Snow report Zillertal Alps South, 05/26/2018

Snow condition

You can still ski down to around 1900m on snow bands at the back of the basin. At the top of the glacier, the snow conditions are still relatively good. Otherwise, despite the snowy winter, there is even less snow than last year at the same time thanks to the much too warm months of April and May.

Snow quality

On the big Möseler, the north-west face was still frozen as hard as a rock on the descent at 11am. Directly below the north-west face there was already beautiful firn, which then turned into wet summer snow further down towards Furtschaglhaus.

Clear nights are absolutely essential for it to be justifiable to climb the walls. Otherwise, the risk of wet snow avalanches is already high in the morning, and the night from the 24th to the 25th was cloudier than forecast. It didn't clear up completely until around 3:30am/4am. Some large wet snow avalanches came down from the east-facing slopes as early as 8am. It rumbled almost every minute. That's why we turned back before the start of the wall. The snow was already very wet at that time, but if you are early and the night was clear, you can find safe conditions.

Overall impression

Unfortunately, this time it didn't work out with the north face of the Hochfeiler. Instead, we climbed the north-west face of the Großer Möseler the next day. Unfortunately in very tough conditions. Departure at 11 a.m. after we had already waited an hour at the summit. Unfortunately, the firn in the exposure only opened up very late. By then it is unfortunately already swampy further down.

Hochfeiler north face was climbed on the 26th by probably 10 - 15 people. Some people didn't leave there until 11 am. The day before, on a cloudy night, 9 a.m. would have been too late.

A mountain bike is definitely recommended for the route to the Furtschaglhaus material cable car. However, I would generally prefer to climb the north face of the Hochfeiler from the Pfitschtal valley. The winter room of the Furtschaglhaus is in good condition, the hut opens in mid-June. Grosser Möseler is still open for some time, the glacier and north-west face still have enough snow.

If it doesn't get any colder, then that will probably be the end of the winter season...