Skitouring in Wildalpen: 3 Beautiful Winter Routes in the Alps

The village of Wildalpen, located at the northern foot of the Austrian Hochschwab mountains, and its surroundings are well known to the boating public, especially thanks to the Salze river. In winter, a blanket of snow covers the landscape, turning the local slopes into an undiscovered paradise for winter hikers and ski tourers.

Wildalpen is a small Alpine village that bursts at the seams in summer thanks to its location on the banks of the Salza River, but no one knows how beautiful it can be in winter. With the last warm autumn day, the last tourist leaves the area and the valley and its inhabitants almost go into hibernation. There are countless routes for beginners and advanced ski mountaineers, described in guidebooks and not. Let’s go on at least three of them!

1) Adambaueralm

An easier hike of about three hours takes us to the snow-covered mountain shepherds’ huts below the rock face of the Großer Geiger (1723 m).

We park the car in Hinterwildalpen, about six kilometres from Wildenalpen, at the inn Zum Krug, where we can have a refreshment after the hike with views of the Großer Geiger or Grasberg. From the inn, continue along the main road for about 50 metres and turn right at the fork. After about 250 metres, there is a left turn over a wooden bridge over a stream.

The path then starts to climb gently up the forest path upstream of the Lurgbach river. When it leads to a meadow at about 1020 m, turn sharply left. From here we start to climb more rapidly and continue steeply up to the Adambaueralm. A cluster of a few wooden shepherd’s huts lies quietly under a snowdrift at about 1300 m. Unfortunately, it does not offer refreshments, but the magnificent views of the surrounding area will satiate everyone.

The descent follows the same path as the hike, or you can turn right at the fork in the meadow and continue straight down to the road, which is another kilometre walk to the car.

Length: 8 km, 3 h

Difficulty: easy

Highest point: 1283 m

Elevation: 530 m

Exposure: SV

Parking: Hinterwildalpen at Hotel Zum Krug

The Adambaueralm, a clearing with snow-covered shepherds’ huts, is the destination of an easy ski tour near Wildalpen in the Austrian Alps.

2) Hochtürnach via Bärental

A challenging hike up through the forest and across the mountain meadows to the imposing peak of Hochtürnach (1770 m).

From the bridge at the mouth of the Bärenbach stream to the Salza (632 m), a forest path climbs up the valley along the stream and around the Eckstein rock massif to the hunting lodge (1296 m) in the Bärnbachsattel saddle. Before the saddle, however, turn right and follow the signs to the Farnerwiese meadow (1361 m). From there, head southeast up through Mittelhalt-Nordkamm to Kammhöhe and on towards the Hochtürnach summit. The final part is moderately climbable.

The descent follows the same route (via Farnerwiese to the hunting lodge and from there a short downhill connecting to the forest path, via Bärenbachtal back to the car). Alternatively, there is another option – before Farnerwiese keep left and go down the chute, but this option is only passable in ideal snow conditions, there is an increased risk of avalanches. It is only suitable for very good skiers with excellent orientation skills. The run then joins the forest path and continues through the Bärenbachtal valley to the car.

Length: 16 km, 3 h

Difficulty: heavy

Highest point: 1770 m

Elevation: 1270 m

Exposure: S/SV

Parking: on the outside of the Bärnwagllahn tunnel, on the road between Wildalpen and the Prescenyklause dam

Ascent to Hochtürnach near Wildalpen, Austrian Alps.

3) Hoher Buchberg via Goß

The cherry on top of the moderately difficult route will be the romantic summit Hoher Buchberg (1563 m) with views of the Gesäuse NP and the Styrian Matterhorn.

A beautiful, relaxing hike starts from the car park at the end of the Lurgweg forest road about a kilometre after Hinterwilden. From there it climbs steeply along the Eiblbach stream to the Goßstein peak (1331 m), where you take a short break at a small chapel.

Turn left and climb up the ridge, which will take you comfortably without much elevation gain to the top of Hoher Buchberg after a few kilometres. The bench at the top will probably be snow-covered in winter, but the views are worth it. From here you can see the mountain pastures and the Kalten Mauer or the Eisenertz Alps. Above all, however, the imposing Lugauer (2217 m), also known as the Styrian Matterhorn, dominates the eastern part of the Ennstal Alps.

The descent follows the same route as the hike.

Length: 14 km, 3.5 h

Difficulty: medium

Highest point: 1563 m

Elevation: 730 m

Exposure: JV

Parking: about one kilometre after Hinterwildalpen on the Lurgweg

Distant views from the summit cross of the Hoher Buchberg (1563 m).

Security

Before any ski tour you need to prepare yourself properly. Preparations begin the day before, when we study the weather for the upcoming day, the avalanche situation, the exposure of the slopes and prepare the necessary materials. Don’t forget an avalanche transceiver (with charged batteries), a probe and a shovel, a mobile phone – with a saved number for the local mountain service: 140, or +43 (0) 36364510 or 112, a map, plenty of liquids and food.

If we’ve had enough of skialps, we can discover other attractions around Wildalpen. The ski resort of Hochkar is just a 30-minute drive away. Right in Wildalpen you can find a ski slope, cross-country tracks or a forest sauna.

Wildalpen in summer and winter

For more information about the tours and surroundings, please contact Pension Black Sheeps Adventures, Kühbachau 170, 8924 Wildalpen, Austria. Accommodation available both in winter and summer.

For more information visit info@black-sheeps.eu, tel.: +43 650 6346967 or www.black-sheeps.eu

Article on Tulenipasy.cz and other photos:

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