If you still feel like going on a ski tour, you will still find plenty of snow in the Gerlos area and the origin of the Salzach under the Eastern Salzachgeier.
The origin of the Salzach was controversial for a long time: on the one hand, the choice was between the mighty Krimml Achental or the more gentle Kitzbühel Alps to the north, which the local researcher Franz Michael Vierthaler (1758-1827) pushed for and which ultimately prevailed in the heated scholarly debate.
In winter it is difficult to study the sources satisfactorily because of the thick snow cover, but it turns out that the mountains on this side of the western Kitzbühel Alps are an excellent ski touring area.
The only disadvantage is the five kilometer long approach on forest and alpine paths before the Eastern and Western Salzach Vultures appear, on the slopes of which Salzburg’s longest and most important river has its unspectacular origin. The starting point of the ski tour at almost 1500 meters above sea level is the signposted turnoff to the “Salzachhütte” (path 718) on the Alte Gerlosstraße. After an hour’s walking you reach the hut, only in a few places the alpine path is already free of snow.
The trail continues along the Sommerweg towards Salzachjoch, but soon after the Salzachalm (1795 m), at the height of a striking high point, branches off to the left into the gently rising basin.
The climb first crosses a cirque in a northwesterly direction, then turns more to the west (left) and follows another cirque that ends before the final summit slope of the Salzachgeier.
If the conditions are right, the climb either leads directly through the steep southern slope to the summit (2466 m) in 30 minutes or it goes in a sweeping loop over the eastern ridge to a ski depot just below the highest point.
Depending on the snow conditions, there are different options for the descent to the Salzachalm. If you can still count on powder, the north-side descent is worthwhile, which turns to the right after the shady dream slopes and follows the wide carver courses over a short steep step. From the Salzachalm then along the farm road back to the car park.
Please click to enlarge:
Salzach origin
How to get there:
Bus & Bahn: Getting there by public transport is difficult: the Pinzgaubahn runs to Wald from Niedernsill only in rail replacement service. From Wald there is a ski bus to Königsleiten once a day until April 7th (8:40 a.m.) (return 5 p.m.).
Car: from Zell am See on B 168 and B 165 to Wald im Pinzgau and right on Alter Gerlosstraße 7 km to Hotel Ronach. After 800 m turn-off to “Salzachhütte”, parking lot.
Rise: 3 ½ hours, 1000 meters in altitude, 8 kilometers
Map: f&b 121, ÖK 3219
Character: medium
Avalanche situation report: www.lawine.salzburg.at
2024-03-28 17:31:00