Ski Touring recommended route

Hochreichkopf 3.010m - Umhausen-Niederthai

Ski Touring · Umhausen
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CAR PARK SENNHOF->Klein Horlachalalm->Finstertaler Sennhütte->HOCHREICHKOPF 
difficult
Distance 9 km
7:00 h
1,447 m
0 m
3,010 m
1,541 m
From the car park Sennhof (next to Information Office) in Niederthai you walk along the leisurely Horlachtal trail (7 km) to Schweinfurter Hut. Past the Klein Horlachalm (1900 m), then take the climbing trail on the left and cross the first slope towards Finstertaler Sennhütte (2147m). Here you continue on the valley floor, choose the ascent through the eastern basin that takes you right to the peak. Once you reach the peak ridge (ski storage area), you follow the route to its highest point the Hochreichkopf (3010 m).
Difficulty
difficult
Technique
Stamina
Experience
Landscape
Highest point
3,010 m
Lowest point
1,541 m
Best time of year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Cardinal direction
NESW

Track types

Show elevation profile

Rest stops

Kleinhorlachalm

Safety information

Please pay attention to the current weather- & avalanche report: https://avalanche.report/bulletin/latest    

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!

Tips and suggestions

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 information about ski mountaineering tours in Ötztal can be found here 

Start

car park Sennhof
Coordinates:
DD
47.128301, 10.968068
DMS
47°07'41.9"N 10°58'05.0"E
UTM
32T 649262 5221301
w3w 
///wellies.casseroles.temptation

Destination

Hochreichkopf

Turn-by-turn directions

From the Sennhof car park (next to Information Office) in Niederthai you walk along the leisurely Horlachtal trail (7 km) to Schweinfurter Hütte. Past Klein Horlachalm (1900 m), then take the climbing trail on the left and cross the first slope towards Finstertaler Sennhütte (2147m). Here you continue on the valley floor, choose the ascent through the eastern basin that takes you right to the peak. Once you reach the peak ridge (ski storage area), you follow the route to its highest point the Hochreichkopf (3010 m).

Public transport

Travel safe and comfortable with the train to the Ötztal Bahnhof train station. Last stop and exit point is the train station Ötztal Bahnhof. Afterwards you can travel smoothly and quick with the public transport or out local taxi companies through the valley to your desired destination. Please find the current bus timetable here: http://fahrplan.vvt.at  

Directions

The car drive to the Ötztal valley. Situated in Tirol, the Ötztal valley set off in southerly direction and is the longest side valley in the Eastern Alps. The journey with the car leads you through the Inntal valley to the entrance of the vallly and further on through the valley. Among the toll motorways you can also use the country roads. A route planner will show you the easiest and most convenient way: https://www.google.at/maps.  

Parking

The following parking facilities are available in Niederthai:
  • car park "Sennhof" | one day ticket for cars € 5,00, fee required from 7:00 am till 6:30 pm | the car park for people with handicap is free, please deposit your handicap ID apparent in your car | Buses park for free

Coordinates

DD
47.128301, 10.968068
DMS
47°07'41.9"N 10°58'05.0"E
UTM
32T 649262 5221301
w3w 
///wellies.casseroles.temptation
Get there by train, car, bike, or on foot!

Equipment

The "standard ski touring equipment" consists of touring skis with touring bindings, telescopic poles, climbing skins, crampons, digital avalanche transceiver, avalanche shovel, avalanche probe, first aid kit and mobile phone. 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.

For a glacier crossing you need a "complete glacier equipment set", which contains: sit harness, two prusik loops of different lengths and ascenders, two HMS carabiners, ice pick, climbing irons, bivouac bag, airbag system and rope.

Similar routes nearby

  • Kraspesspitze 2.954m - Umhausen-Niederthai
  • Hohe Wasserfalle 3003m - Umhausen-Niederthai
  • Skitour Brand 2.283m - Umhausen-Niederthai
  • Finstertaler Schartenkopf 2855m - Umhausen-Niederthai
  • Zwieselbacher Rosskogel 3.081 - Umhausen-Niederthai
 These suggestions were generated by our system
Difficulty
difficult
Distance
9 km
Duration
7:00 h
Ascent
1,447 m
Highest point
3,010 m
Lowest point
1,541 m
Linear route Scenic Insider tip Refreshment stops available Summit route High-altitude ski tour

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