High alpine tour with an almost endless descent down into the Stubai Valley. Often still worthwhile late in spring
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Departure 1
You start at the mountain station of the Stubai Glacier ski area, presumably together with large numbers of ski tourers making their way to the Zuckerhütl. The first descent can mostly be made on the piste, but it is usually more rewarding to cross to the south above the fun park and ski down to the east over the shrinking Gaiskarferner, initially flat and then becoming somewhat steeper. After the end of the glacier, continue eastwards until you descend southwards into the large basin below the Pfaffenferner. This is where you put on your skins for the first time.
Ascend 1
You still follow the track towards Zuckerhütl and ascend via Pfaffenferner in a north-northern direction to Pfaffenjoch. From here, continue east or south-east, soon branching off from the trail to Zuckerhütl and climbing to the relatively little-visited summit of the Wilden Pfaff, which is also the highest point of the tour. The panoramic view here is quite impressive in the truest sense of the word, but you probably won't spend much time here due to time constraints.
Descent 2
From the summit of the Wilden Pfaff, depending on the snow conditions, you first have to descend a few meters on foot along the ridge (crampons and ice axes are useful, this passage is steep and exposed. The most critical section is secured with a fixed rope). If there is a lot of snow on the flank, you can ski from higher up, but caution is advised here too. The short descent to the Übeltalferner is over quickly, here it's more about getting ahead, the real downhill fun awaits on the last descent.
Ascent 2
A bit to the south, you ascend via the upper part of the Übeltalferner past the Müllerhütte to the summit of the Wilden Freiger. At first, the route is flat, but the last few meters before the summit are still quite steep and, depending on the conditions and your ability to make hairpin bends, must be covered on foot (possibly with crampons).
Descent 3
There are two options for the long, final descent. You can either head briefly north-east from the summit and then north over the Grünauferner before crossing to the north-west and then west to the Sulzenauhütte. Here you follow the descent from the Zuckerhütl past the Sulzenaualm into the Stubaital to the Grawa-Alm. However, you can also descend from the summit of the Wilder Freiger to the northeast into the Langental valley. At the bottom of the valley, you ski down below the Nürnberger Hütte through a ditch (only possible if there is enough snow, otherwise via the summer trail!) to the Bsuchalm before following the forest trail into the valley from there. In spring, you often have to carry a load here.
In any case, you can take the bus or hitchhike back to the parking lot (of course, you can also deposit a car in the morning).
Tips
Note the bus timetable! The buses in the Stubai Valley do not always stop at all bus stops!
Glacier tour, so take all the necessary equipment with you.
Although the altitude difference on the ascent is limited, you should not underestimate the duration of the tour. Possible bases for an overnight stay would of course be in the winter rooms of Müllerhütte (expect to dig out for about an hour) or Becherhaus (easy climbing on the approach, usually no wood available).
Information
Difficulty (5-level scale): ****
Special dangers: Danger of crevasses on the glaciers
Maximum gradient: approx. 40°
Exposure: E-W-N
Altitude difference start and finish: 3.150 m | 1,400 m
Altitude difference uphill and downhill: approx. 750 m | approx. 2,400 m
Duration: 6-7 hours
How to get there: Brennerautbahn to the Stubaital exit, then follow the valley to the parking lot of the glacier ski area at the end of the valley.
