Sölden, Ötztal on 23.04.2021 | Benji_01

Snow condition

The snow conditions are good for (almost) the end of April. You can easily reach the parking lot in Gries via the toboggan run and cross-country ski trail. There is plenty of snow on steep slopes, but be careful of stone contact in places.

Snow quality

Took in all exposures and snow qualities on the way to/from the Schrankogel today. In the morning, the forest path and the snow cover in the terrain are well frozen, so that it is possible to walk comfortably here. You definitely need crampons in some of the steeper terrain. Our goal was to ski the north-east flank of the Schrankogel, which was waiting for us with beautiful powder. Further down, the snow on the Schwarzenbergferner already had a light cover. After a short break, another ascent to the Schrankarkogel and a descent to the north/northwest with nice powder, especially in the upper area. At lower altitudes and on sunny slopes, the snow cover quickly becomes damp, so good time management is important here.

There were some loose slides and wet avalanches from sunny slopes. In steep terrain close to the crest, watch out for drift snow, which is mainly on soft layers or on a gritty base.

Overall impression

A long and strenuous tour, but a very nice day overall. Good conditions and, above all, a sufficient supply of Clif Bars are of central importance for the 2,200 m ascent on the Gries-Schrankogel-Schrankarkogel-Gries circuit. Making tracks in the north-east flank can be very strenuous when there is a lot of Gries snow and should be taken into account when planning your time. A little tip for all Camelbak users (e.g. ChevChelios): Blow the water out of the tube from time to time so that nothing can freeze here.