Großglockner

Many ski resorts may be closed in spring, but the ski touring season is not over yet. But where is the white gold? Especially at this time of year, information is scarce - avalanche warning services have stopped their daily reports, few ski tourers report on the conditions and generally speaking, ski tours are simply difficult to imagine when you're lying in the sun in the valley wearing shorts.

The fourth article in the Anno dazumal series also takes us back to shortly after 1900. In the second part of their article "Snowshoe trips in the Hohe Tauern" from 1913, Hans Skofizh and Franz Tursky talk about "tours" of the Große Wiebachhorn, the Johannisberg, the Breitkopf and the Großvenediger. Again, some of these descents may have been first ascents in this region.

Winter has only just begun in the Alps, and ISPO in Munich and the presentation of new products for the coming season are already just around the corner. Traditionally, shortly before the actual show at the trade fair, some companies invite journalists to test the new products in practice. This year, beautiful Kals at the foot of the Grossglockner was the venue for presentations, daring test tours, friendly shop talk and, due to the conditions in the terrain, fun on the slopes.

The Hohe Tauern are the part of the Alps that I have only known from stories and reports so far. But I wanted to change that, so we made the Hohe Tauern the destination of this year's road trip. Equipped with a stove and sleeping bag, we set off in the VW bus to spend a week exploring the north side of the Tauern massif. We got to know many places that are often visited by freeriders and ski tourers, but also quiet, unspoilt areas that are off the beaten track but offer impressively good freeride terrain. One special experience was a ski tour on a rather inconspicuous mountain.

Popular but very rewarding ski tour in the Hohe Tauern National Park, where you are rewarded at the summit with views of the Großglockner and the Großvenediger.

Ever since I heard about the merger of the two small ski resorts of Kals and Matrei at the beginning of this season, I couldn't get rid of the idea of testing this spot as soon as possible. And I have to admit: My high expectations were even exceeded!

As we drive through Kitzbühel, it is slowly getting light, but the sun doesn't really want to break through the thick cloud cover. But as soon as we leave the 5.6 km long Felbertauern tunnel, we are greeted by East Tyrol and Carinthia with glorious imperial weather. Our stop for the day is Heiligenblut.