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.
Ascend
From the Mittelbergbahn mountain station, follow the piste downhill for a short while before heading south to the Mittelbergjoch in just a few steps. From there, you ski south through a mostly rutted gully onto the Taschachferner. Here you put on your skins and ascend southwards via the Taschachferner glacier with its many crevasses (rope up!). You bypass the visible crevasse zones completely in a large arc to the west, whereupon the path leads you from the west to the Wildspitze. The last few meters to the summit are covered on foot, although there can be traffic jams on nice weekend days in spring.
Descent
The descent initially follows the ascent route, but below the Mittelbergjoch you descend westwards over the tongue of the Taschachferner. The long Taschach valley first turns NW, then NE. In places you can ski down the steep moraines of the Taschachferner, but in principle you always follow the flat valley. At the end, there is a longer push section to master until you finally reach the slopes of the Rifflsee sub-area, which you follow to the ski resort's parking lot.
InformationDifficulty (5-level scale): ***
Special dangers: Crevasses, high tour
Average steepness/Maximum steepness: 25°/ 35°
Exposure: S - W - N
Altitude difference start and finish: 3166 m | 1736 m
Altitude difference uphill and downhill: 600 m | 2000 m
Duration: 4-5 hours
Best time of year: March - May
Addresses: Tourismusverband Pitztal, +43.5414.86999, Pitztaler Gletscherbahnen, +43/(0)5413-86288 Directions: Inntalautobahn exit Imst/Pitztal, then always follow the main road to Mandarfen to the lift parking lot. Topographical maps: AV map 30/6 Wildspitze 1:25000
