Taschachtal: The Austrian Vallée Blanche

The Pitztal remains a special valley. It is quieter than many other areas, yet it offers plenty of opportunities for freeriders. Many wePowder readers will no doubt know the Mittagskogel or the options around Rifflsee. This time, though, I was not there just for the powder, but mainly for a tour that had been on my list for a long time: the ascent of the Wildspitze and the descent through the Taschachtal. In fact, this was the descent that really sparked the freeride virus in me. A very long time ago, when I was still in the third year of secondary school and we were in Pitztal for a week with school, my PE teachers at the time took me on this tour (with a guide, of course) — only the descent, without the climb to the Wildspitze. Even more than thirty years later: many thanks again.

Guide Harald

Under the guidance of Harald, we set off on the far side of the glacier ski area. Harald has a great deal of experience in alpine terrain, has guided all over the world, and at the time was also training for an expedition to Mount Everest. So not exactly a lightweight, and on top of that he knew every meter of the Pitztal.

1000 vertical meters

For this tour, you take the Mittelbergbahn lift and descend a short way before crossing over the ridge. After a brief descent on a south-facing slope, it is time to put the skins on. In total, you climb around 1,000 vertical meters. Technically, it is never very difficult. It took us about two and a half hours. That is exactly why this is a tour that is also very manageable for beginner freeriders, even without touring experience. That said, you should of course go with a guide.

Descent into No Man’s Land

At the foot of the Wildspitze, the character of the tour changes. The final section to the summit is no longer done on skis. If you want to continue to the summit cross, you do so in your ski boots over steep terrain with plenty of loose rocks and often even more wind. Then comes the reason why I still occasionally put on touring skis: a beautiful descent through the middle of nowhere, with some good snow still to be found here and there. The descent over the Taschachferner is never particularly difficult or steep, but it is impressive because of the terrain you are skiing through. You descend through a vast glacier landscape, far away from the crowds of the ski area. The final few hundred vertical meters take you through the moraines. At that point, it is more travelling than skiing, but that is part of the experience. Eventually, you arrive at the Taschachhütte in the Rifflsee area.

Avalanche risk: 2/5

We were lucky with the weather. It was sunny and clear, although a new storm was already on its way. That meant we had to keep an eye on the time so that we would be back down by around three o’clock. On the day we did this tour, the avalanche danger was at level 2. That made the conditions relatively favorable. The main alpine hazard remained the glacier itself, with its crevasses. With Harald as our guide, that was well managed.

Austria’s Vallée Blanche

I would almost call this tour Austria’s Vallée Blanche. Not because it is exactly the same, but because of the length, the glacier terrain, and the views. The big difference is that it is much quieter here. Back in Mandarfen, Alpine Box is a good place to finish the day. It is a great spot for a drink and something to eat, and clearly a meeting place for the alpine community. Pitztal, it was a pleasure once again.