Another clear day - we are not really used to day after day of sun, however we chose to return to an old favourite route - Vennspitze. This is a straight forward route, with little navigation issues, however there will be an opportunity to test out the summit slope and see how it is behaving with respect to avalanche risk.
We parked in the layby up the single track road at the top of the shoulder int he hamlet of Padaun.
Looking across the start of the route across the lower meadows.
A very chilly start in the shade with icy conditions underfoot. Then off in front of a local group, that we would be chasing all day.
Across the meadow and up to a track (this comes aroudn from the lower car park, just before the hamlet). the final rise was a forewarning of the icy slopes we would meet later.
Across the track and up the swathe through the trees on a steeper climb.
Around a shallow bend and continuing to a small shoulder.
Over the shoulder and continuing along the swathe to where it narrows, and the route becomes highly moguled. This caused all the skin tracks to be wiped away and we stayed to the side.
A flatter traverse followed heading for anther area of moguls.
A second flatter section crossed towards a steeper end slope.
The track crossed the flat area and aimed for a narrow crossing between the trees and the ridge on the right.
The route climbed up this head slope on the left hand side along the edge of the trees.
Then out onto the slope - very icy and broken up with second hand downhill ski tracks. We did stop here to put on Harscheisen for greater security.
Across the rutted slope working to the col.
Over the edge and our first good view of the summit.
Onwards across the plateau heading for the skyline col above an obvious bowl
Over the rolling slopes to access the bowl. We really should have removed the harscheisen for this and replaced for the final climb,
Up the head wall slope, where the harscheisen came into their own again - the majority of the slope was fine, but crossing the scraped smooth by downhill turns was very slippy.
This slope seemed to go on and on.
Finally reaching the col, and a short section along the ridge to reach a ski depot.
at the ski depot we left the skis (suitably laid out to save them from accidentally being knocked over the edge.
A short climb over frozen grass and hard snow/ ice up the ridge to the summit. We followed the large group which had passed us on the plateau below.
Looking back over to Nosslachjoch (where we were on the first day), and the peaks behind it.
Down into the valley below and back to the Brenner valley.
The summit was a little crowded so we did not hang around for long.
Along the ridge as it continued over to Rossgrubenkofel and Silleskogel
Summit photos to let the large group leave.
Then back down the summit ridge to the ski depot. The initial step down was the trickiest part then trying hard not to slip.
Back at the ski depot we paused for refreshments before the ski descent. This also allowed time for the earlier groups to clear off the initial descent slopes.
Down the head wall slopes - the snow well converted into spring snow, with light powder on top.
Enjoying the upper bowls
Over the rolling slopes below the bowl to the col above the mogul field.
The mogul field was similar to ones at Grands Montets (Argentierre), and now slightly melted from the ice of earlier.
Down through the swathe, as a continuous mogul slope to reach the track above the final meadow.
Bryon charged off here to get back to the car below - he was enjoying the snow conditions.
One day we may cut up to Padauner Berg, but the Vennspitze is too good to miss.
