Kitzbühel has always been a top spot for deep snow skiers. However, if you talk to many Kitz powder junkies about the exact place where they prefer to pull their lines into the snow, the answer is often: "Yes, at Pass Thurn of course!" Reason enough to pay this spot a visit.
It's just before nine in the morning when we park our car in Jochberg right by the Wagstätt lift. Located halfway between the Gamsstadt and Pass Thurn, Jochberg is the ideal starting point for our plan. From the summit of the Wurzhöhe, we head straight into the powder. The ride over gentle alpine meadows down to the Bärenbadkogel lift is perfect for getting started.
Now we are really hungry and excited about the possibilities this area has to offer. As we cruise along the piste parallel to the Gauxjoch lift from the Bärenbadkogel, we discover a wonderful couloir below the Kleiner Rettenstein. We quickly put on our skins and set off. I'm using my new Marker Duke for the first time. At last, a really stable binding with an ascent function.
A good twenty minutes later, we're standing above the couloir. With 20 centimetres of fresh snow, the 35 to 40 degree gradient is perfect for a nice, fast descent. A little jump over the cornice and I'm off! Six or eight long turns, the snow sprays, the speed increases and the binding reacts without much play: perfect! With a huge smile on my face, I enjoy the last turn and look back to watch the others having fun
Strictly speaking, the name is not quite correct, as the summit is actually 2004 meters above sea level. On the ascent, we can already see a promising slope on the right-hand side. This should be accessible via a short traverse. No sooner said than done and the first turns reveal that the east-facing exposure still has more than enough fluffy powder snow to offer. We make several runs here before having a quick refreshment at the Gauxalm.
Then it's time for the longest descent of the day. After gaining momentum on the two-thousand-meter peak, we have to get as far up the opposite slope of the Rossgruber as possible. Now it's time to climb a few more meters and ski into the Stangenjoch. There are no more skiers in sight far and wide. Enjoying the heavenly peace and quiet and the unobstructed view of the striking rocky summit of the Großer Rettenstein, we set course for Oberer Grund and Aschau.
Back above Jochberg, we still have two routes ahead of us. We had already inspected the slope from the Gauxjoch into the Aubachtal valley during our ascent in the morning. It is so wide that even at this late time of day, each of us can still find untracked snow for our lines. The descent finally brings us back to the valley station of the Bärenbadkogel lift. Already slightly tired from the long day, we set off on the last descent. Through sparse forest and over numerous tree stumps, we make the last turns down to the pass road. What a freeride day! Not particularly extreme, but an incredible variety of plaisir rides. So that's how it is, the ski area at Pass Thurn.
Text: Martin Hesse
Pictures: Jessica Haupt
