The perfect ski touring weekend in Gargellen
6 friends, 3 peaks, perfect conditions.
In search of the perfect base for varied ski tours, we settled this year in the mountain village of Gargellen in the Montafon.
From there, tours into several valleys in the Rätikon and Silvretta mountain ranges are within walking distance of the hotel. This means there are slopes in every direction, so you can go on exciting ski tours in almost any conditions. Perfect conditions, then, for a perfect ski touring weekend? We wanted to see for ourselves.
Tour 1: Vergaldner Schneeberg (2,581 m)
It couldn’t have started any better. On our way here yesterday, we got 30 cm of fresh powder. Today, there isn’t a cloud in the sky. We set out early, even before sunrise. Just 100 meters from our hotel, we can strap on our skis and head east from Gargellen into the Vergaldner Valley. After 5 km of gentle ascent, the route gains elevation across north-facing slopes all the way up to Schneeberg. The tour isn’t too technically difficult and doesn’t require any challenging kick turns. The summit rewards us with fantastic views. Although it’s a popular tour and there are already some tracks in the snow, we still find plenty of untracked sections where we can carve beautiful turns in the deep snow. We’re back in time for the cake buffet on our hotel’s sun terrace. A very promising start.
Tour 2: Rotbühelspitze (2,857 m)
Today we’re tackling our longest tour, with nearly 1,500 meters of elevation gain, so we’re setting out early in the morning once again. With perfect conditions, we head east again, this time through a valley further south than yesterday. This time, however, the ascent to the summit takes us up the western slopes. The terrain climbs gently for a long stretch, until the final 300 meters of elevation gain become somewhat steeper and more technical, requiring confident kick turns on steep terrain. The summit rewards us once again with stunning winter landscapes. The first few turns on the descent are somewhat steeper, before the terrain opens up beautifully in the middle section, offering what feels like endless options for carving fresh turns into the snow. We are so thrilled that we put our skins back on and climb another north-facing saddle before heading back down into the valley. A true dream tour that left nothing to be desired.
Tour 3: Riedkopf (2,551 m)
Today we have a special tour planned, as we’re joined by local guide Martin Marinac, who will show us a few different routes up the Riedkopf.
First, we take the mountain railway in Gargellen and then hike up to the St. Antönier Joch. From there, Martin leads us along a ridge until we take off our skins for a short descent south into Switzerland. To get back to Austria, we have to briefly carry our skis on our shoulders and trudge up a western saddle. After another descent, the gentle final ascent to the Riedkopf begins. Shortly before the summit, we set up a ski depot and hike along a prominent ridge to the summit cross. For the descent back to Gargellen, Martin shows us a great off-piste route. A short time later, we’re back at the Hotel Bradabella.
The Gargellen Touring Festival
As if three perfect and varied ski tours weren't enough, the ski touring festival is taking place today in Gargellen.
There’s the latest rental gear from all the major ski manufacturers, talks on various topics, and guided tours if you’re interested. All free of charge. We grab some rental gear and set off on the latest skis for one last tour into the same valley as the Rotbühelspitze, climbing two more passes before, with our work done, we toast a wonderful weekend at the après-ski—one that couldn’t have been better. We’ll definitely be back soon, as there are plenty more tours to discover.
