TouringTip | Tour variation from the Arztal

PLEASE NOTE: The PowderGuide touring tips are general descriptions of tours that we subjectively like. They do NOT refer to current conditions. Read the weather and avalanche report and plan your tour accordingly.

Morgenkogel

The 2607 metre high Morgenkogel can be started via two ascent variations and offers descents on the north-west side over moderately steep terrain. The open summit slopes lead into sparse forest and often offer up to 900 metres of downhill skiing in good snow conditions before returning to the starting point via a forest path. The tour starts at the Hinterlacher car park at approx. 1350 m, which is subject to a charge. In the flatter ascent option 1, you take the access road back to the car park before following another access road to tackle the ascent. After a short section through the forest, you come to a forest road again which you follow, also briefly downhill. At around 1500 m turn off the forest road and follow snowy tracks and climbs up to the tree line. From here the route follows the summit ridge past Morgenköpfl (2216 m above sea level) and Überfallgründl (2302 m above sea level) to the summit of the Morgenkogel. During the ascent, you can already keep an eye out for the best downhill track on the left. The descent then leads over the flat summit slopes in a north-westerly direction into the open forest to the Profeglalm at 1809 metres. From the alpine pasture, you can follow the forest path (with opportunities to take a few more turns over a few open slopes) to the access road to the car park. Then it's just a few hundred metres along the road (slightly uphill) to the car park.

Pfonser Kreuzjöchl

From the summit of the 2640 metre high Pfonser Kreuzjöchl, there is a wide choice of downhill variants over almost 700 metres of slightly hilly, moderately steep terrain with a north-facing exposure. The ascent follows the ascent variation 2 described above until shortly before the Arztaler Hütte. There you cross the stream ditch and begin the ascent in a south-westerly direction. Moderately steep terrain then leads to the summit. From the summit, there is plenty of space for the descent and 700 metres of downhill enjoyment lead back to the ascent track. In suitable conditions you can also descend a little to the east of the alpine pasture slopes via a somewhat steeper hollow, in whose catchment area, however, there are extremely steep slopes.

Information on

Difficulty: 2 out of 5
Special dangers: none
Average steepness / maximum steepness: 30° / 35°
Exposure: north  and north-west (also south in one descent variant)
Metres in altitude uphill and downhill: approx. 1300 m | approx. 1300 m
Duration: 4 to 5 hours
Best time of year: December - April

Accommodation: Various accommodations in Innsbruck, Igls or Patsch, Ellbögen, Pfons or Matrei am Brenner (no specific recommendation)
Bar/Restaurant: Gasthof Neuwirt (Niederstraße 119, 6082 Ellbögen)
Addresses: Hinterlarcher car park - Oberellbögen 82-189, 6083 Ellbögen / 47.17549788030237, 11.464828390128075
How to get there: Coming from Innsbruck, take the Brenner motorway toll road to the Patsch exit. Follow the road to Patsch and in Patsch turn right southwards onto the main road. Follow the main road to Mühtal and turn left towards Ellbögen after the fire station. Follow the road and turn left shortly before the end of the road. After a few hundred metres you will reach the car park. Alternatively, you can take the main road from the centre of Innsbruck via Vill and Igls to Patsch and then follow the route as described above.
Topographical map: ÖAV map "Tuxer Alpen" with ski markings, 1:50,000
Other recommendations: The region is susceptible to wind. You should bear this in mind when planning your tour.

The PowderGuide touring tips are general descriptions of tours that we subjectively like. They do NOT refer to the current conditions. Read the weather and avalanche report and plan your tour accordingly.