The weather was on the turn - not drastically, but the sky was now covered in clouds, although there had still been a frost overnight. There was also a warning of the Foehn wind coming from the south, as we had seen yesterday. We chose to go back to Obernbergtal and head towards Grubenkopf, we could make the cool even if the summit proved too windy.
We parked in the (pay) car park for the obernbergersee and headed for the rodelbahn beside the barriered gateway.
Just around the corner we put on the skis and skated along the track.
Around a bend in the track we opened out onto meadows - with patchy snow but we were used to finding a path through.
Up past the farm buildings and onto the end slope of the meadows.
A little bit steeper up to the next level, with only a small grass section over the top.
A nasty icy bit on the final exit from the meadow to the Oberreinsalm.
The track was mostly bare so we dropped down to the lake side and traversed aroudn the edge.
Across the second pool and out beside the bridge across to the chapel - Maria am See.
From here the route climbs steeply on a "train track" through the woods
Then comes out above then onto more open slopes.
Along these slopes to several barn buildings, the last of which over looks the drop across a small stream.
Normally every time we come here the stream is bridged by snow, however this time it looked bare.
So after a brief consultation around fording it we chose to change target and aim for the col on the ridge labelled as Sandjöchl on the map. This would keep us to the left of the stream and not require a crossing.
The path followed the stream up the valley arriving at some more buildings.
From here the track climbed a small headwall Harscheisen were deployed just in case things got slippery up this slope (mainly due to the descending skiers turns)
Over the top of the head wall and into the bowls above.
Looking back we could see down the stream to the valley below, and the other way up tot eh col sitting on the ridge above.
To make the col we avoided the end of the bowl and traversed in from the side - the snow did not look completely stable and we did not want to cause a problem on it.
Up on the ridge we met the fierce wind once again. Not really tempted to hang around we quickly transitioned for downhill.
Looking back down the way we had come up.
A quick photo before rushing out of the wind.
Once again avoiding the head slope of the bowl below the col we traversed around it. The snow was hard packed and corrugated, not as pleasant as other days.
Dropping back down to the buildings using the smoother sections.
Then a pause for some lunch before continuing.
Along the side of the valley was a straight run until the final climb back up to the buildings where we had changed destination earlier.
better snow as we dropped down the open slopes above the forest beyond the buildings. Then the train track back to the lake.
Once again around the lake and up to the alm. A distinctly dodgy (very icy) drop into the meadows
Through the farm and down onto the rodelbahn to return to the car park.
A good alternative and opened up some other potential routes for another time.
