Ski touring & touring skis
natural splendor - adventure – powder snow
In the summer, Grossarltal is fondly known as "The Valley of Mountain Huts," but come winter, it's just as fittingly dubbed "The Valley of Ski Tours." Away from the bustling ski slopes, the countless peaks surrounding the towns of Grossarl and Hüttschlag beckon. A variety of tours, differing in length and difficulty, invite you to enjoy the snow-draped mountainsides, the sparkling ice crystals, and the rays of warming sunshine. For enthusiasts of ski mountaineering, this is very much a dream come true.
The two communities of Grossarl and Hüttschlag are home to vast expanses of alpine pastures and countless summits ranging from just under 2,000 m to 2,884 m in elevation. The best-known ski mountain in the valley is the Kreuzkogel. However, a significantly more tranquil and serene experience awaits on surrounding peaks such as the "Kreuzeck," one of Hüttschlag’s most popular mountains for ski touring. At just over 2,200 meters, it's a magnet for tourers throughout the winter, as are the Filzmooshörndl and the Loosbühel in Ellmautal outside Grossarl. Later in the spring, the higher-elevation ski-touring mountains at the majestic valley head, such as the Mandlkogel and the Keeskogel – in fact, the valley's tallest peak at 2,884 m - become irresistible destinations.
Complete ski-touring equipment is available for rental at sporting goods stores in Grossarl.
The Loosbühelalm is also open during the winter.
Rules for ski touring
To ensure your safety whilst ski touring, you need to follow a few basic rules:
- Be keenly aware of the avalanche threat levels.
- Plan your tours according to avalanche and weather reports.
- Never venture out (even when the avalanche threat level is low) without proper equipment (avalanche transceiver, shovel, probe, charged mobile phone). This applies to all group members.
- Test your avalanche transceivers before each ski tour.
- Spread out on steep mountainsides during the ascent (maintain a 10-meter distance between individual ski tourers).
- Cross steep slopes alone; for slopes with up to a 35-degree incline, tourers should keep at least 30 m apart.
- Avoid slopes steeper than 35 degrees whenever the threat level is 3 or higher.
- Choose an appropriate time of day for your tour.
- Respect wildlife protection areas and established quiet zones.
Guided ski tours
BERG-GESUND offers weekly guided introductory ski tours as well as tours of easy to moderate difficulty. In addition to enjoying a beautiful ski tour, participants also learn correct use of shovels, probes, and avalanche transceivers.
Guided ski tours are free for guests of BERG-GESUND member establishments, led by certified ski and mountain guides. Tours take place even if only one participant has signed up.
Ski touring guide
The Grossarltal Tourist Office, in collaboration with local ski-touring specialists, has published a guidebook detailing the valley's 17 most beautiful tours.
This 44-page brochure includes detailed descriptions of each ski tour, color photos, 17 detailed maps, and general advice on ski touring as well as about the valley itself.
The guide is available for €5.00 at the Grossarltal Tourist Office (or for just €3.00 upon presentation of your guest card). Additionally, there is a hiking and touring map published by Athesia Buch GmbH - geomarketing with a scale of 1:35,000 (€6.50, with guest card €4.50).
