Numerous steep runs with sufficient snow and safe conditions attracted ambitious freeriders with corresponding preferences at the beginning of January. Two weeks without any significant fresh snowfall in the entire Alpine region. Plus the New Year's Eve week with its crowds of people. Not exactly the ingredients of which freeride dreams are made. But one man's sorrow is another man's joy. What could be more fitting than taking a day off from teaching skiing in the Skiwelt Amade and heading for two Eastern Alpine classics on the Dachstein: the leisurely Edelgrießkar variant and the Schwadrinn steep descent.
The 2995 m high Dachstein in the Northern Limestone Alps, with its 1000 meter steep south face, offers a unique experience not only for amateur cable car riders. No, ambitious freeriders and steep face skiers also get their money's worth here. Even the outward journey on the toll road (for which a fee is charged) allows your gaze to wander over the impressive massif with its numerous possible and impossible downhill options.
In addition to the well-known and much-used Edelgrieß variant, the wide snow field directly below smiles at you from the gondola. The Schwadrinn, a variant that is at least 45° steep and at risk of falling, with a gentle middle section directly below the gondola. Here we present both variants in portrait.
Edelgrieß
The Edelgrieß is one of the most famous off-piste runs in the Austrian Eastern Alps. From the mountain station of the Dachstein cable car on the Hunerkogel, you first take the glacier piste to the short Austriascharten lift. From the mountain station, climb a few meters to the ladder that leads over a small rock face to the northern entrance of the Rosmarie gallery. Through this tunnel (in unsuitable conditions this tunnel is closed with a door) you reach the south side of the Austriascharte. From there, you can enjoy the magnificent view of the Niedere Tauern mountains directly or, if you are feeling restless, you can walk along a cleared route (safety ropes installed) along a steep snow flank (be careful below rockfalls) to a saddle until you reach the end of the safety rope. From there you can enter the steep cirque of the Edelgrießfirn on the left hand side as you wish (some cornices!). (The entrance to the Schwadrinn variant is also on the right at this saddle). Follow the slopes of this cirque (initially east-facing) in a southerly direction until you reach the eastern rocky boundary walls at approx. 2000 m (caution: some rocky drop-offs below). Below these rock faces you reach a western slope.
From here there are two options:
1. first descend this western slope steeply (westwards) into the Brandkar and then cross the southern slopes of the Niedere Türlspitz (2352 m) until you reach the area of the valley station of the cable car.
2. cross the western slope as high as possible until you reach a ridge (approx. 1900 m), which separates the Brandkar from the giant slope of the Kramllahn. From there, enter the Kramllahn (possibly bypassed) and descend this 500-meter slope to the south. At approx. 1400 m you reach the forest zone - now much flatter. Through this to the flat practice slopes (drag lifts) at the Karlwirt inn on the road in the Ramsau-Ort area (approx. 1200 m). Return to the valley station of the cable car by ski bus.
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Schwadrinn
If you are looking for powdery steep faces, this is the place to be. The starting point is the saddle after the Koppentollen, which also forms the gateway to the Edelgriess descent. Instead of turning left, the route now turns much steeper to the right into the field below the cable car. The least steep entry (45°) can be made directly to the right into a gully. Further along the ridge, you can also find an entrance that is at least 48° steep in front of a ledge. If you cross the ridge slightly ascending even further, you should have scouted out your line precisely beforehand - this works wonderfully from the gondola or from the panoramic terrace of the mountain station - because here everything takes place far beyond the 45° mark in places. After this steep section, you reach the south-facing cruising cirque directly below the cable car. But be careful, there are two more rockfalls before the safe return to the cable car station. If you don't like 10m cliffs, you should ski through the first rock band on the right or in the middle, depending on the snow conditions. Then cross up to the right (caution: danger of falling) to a prominent saddle. Cross to the right here (Schieblingstein) in the direction of the Südwandhütte, and after a short descent back below the rock band along the Südwandhüttenweg the Steinfeld in the direction of the valley station.
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Schwadring from Georg H. on Vimeo.
Information about the descents
More information about Edelgries, Schwadrinn and two other worthwhile variants (Fluderrinn and Gamsfeld) can be found here.
Exposure: Mainly south-facing with the exception of the uppermost slope, which faces east (Edelgries) or west (Schwadrinn). The Edelgries variant leads directly to the valley station of the Dachstein cable car on the lower section of the western slope.
Difficulty: A head for heights and sure-footedness for the ladder and traverse. Beginners should secure themselves with a climbing harness. For the Schwadrinn, absolute control of the sports equipment is also necessary due to the steep entrance and the two rock bands in the lower part.
Accommodation: Inns and restaurants at the mountain station and valley station of the Dachstein cable car as well as in Ramsau.
Map: ÖAV Dachstein map. ISBN: 3928777270 Purchase
Prices: 40.- Euro day ticket, 18.- Euro ascent
Further up-to-date information at:
Dachstein Gletscherbahn Ramsau
A-8972 Ramsau am Dachstein 79
www.dachsteingletscher.at/ and dachstein@planai.at
Tel: +43 (0) 3687-22042-810
Free compilation of Edelgries, Schwadrin and other conditions on the Dachstein:
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Dachstein Jänner 2009 from Georg H. on Vimeo.
Text, images and videos: Georg H./ Marius Schwager
