The first descent leads from the mountain station of the Olympiabahn lift at Hoadl westwards to the Kemater Alm. There are numerous variations, the easiest is to follow a trench that begins a little south of the mountain station, to the right of the piste, cross briefly to the left as soon as the trench narrows and keep left through a track in the narrow forest belt into the valley and from there to the Kemater Alm. The descents from the Hoadlsattel into the valley are somewhat steeper.
At the Kemater Alm you can first cross the stream, but then it's time to put on your skins. Follow a clearly visible, flat track for 10 to 20 minutes into the valley (SSW) and then ascent to the west. There are various ways to reach the Fotscher Tal. The Angerbergkopf (cross) or Schaflegerkogel can be climbed as a summit, but a crossing is possible almost anywhere along the ridge. The terrain is hilly and the destination is often not clearly visible from the valley. It is possible to ascent relatively directly to the ridge, but it is also possible to avoid steeper sections and reach the destination on a rather flat route.
For the descent, choose a suitable option from the very wide, open slope and head west towards the Furggesalm buildings. After the alpine pasture, continue a short distance through the forest until you reach a forest track. Follow this for a good stretch in a south-south-westerly direction until it turns north again. After another stretch on the forest path, you finally reach a toboggan run that takes you to the car park on the road from Sellrain to Tanneben. As an alternative to the forest track, you can also simply continue through the forest directly to the toboggan run if there is plenty of snow.
From the car park (if you are not picked up) you either have to walk along the road to Sellrain (15 to 20 minutes) or ski along the roadside.
In Sellrain you will find the bus stop immediately on the left, unfortunately the buses only run very rarely, so it is best to check the timetable beforehand!
Information
Difficulty: 2 out of 5
Special dangers: none
Average steepness / maximum steepness: 30° / 35°
Exposure: W and E
Altitude metres uphill and downhill: 720 m | 2160 m
Duration: 4 to 7 hours
Best time of year: December - March
Accommodation: Various accommodation options in Axams, Birgitz, Götzens, Sellrain and Innsbruck (no specific recommendation).
Bar/Restaurant: Kemater Alm
Addresses: Bergbahnen Axamer Lizum www.axamer-lizum.at, +43 (0) 523 468 240, Innsbruck Tourist Office www.innsbruck.info, +43 (0) 512 59 850
How to get there: From the Inntal motorway exit Zirl-Ost, from there first to Kematen, then to Axams and from there to Axamer Lizum. Free ski buses from Innsbruck and from Axams as well as Birgitz and Götzens, also free bus from Sellrain to Innsbruck. Use of the buses is recommended.
Topographical maps: DAV map "Innsbruck und Umgebung" with ski markings, 1:50,000
Other recommendations: A single ascent to the Hoadl mountain station in the Axamer Lizum costs only 8 euros and is completely sufficient for the freeride tour described.
