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Brandenburger Haus - Weißseespitze - Valle Isarco

Sölden

Trentino-Alto Adige

A beautiful day crossing of the second largest glacier in Austria, and some steep skiing down to Valle Isarco.

Also in Tirol, Austria

Ski Touring Difficult

Distance
12 km
Ascent
379 m
Descent
1.7 km
Duration
4-5 hrs
Low Point
1.9 km
High Point
3.5 km
Gradient
40˚
Brandenburger Haus - Weißseespitze - Valle Isarco Map

From the hut use the nice high point you have to look out for the biggest crevasses and moulins along the crossing and memorize where they are. Then once you get down on the glacier proceed to crossing up to Weißseespitze ~5km of skiing on glaciated terrain that reminded me of the high Arctic. I think we did a pretty ok job navigating the glacier, so I'd recommend staying close to the gpx track and to be roped up. From the cross head 250m North where you will find a pretty ok ridge to bootpack down if as us you decid not to ski it. Otherwise you can enter the slope around 100m into a beautiful gully. Beware of the exposure on the way down. Once you reach the proeminence on the buttress, we advise to head down the south face, be aware of sun effect and warming! From there on you can keep following the valley down for a melow way down, or you can take one of the few couloirs options on the skiers right. The one we took was rather moderate and in beautiful virgin snow conditions whereas the vally had been completly tracked. Once you get out into the main valley keep cutting until you see the village if you don't want to have to skin or push for too long.

Description

This route is part of a larger project that crossed the Alps in 2024.

Difficulty

Difficult

Serious gradient of 30-38 degrees where a real risk of slipping exists.

Medium Exposure (E2)

2 out of 4

As well as the slope itself, there are some obstacles (such as rock outcrops) which could aggravate injury.

Remoteness

2 out of 4

Away from help but easily accessed.

Best time to visit

between December and May

Features

  • Face
  • Alpine
  • Couloir
  • Ski Safari

Equipment required

  • Rope
  • Skins
  • Ice axe
  • Crampons
  • Glacier kit

Similar routes nearby

Guidebooks in this area