Wildspitze

For many ski tourers, the Wildspitze is a favourite classic in spring. The summit can be reached quickly via the Mittelbergjoch and the Taschachferner via the Pitztal glacier lifts. The only drawback of this tour: due to the very low gradient, it is not very rewarding in terms of downhill skiing. In terms of the descent, the tour via the Southcouloir is much more appealing (assuming you have the ability and experience to tackle steep slopes). This route takes you to the highest peak in Tyrol "by fair means" and by the most direct route.

I am passionate about skitour crossings. Stubai Alps, Zillertal Alps, Rätikon, Verwall, Silvretta, Hohe Tauern, Glarus, Uri, Bernese Alps. There are many skitour crossings, some of which I have already completed, some of which are still in my head. The best thing about them is that they are perfect for travelling by public transport and are therefore climate-friendly, as the start and end points are rarely the same. When travelling through valleys, things often turn out differently than planned and you may end up in a different valley than you originally thought. If you are travelling by public transport, there is no car waiting to take you home and the end point of the tour can be changed individually.

The WeatherBlog kicks off the season and gets in the mood for the approaching winter in the autumn sunshine. Initially, there will be little change to the established general weather situation. The forecast becomes uncertain at the weekend. A cold front is likely to bring cooling. There are moderate precipitation options for the Alpine region, but they are on shaky ground.

Wildspitze and Weißseespitze can now be climbed as short day tours from the nearby glacier ski areas. In 2017, these peaks can be reached by an ascent of significantly less than 1000 vertical meters, as you can read here in the PowderGuide freeride tours Weißseespitze and Wildspitze. 100 years ago, the highest peak in Tyrol and its western neighbor were still extensive "snowshoe hikes", which Franz Tursky reports on in the 6th part of the Anno dazumal series.

The very popular tour to the Wildspitze, Austria's second highest mountain, is a day trip thanks to the lifts in the nearby Pitztal glacier ski area. Nevertheless, it is a high alpine undertaking that should not be underestimated despite the crowds of visitors.