the first bend and back along the road was covered (just in some parts)
At the next bend a footpath went into the trees at a point where the road became bare. We chose to follow the path, but this soon became just as patchy, however the grass and pine needles were preferable to the road gravel.
At one point it became impassable, due to tree branches across the slope and we had to walk back up to the road.
Back on the road to the hutte we were able to find a suitable path around the clearer sections up to the driveway to the hutte.
Up to the hutte and another map sign. Here the route description in the books and the paths parted. So we followed the marked path
The path climbed alongside a meadow (perhaps it would have been better to use this as the path soon became devoid of snow)
At the top of the meadow (no exit back to the path) we once again maze run the snow patches.
Back on a forest road we zigzagged up through the trees.
All the time dodging bare patches that would be more difficult on the descent.
Finally leaving the forest, into the upper meadows beside some huts.
We continued following the road as it started to contour around the hillside until we reached an abandoned mine entrance. At this point we realised that we needed to head more directly up the slope and returned to the huts to follow the myriad of ski tracks up the slope.
The tracks were all over the slope so we picked a suitable route through the patchwork of snow and grass patches.
There were various skinning trails on the ground, but these were quite old and dated back to when there was more snow cover.
Passing more huts the proportion of snow cover became greater and route options more flexible.
Leaving the trees behind we were able to set a direct line towards the summit.
There were a number of false summits on the way up the final slopes.
Eventually reaching the ridge line and the final slope to the high point.
The summit (or highest point) had a small cross on it
Looking across to the other side of the Brenner valley.
Over the valley to our apartment and behind it to the north.
Over to Trins and another potential route (Blaiser) although this looked even worse for snow cover.
Towards Egger Berg the combe to the north looked potentially dangerous, and if we chose to go that wat we would need to use the ridge route.
The summit phot and across to the larger cross above ski area.
Heading back down, the surface was nicely transitioned into spring snow. We also passed several people kite skiing, and their straight lines.
The snow was excellent down to the treelines
At this point we had to pick between the grassy patches, and occasionally re-route
More maze running down to the huts, before picking up the forest road, and walking over the bare patches.
On the track above the hutte we gave up with the skis and put them on the rucksacks and walked down. We did not even bother with the (now shorter) patches on the access road, continuing to walk.
Back to the car and return to the apartment.
