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TouringTip | Grossarltal

Ski touring around the mountaineering village of Hüttschlag

by Sepp Kendler • 02/03/2022

The easternmost of the Tauern valleys, the Grossarl Valley, offers a wide range of touring options and extensive terrain for a wide variety of preferences. The mountaineering village of Hüttschlag is the perfect base for an excursion. As part of our co-operation with the mountaineering villages, Sepp Kendler, ÖAV section chairman of Grossarl-Hüttschlag, presents three beautiful tours in Grossarltal.

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.

Filzmooshörndl (2,189m)

This scenic, medium-difficulty ski tour is suitable for beginners as well as experienced ski tourers from pre-winter onwards. In combination with the Loosbühel, this ski tour is an absolute highlight. The Loosbühelalm is open in winter.

Ascent
From the Grund car park (avalanche transceiver checkpoint), take either the hiking trail or the forest road to the Filzmoosalmhütte, 1,710 m. From there you reach the extensive alpine pasture area through a sparse larch and stone pine forest above the Harstein. The route continues in a straight line to a saddle to the left of the summit. Turning to the right, you finally climb over the moderately ascending mountain ridge to the summit cross of the Filzmooshörndl.

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Descent
Depending on the snow conditions, there are various downhill options from the summit to the Filzmoosalmhütte. From here, you can ski down to the starting point via the forest road or, if you are still fit enough, climb 340 metres in altitude to Loosbühel (2,043 m) and ski down to Loosbühelalmhütte, 1,769 m. This option is highly recommended.

Information
Valley town: Grossarl, 920 m
Starting point: Grund car park (LVS checkpoint), approx. 1,333 m. This can be reached from St. Johann im Pongau on the Grossarl main road as follows: At the Grossarl-Mitte roundabout, take the 3rd exit to the Grossarl market square, turn left there and drive approx. 5.5 km into the Ellmautal valley.
Total distance: approx. 9.3 km (with Loosbühel approx. 11 km)
Total duration: approx. 4.0 hours (with Loosbühel: approx. 5.5 hours)
Ascent & descent: approx. 860 m each (with Loosbühel: approx. 1,200 m)
Difficulty: medium
Best time of year: December to April
Map: Tappeiner No. 311, Alpine Club Map 45/1 Niedere Tauern |

Further information on Alpenverein Aktiv.

Karkogel (2,087m)

A beautiful ski tour that offers a marvellous view of the Plattenkogel, Mandlkogel and Keeskogel and the associated fantastic ski touring area at the summit. The descent requires careful route selection and good skiing skills. Never descend from the Hirschgrubenalmhütte in a northerly direction via the forest track, as there is a natural feeding area (nature protection zone) at the end of the alpine pasture!

Ascent
From the car park (avalanche transceiver checkpoint by the bridge), you start the ascent behind the Steinmann farm via a farm track to a large meadow, which you then climb up to the edge of the forest. A short steep section through the forest leads to the forest path to the Hirschgrubenalm. After approx. 100 metres, leave this path again to the left and continue along a forest path towards Hirschgrubenalm.

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Cross the large alpine pasture on the southern side - past a hunting lodge on the left - until you reach the hiking trail to the Aschlreitalm. After a short stretch on the marked path, leave it to the right and climb up through a steep section of forest towards the north-east-facing cirque. From here, the route leads over moderately steep, hilly terrain to the summit of the Karkogel.

Descent
In the area of the ascent route, whereby in safe conditions you can ski down through the steep cirque almost to the Hirschgrubenalmhütte, but above this you have to turn sharply to the right to get back on the ascent track. Follow this track to the starting point.

Information on

Valley town: Hüttschlag, 1,030 m
Starting point: Aschaustüberl car park (LVS checkpoint by the bridge), 1,027 m. This can be reached from St. Johann im Pongau via the Grossarl country road (L109) to Hüttschlag, from there it is approx. 4 km to the Aschaustüberl (tourers' meeting point!).
Total distance: approx. 6.7 km
Total duration: approx. 4 hours
Ascent & descent: approx. 1,050 m
Difficulty: difficult
Best time of year: December to April
Map: Tappeiner No. 311, Alpine Club Map 45/1 Niedere Tauern I

Further information on Alpenverein Aktiv

Loosbühel (2,043m)

This scenic, medium-difficulty ski tour is suitable for beginners as well as experienced ski tourers from pre-winter onwards and can also be done in bad weather. This tour can also be combined with the Filzmooshörndl, 2,189 m.

Ascent
From the Grund car park (avalanche transceiver checkpoint) a short stretch along the forest road, then turn left through the forest along the hiking trail, later across open areas towards Loosbühelalm. Shortly before the alpine hut, turn right and climb up a beautiful slope. At the end of the slope (large stone pines) you reach the summit plateau via a short steep section.

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From here, the route climbs gently south-eastwards to Loosbühel, a rather inconspicuous summit, hence the name Loosbühel or Losbichl. There is a second ascent option via the Filzmoosalm.

Descent
There are various downhill options in the area of the ascent route. We recommend the descent to the Loosbühelalm, which is open during winter.

Information on

Valley town: Grossarl, 920 m
Starting point: Grund car park (LVS checkpoint), 1,333 m. This can be reached from St. Johann im Pongau on the Grossarl main road (L109) as follows: At the Grossarl-Mitte roundabout, take the 3rd exit to the Grossarl market square, turn left there and drive approx. 5.5 km into the Ellmautal valley.
Total distance: approx. 6.4 km
Total duration: approx. 3.5 hours (ascent: 2.5 hours, descent: 1 hour)
Ascent & descent: approx. 710 m
Difficulty: medium
Best time of year: November to April
Map: Tappeiner No. 311, Alpine Club Map 45/1 Niedere Tauern I

Further information on Alpenverein Aktiv.

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