Crossing the Kitzbüheler Alpen on Touring Skis

Oberlandhütte (1,014 m) - day tour Travel from the station in Kirchberg in Tirol, ca. 9 km, Taxi Aschacher, Tel. 05357/2711; costs ca. 15 Euro Day ski tour: Oberer Grund – Spießnägel (1,880 m) – Unterer Grund Takes approx. 4 hours Distance approx. 17 km. Climb: 872 m; Oberlandhütte (1,014 Descent: 872 m; Spiessnägel – Hirzeggalm – Sonnwendalm (1,307 m) – Unterer Grund – Ebenau (1,008 m) – Oberlandhütte. Oberlandhütte (1,014 m) owned by DAV-section Oberland, Tenant: Uwe Springer Tel. 05357/8113; E-mail: oberlandhuette@aon.at – www.oberlandhuette-aschau.at Capably run mountain hut with a solid, nostalgic atmosphere. Hut-brochure with 5 ski touring destinations

Ski tour route: Oberlandhütte – Brechhorn – Rettenbach Takes approx. 6 hours Distance: approx 17 km to the Rettenbachbrücke. Climb: approx. 1,060 m; Oberlandhütte – Ebenau (1,008 m) – Falkensteinweg – Durachalm (1,410 m) – Duracher Kogel (1,773 m) – Breitlabalm (1,780 m) – Brechhorn (2,032 m); Summit cross Descent: 1,220 m; from Brechhorn around its north-west summit area to the Brandeggalm (1,700 m). Note! The following "key-passage" from the Brandeggalm down toward the valley: A little above the huts, and also better above the fence posts, southwards. Take appropriate care when crossing the wide, west-facing slope to get to the spruce trees. >From here, continue downhill to the big, freestanding spruce. Below this spruce to a gate and through the adjoining shrub alley all the way to the mountain road on the Schönaualm. Schönaualm (1,369 m) – Almstrasse – bridge; approx. 20 m opposing climb, along the ski route "Schrandlweg" to the GH Schrandlhof (1,080 m). Take a left just before. Cross the fields to the Hinterhutz farmhouse (980 m) and to the Rettenbach bridge (815 m). Carry on on foot approx. 300 meter to the Jagerhäusl Inn. From here let the landlord of the Steinberghaus pick you up by car (2.4 km).Schönaualm (1,369 m) – Almstrasse – bridge; approx. 20 m climb onto the ski route "Schrandlweg" to the GH Schrandlhof (1,080 m). Take a left from here. Cross the fields to Hinterhutz farmhouse (980 m) and to the Rettenbach bridge (815 m). Carry on on foot approx. 300 meter to the Gasthaus Jagerhäusl. It is a further 2.4km on to the Steinberghaus.

Ski tour route: Jagerhäuslbrücke – Lodron – Kelchsau/Hinterstein Takes approx. 5 hours Distance: approx. 18 km to the Schwiebogensiedlung (832 m) in Hinterstein. Climb: 1122 m; Jagerhäusl bridge (803 m) – Blieningberg – Hochsparalm – Untere Scharlingtalalm (1,070 m) – Chapel on the Scharlingtalalm (1,220 m) – Äussere Hartkaseralm (1,381 m) – Hartkaserjoch (1,639 m) – Hundskopf (1,836 m) – Lodron (1,925 m); Summit cross. Note! Particularly in poor visibility, avoid the steep hollows (as often washboard-like) Descent: approx. 1,106 m; Lodron (1,925 m) – Lodronalm (1,700 m) – Untere Lodronalm (1,530 m) – Demmelshütten-Almkreuz (1,540 m) – Urschla farmhouse (1,080 m) – Schwiebogensiedlung (832 m) in Hinterstein; possibly to Steiner bridge (819 m). Continue on foot 15 min. for 1 km down towards the bus stop, along the road, slightly uphill, out of the valley to the Fuchswirt.

Ski tour route: Kehlbach bridge – Feldalphorn – Melkstatt Takes approx. 6 hours Distance: approx. 17 km to Melkstatt. Climb: 1,090 m; Kehlbach bridge (833 m) – Höhenbrandalm (1,300 m) – Haagalm (1,320 m) – Upper terminus Haagjochlift (1,613 m). Alternatively use the chair or drag lifts in Kelchsau. Note! From the upper terminus of the Haagjoch lift, do not follow the forest ridge as it's terrain is impassable. Continue climbing: at first downhill (or, directly, from the Höhenbrandalm) to the lower edge of the south-east located mountain forest and to the Trockenbachalm (1,510 m) - Ridge (1,700 m) - direction Feldalphorn. Note! Take appropriate care walking on the humps of the crest of the ridge.Continue on foot across stepped crest of the ridge (beware possible drifts) to the summit cross on the Feldalphorn (1,923 m). Descent: 985 m; north west- to west.Feldalphorn (1,923 m) – Vordere Feldalm (1,620 m) – Obere Prädasten – Untere Prädasten (1,106 m) – Schwarzenau, Melkstatt (938 m). Transfer to Auffach (869 m)By hitch-hiking or pick-up service or taxi: from Melkstatt 2.5 km to the village center. Traditional Inn Weissbacher in Auffach/Wildschönau (869 m), below the church Weissbacher family; Tel. 05339/8934;E-Mail: gh.weissbacher@aon.at – www.hotel-weissbacher.at Comments on the house: Solid standard; informal; hospitable, popular base for tours

Takes approx. 4 hours Distance (ascents and descents): approx. 14 km. Lifts and pistes With the Schatzberg gondola lift (2 sections), the Hahnkopf lift and the Gipfelbahn to Gipfelbahn lift-upper terminus(approx. 1,900 m). Take the ski route Gernalm to the wayside cross in the Grasingjöchl (approx. 1,790 m), put skins on here Ski tour route: Grasingjöchl – Saupanzen – Auffach 1st climb: 63 m, Wayside cross in the Grasingjöchl (approx. 1,790 m) – Grasinghöhe (1,853 m). 1st descent (skins on): 57 m, Grasinghöhe (1,853 m) – Sternboden (1,796 m). 2nd climb: 168 m, Sternboden (1,796 m) – Joelspitze (1,964 m). 2nd descent (skins on): 94 m; Joelspitze (1,964 m) – Übelalm-signpost, Sattel (ca. 1,870 m). 3rd climb: 168 m, Übelalm-signpost, Sattel (approx. 1,870 m) – Saupanzen (1,957 m). 3rd descent: 1,080 m, Saupanzen (1,957 m) – Übelalm-signpost, Sattel (approx. 1870 m) – Schneeberghütte at Übelalm (1,640 m) – Hintere Aschbachalm (1,485 m) – Vordere Aschbachalm (1,400 m) – Aschbachgraben (1,250 m) – Niederkaseralm (1,155 m) – Punkt 1,010 – Aschbachstrasse – Haus am Wildbach/Aschbach bridge (880 m); Sign for Auffach. Continue on foot ca. 10 Min. for 700 meters towards the village Take lunch at Weissbacher Inn, there is a good afternoon menu from 14:00. Afterwards rest or go skiing on Schatzberg mountain. Second overnight stay at the Weissbacher traditional inn in Auffach/Wildschönau

Takes approx. 4 hours 15 minutes Distance: max. 22 km (of which 21km are descents, at best to the church in Hart). Part 1: Tour combination with Wildschönau and Alpbachtal cable carsAscent: Schatzberg-gondola lift (2 sections), the Hahnkopfbahn and the Gipfelbahn to Gipfelbahn-upper terminus (approx. 1,900 m). Descent: 900 m (approx. 10 km); Gipfelbahn-upper terminus– ski route Gernalm – wayside cross at Grasingjöchl (approx. 1,790 m) – Blaikenalm (1,530 m) – car park at Luegergraben (1,080 m) – Loipe – Inneralpbach, Village center (1,000 m); bus stops. Continue on foot 5 Min, for 300 Meter to Pöglbahn-lower terminus (1,010 m). Take the Pöglbahn/ gondola lift (2 sections) and the Hornbahn to Wiedersberger Hornhütte (2,025 m), skins on and climb 112 m to the summit cross. Note! Only the Kitzbüheler Alpen AllStarCard is valid in both these skiing areas! Part 2: Wiedersberger Horn (2,127 m) – Grosshartberg (879 m) – Hart (666 m)Distance: approx. 12 km to the church in Hart.5th descent: at best 1460 m climb, to Hart. Otherwise, depending on snow conditions, around 1,100 m climb to the farmhouses on Grosshartberg. Wiedersberger Horn (2,127 m) – Summit-South flank – Wiedersberger Hornhütte (2,025 m) – Pole markings; alpine path or wood-less slopes to the Hanslettalm (1,615 m) – forest track and sloping meadows in direction of Tuxer farmhouse (1,070 m) at Grosshartberg. In very good snow conditions it is possible to cut across the sloping meadows to the church at Hart. Hitch-hiking or taxi (poss. by bus from Oberhart) to Fügen (545 m), ca. 8 km.