Lenka mentioned the Ötztal range. A tip for a future trip is the Austrian equivalent of the Haute Route mentioned in the link below.

I know a few local guides and affordable accomodation. If you need info about conditions etc., just send me a mail. Have fun on your next Euro trip!

http://www.vent.at/main/EN/VE/WI/aktivitaeten/skitouren/skirunde/index.html

Forget Dammkar, it’s a double-black diamond moguls piste unless you catch the first cable-car after a big dump.

Alpspitze from Garmisch (about an hour by car or 1 hr 20 mins by train from Munich) is a beautiful peak w/a very nice steep descent (a short couloir @40 deg. in the middle), but I’m not sure the conditions are very good at the moment – too little snow=too many rocks? Ask your Munich Dynagurus …

If Alpspitze doesn’t work out and you’d still like to get to know a new range (they’re all very small around here ) then the “Grünstein Umfahrung”, in English the “Grünstein round-trip”, is a very worthwhile alternative in Ehrwald (S side of Zugspitze). Just under 3k vertical ft in 3 installments, narrow valleys encased in high limestone faces, nice views of Innsbruck, the Stubai/Ötztal ranges and of course the Zugspitze, nothing terribly steep but skiing still entertaining, plus you get to use the skibus at the end of the trip, as you end up in a different valley! No worries, functions perfectly.

I’m not sure your favorite Kitzbüheler will be that much fun in a two-week’s time, it’s been very hot and the snow has been melting rapidly at low altitudes, plus the aspects (mostly E & W) aren’t really propicious to good snow at this time of the year: they get enough sun to create breakable crust but not enough to transform into nice corn.

That is to be had in the Kaisergebirge, I gather about a 15-minute drive from Fritz’s home . The conditions were really good on the S aspects last week (ask Fritz about “Herrenstein”, “Ellmauer Tor” and “Rote-Rinn-Scharte”, all in the 30-40 deg. range), if it gets a little bit colder and snows (as is forecast for this weekend & next week), it will hold up. If you end up doing Ellmauer Tor (it’s in one of the pictures you took in Jan.), you could enjoy your beer (or coffee or cake or all of the above ) from one of the best panoramic terraces far and wide and say hello to your old friend Gr. Rettenstein as well as to most of Austria’s highest peaks, including Grossglockner.

There are some nice northern tours as well, the downside is that before you get to the actual tour, you first have to cover about 4 miles on a cross-country track (no skidoos allowed around here! ). But Fritz or your other Dynagurus will definitely know where the goods are to be had!

All right, I think you’ve got enough ideas to last several trips, just hope for good weather and snow!

Lenka K.

The area of the Aletch gletcher and Concordia platteau is beautifull. Also it’s the biggest glacier area in the alps. There’ re lot’s off easy angled routes on 4000m + peaks. Some can be a bit crowded: Finsteraarhorn (spektacular) , Jungfrau, Monch ( this is not a skiroute but an easy climb, allmost directly next to the Monchjochhutte) All are 4000 +. Others are a bit more quiet: Gross Fiescherhorn, Gross Wannenhorn, Gross Grunhorn, Abeni Flue.

The Aletchhorn looks down on all the peaks like a godfather. To ski up is supposed to be a
Easiest acces in this area is with the train to the Jungfraujoch. Than you have a choise. You can go to the Monchjochhutte (30 min.), Konkordia hutte (1 h. ), The Hollandia hutte (3-4 h.), or the Finsteraarhorn hutte(3-4 hours).
Some possebillities:

D1: Jungfraujoch – Finsteraarhornhutte – D2: Finsteraarhorn (4273 m) (last 200 m. easy rockclimb, grade II/ III from skidepot) – Finsteraarhornhutte- D3: Jungfraujoch
or
D1: Jungfraujoch – Monchjochhutte – D2: Gross Fiescherhorn (4048), – Finsteraarhornhutte – D3: Jungfraujoch
or
D1: Jungfraujoch – Konkordiahutte – D2: Gross Grunhorn (4043, easy, but with cravasses) – Konkordiahutte – D3: Jungfraujoch
or
D1: Jungfraujoch (first train) – Jungfrau (4158 m) (upper part a bit avy-prone, not the easiest mountain in terms of alpine risks) – Hollandiahutte – D2: Abeniflue – Concordiahutte – D3: Jungfraujoch

Well, got a bit carried away there.. Anyway, there are a lot of easy ski routes to do here. You’re probably aware though , It’s all glacier area. You’ll need some basic glaciergear and technique (rope e.d)
The trainride through the Eiger nothface to the jungfraujoch is spectacular but expensive. If you feel strong, you can also deside to walk up to the Concordia hut from Fiesch (Bettmeralp, 5-6 h.) Then you enter the area from the Wallis side.
For most huts you’ll need to reservate at least two weeks in advance. Or you can just call the huts from the jungfraujoch, and make your plans on the last minute. (it works with a small group)
Good sites to check:
skitouren.ch
slf.ch (avalanche danger, weather)
Best map: Swisstopo skitouring map, 1: 50.000, nr. 265 S: almost enough for most tours
Good topo-books from Swiss alpine club (Schweizer Alpen-Club, SAC)

Good luck!!
Florian

Njord