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Ski Touring recommended route

Hinterer Seelenkogel vom Rotmoostal aus

Ski Touring · Ötztal
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  • Abfahrt vom Gipfel des Hinteren Seelenkogels 3470m
    Abfahrt vom Gipfel des Hinteren Seelenkogels 3470m
    Photo: Ötztal
High alpine crossing, where you can choose between two grand departure variants.
difficult
Distance 19.5 km
5:30 h
1,552 m
1,550 m
3,460 m
1,908 m
The trip to the Hinterer Seelenkogel 3470m from the Rotmoostal is a high alpine crossing, where you can choose between two grand departure variants. The descent along the ascent trail is no less spectacular and skitechnically just as challenging as the variation over the column-wide waterfall ferry. For both descent possibilities it is necessary from the start very safe avalanche conditions.

Author’s recommendation

Mit grandioser Abfahrtsvariante über den Wasserfallferner
Profile picture of Roland Grüner
Author
Roland Grüner 
Update: February 03, 2024
Difficulty
difficult
Stamina
Experience
Landscape
Highest point
3,460 m
Lowest point
1,908 m
Best time of year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Track types

Show elevation profile

Rest stops

Nederhütte
Schönwies hut

Safety information

Avalanche Hazard Scale

1 (LOW)

Triggering is generally possible but only from high additional load in isolated areas of extremely steep terrain. Only small-sized sluffs and natural avalanches are expected. Snow layers are generally stable.

2 (MODERATE)

Avalanches may be triggered in case of truly heavy loads, especially on a few explicitly indicated, steep slopes. Large spontaneous avalanches are not expected. In general, the snowpack is well bonded except on some very steep slopes. Choose your route carefully, avoid the indicated slopes and exposed sections.

3 (CONSIDERABLE)

Triggering is very probable even from low additional loads, particularly on the indicated steep slopes. On some steeper slopes, medium or even fairly large spontaneous avalanches may occur. On most steepslopes the snow layer is only moderately or weakly stable. Expertavalanche knowledge is required. You must avoid the indicated steepslopes and highly exposed sections.

4 (HIGH)

Avalanches are likely to be triggered on many of the indicated steepslopes even if only light loads are applied. In some places, numerous medium-sized and also large-sized natural avalanches are expected.The snowpack is poorly bonded on most steep slopes. Choose your route according to these criteria, select only moderately steep terrain by avoiding the avalanche runout zones. Very expert avalanche knowledge is required.

5 (EXTREMELY HIGH)

Numerous huge or very large-sized natural avalanches are expected also in moderately steep terrain. Safe skiing is not possible anymore, not even in the marked ski area. The snowpack is poorly bonded and largely unstable. Don‘t go ski mountaineering at all!

 

Also visit lawine.tirol.gv.at

Tips and hints

Ski Mountaineering Rules
  • If you enjoy activities amid nature always respect the local guidelines when you set out on a ski tour (for example: wildlife preserves, hunting enclosures, reforestation areas, information boards, etc.).
  • Don‘t enter protected wildlife zones or feeding areas amid naturelandscapes, and avoid noise.
  • Cross forest areas in winter only on sign posted trails or marked routes as wild animals can panic if they hear loud voices or noise.
  • Learn more about the habitat of wild animals in the mountains, avoid getting too close to them. Watch them only from a safe distance. Please put your dog on a lead, it is absolutely irresponsible to take dogs into the forest without leashing them because wild animals suffer from food deficiency and weakness in winter.
  • Excellent planning and time management: start your tour early enough and return before darkness. In spring you should be back on the hut or in the valley at 12 noon (avalanche hazard!) at the latest.
  • Never cross forestation zones and areas with young plants and trees.

 

Ötztal Tourismus doesn‘t take any responsibility for the suggested tours. It is strongly recommended to enlist a certified local mountainguide. Glacier crossings are allowed only in a group by using a rope.

Before you set out on a tour you should inform someone down in the valley about the tour‘s destination and when you plan to be back. Anavalanche transceiver is an absolute must for Alpine ski mountaineering tours.

 

More details about ski mountaineering tours in Ötztal: https://www.oetztal.com/skitouren 

Start

Obergurgl
Coordinates:
DD
46.869290, 11.026910
DMS
46°52'09.4"N 11°01'36.9"E
UTM
32T 654470 5192633
w3w 
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Destination

Obergurgl

Turn-by-turn directions

The trip to the Hinterer Seelenkogel 3470m from the Rotmoostal is a high alpine crossing, where you can choose between two grand departure variants. The descent along the ascent trail is no less spectacular and skitechnically just as challenging as the variation over the column-wide waterfall ferry. For both descent possibilities it is necessary from the start very safe avalanche conditions. However, what is added to the descent over the waterfall ferry is the great risk of gnawing, which is why you should stick to the given route guidance, consistently in the whole western part of the glacier. In addition, the more than 40 ° steep and rocky passage at the end of the glacier tongue down into the valley floor of the Rotmoostale. If one were to decide for this route, not only should very safe avalanche conditions prevail, but also worthwhile snow conditions should prevail, so that the choice of this objectively more dangerous route can actually be justified. But also on the descent in the area of ​​the ascent one is skitechnisch with steep flights over 40 °. For this, the column danger is only to be classified as low. However, very safe avalanche conditions are also required in this area. If you start the ascent in Obergurgl at the valley station of the Hohe Mutbahn in 1920m you have to estimate about 4.5 hours of pure ascent over 10.5 kilometers and 1560 meters of altitude. If favorable snow and avalanche conditions can be achieved, one can reduce the ascent time by 1.5 hours, the altitude to be traversed by 500 and the distance kilometers by almost half by means of the Hohe Mutbahn I + II. However, the long crossing of the 35 ° to 40 ° steep western slopes on the Hohen Mut down into the Redmoostal is only recommended in the morning, when the conditions of the melt hard. At Pt. 2400m then you start the actual ascent up to the Rotmoosjoch 3055m. On the Rotmoosjoch 3055m you will change to the South Tyrolean side of the Ötztal main camp and you will climb over the more than 40 ° steep plan remover. At the upper end you can reach the flat, upper glacier plateau of the waterfall. On the way up there are good ice conditions, but it is absolutely necessary. In the case of unfavorable snow conditions, crampons and / or an ice ax should be carried with them. As can be seen from the photos, there can even be plank spots in the steepest passage. The last meters in the area of ​​the summit construction are hardly a problem. With favorable conditions one can ascend to the highest point with skinned skis. This tour together with the possible downhill ride over the waterfall ferry should be reserved for alpin experienced and skitechnisch perfect ski mountaineers.

Public transport

Enjoy a both comfortable and relaxing train ride to the train station in Ötztal Bahnhof. You get off the train in ÖTZTAL Bahnhof where you change to a public bus or local taxi. The current bus schedule can be found at: http://fahrplan.vvt.at

 

Directions

Obergurgl-Hochgurgl is located in the western part of Austria in the state of TYROL, in a southern side valley of the Inn valley - the ÖTZTAL. For your arrival by car you plan the best route from your home town with the route planner online: https://www.google.at/maps

 

Parking

In Obergurgl-Hochgurgl the following parking facilities are available:
  • Car park Village center Obergurgl (in front of the church on the right, behind the multi-purpose building where the information office is located)
  • Parking lot with coin entrance Parking Place entrance - valley station Festkoglbahn, free of charge
  • Parking Hochgurglbahn valley station, free of charge - no parking at night
  • Parking Top Mountain Crosspoint, free of charge
  • Parking Hochgurgl, free of charge (very small parking)

Coordinates

DD
46.869290, 11.026910
DMS
46°52'09.4"N 11°01'36.9"E
UTM
32T 654470 5192633
w3w 
///newsstands.rent.disables
Get there by train, car, bike, or on foot!

Equipment

Recommended Ski Mountaineering Equipment

The „standard ski mountaineering equipment“ is: touring skis with touring bindings, telescopic poles, climbing skins, ski crampons, digital avalanche transceiver, avalanche shovel, avalanche probe, firstaid kit and mobile phone. A „complete glacier equipment set“ contains: sit harness, two prusik loops of different lengths and ascenders, two HMS biners, icepick, climbing irons and rope. Pack your rucksack carefully and don‘t forget extra clothes for the descent, sun protection/cream, cold protection, enough food and drink. If you stay overnight at a mountain hut take toiletry articles and a hut sleeping bag with you!

 

LEVELS OF DIFFICULTY

  • Easy: Short or moderately long tours, always easy, with ascents not steeper than 25° or slightly steeper only on short sections.
  • Intermediate: Moderately long or long tours of intermediate difficulty with ascents up to 35° or slightly steeper only on short sections.
  • Difficult: Very challenging and long or very long tours with ascents that can exceed 40°, comprising also climbing sections up to difficulty grade II (UIAA).

Similar routes nearby

  • Langtalereckhütte
  • Eiskögele vom Rotmoostal aus
  • Vorderer Seelenkogel - Obergurgl
  • Liebenerspitze West Summit
  • Hochfirst
 These suggestions were generated by our system
Difficulty
difficult
Distance
19.5 km
Duration
5:30 h
Ascent
1,552 m
Descent
1,550 m
Highest point
3,460 m
Lowest point
1,908 m

Statistics

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Maps and trails
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