... ski to the resting place of the 'Ice Man'

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Oeztal Circuit: 7th April, 2012

- Ski the highest peak in the Tyrol - the Wildpsitz, 3770m
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Classic mountaineering peaks each day, with simple but varied ski descents

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Great huts and good food

 

   
 


This classic ski tour is set amongst the towering peaks and huge glaciers of the Oeztal mountains, made famous by the discovery of ‘Oezsti the Ice Man’ on the Similaun glacier by Erika and Helmut Simon while they were trekking along the Hauslabjoch in 1991. He was found 10 metres inside the Italian border and now rests in a museum in the Alta Badia town of Bolzano. Scientists think that Oezsti is 5500 years old.

Our ski tour sets out from the little known hamlet of Mittleberg located below the Vernagtferner glacier. The ski route links five mountain huts, and each day we can choose from a variety of routes and peaks. The options are enormous. In good weather we can ski and climb to the Hint Olgruben Joch (3296m), Hochvernagt Spitze (3539m), Weisee Spitze (3510m), Weisskugel (3739m) and the highest peak in the area the Wild Spitze (3765m).

This tour offers good skiing at high altitudes on moderate slopes with the opportunity to “peak bag” each day. You will need to use ice axes and crampons for a number of the summit climbs.

“Magnificent mountains... and we got to the top of the Wildspitz” - big John

OUTLINE ITINERARY

DAY 1 - Fly to Friedrichshafen, transfer to Vent
Arrival in Friedrichshafen and minibus transfer to the the village of Vent. We meet up in the evening to collect hire gear, chat with our guides and prepare for the week ahead.

DAY 2 - the Martin Busche hut
Our first day takes us to the Martin Busche hut - about three hours on skins from Vent. We check in at the hut leave all our heavy gear there and head out again to the peak of the Hauslabkogel (3403m) and ski back down to the hut.

DAY 3 – Similaun

We leave the Martin Busche and climb via the Marzellferner glacier navigating the many ice falls and crevasses. A narrow passage of snow takes us right up to the summit. Then we ski down the other side and in to Italy at the Similaun hut - spectacular ! If you want to we go and explore the area around the Hauslab where the Iceman was found in 1991.

DAY 4 - to the Vergnat hut
Today is a big day and possibly the longest on the tour. We leave the hut and climb to the Hauslabjoch. Then we have a long descent on a huge glacier down to the Rofen Ache river valley. Then its skins on and a long climb up to the Guslar Spitz. Then we ski down simple slopes to the Vergnat hut.

DAY 5 and 6 - from the Vergnat hut
There is a huge choice of day routes from the hut and we use the next two days to bag some peaks before attempting the highest peak in the area - the Wildspitz. We head out on a day tour with light packs to ski a peak of the groups choice and then return to the hut - try the Schwarzwand, Hochvernagt or the Fluchtkogel.

DAY 7- Wildspitz 3770m
The week culminates with a long climb to the highest peak in the Oeztal - the Wildspizt at 3770m. This is a 1600 metre climb over stunning terrain and ends with a fantastic ski descent back to Vent and Haus Eberhard.


DAY 8 - Back to Friedrichshafen for flights

Transfer to Friedrichshafen Airport for connections back to the UK or on to the next ski tour...

Please Note: This itinerary may be altered if conditions, weather forecasts or the overall fitness of the group are judged to put the safety of the group at risk. Pyrenean Mountain Tour Guides reserve the right to make changes to the itinerary without notice. These changes will be explained to the group as and when they occur.

EQUIPMENT AND CLOTHING NEEDED FOR THIS TREK
We recommend that people joining this trek are equipped with the following:

Technical equipment
Ski Touring Skis with Touring Bindings
Ski Poles
Skins (with good glue!)
Ski Crampons
Ski Strap (for tying top of the skis together when carrying on rucksack)

Avalanche Transceiver
Crampons (but you won't need an ice axe on this trip)
Climbing Harness

Clothing suggestions
Thermal underwear- 1 set as a base layer
Shorts Fleece
Waterproof jacket
Waterproof overtrousers
Warm hat
Warm gloves
Warm walking socks
Sun hat or peaked cap
Sunglasses/Goggles

Other useful items
40-60 litre rucksack (needs side straps so that you can carry skis)
Head torch and batteries
Sun block for face and lips
Personal First Aid kit (plasters,compede, paracetamol)
Water bottle or Platypus (get an insulated pipe though)
Penknife

Optional items
Change of clothing to include: underwear,tracksuit bottoms/ long-johns,dry shirt, spare socks.
Camera and film
Paperback novel
Maps
Ear plugs(there is always one snorer)
Snack bars/dried fruit/chocolate
Sheet sleeping bag (if you like them...)

Ski Touring Equipment Hire
Pyrenean Mountain Tours offer a full equipment hire pack. You can hire everything you need for this tour or individual items at the costs shown in the table below. We are unable to provide equipment "last minute" so you need to book what you need well in advance.

Items Description Costs
Ski Touring Pack includes: skis, skins, ski crampons, poles, ski touring boots £160
With Own Boots includes: all of the above but no boots £130
Avalanche Transceiver  

£80

Snow Shovel  

free

Climbing Harness with sling and karibiner

£40

Boot Crampons to fit ski touring boots £40
Ice Axe not required for this tour

Please remember to carry as little gear as possible. A heavy rucksack will make the trip hard work and less fun.

 

 


Ski trips and more throughout Europe and beyond

Don’t let our name fool you: as well as Pyrenees trips, we can take you to the Alps, South Tyrol, Dolomites, Tatra Mountains and even further. In France, Spain, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Norway, Poland, Slovenia…even Mongolia.

Downhill skiing, alpine skiing, off piste, telemark skiing, ski tours, ski touring snowshoeing, trekking, mountaineering, expedition training, motorcycle tours, expedition training, walking, activity holidays, canyoning, mountain biking, white water rafting, road touring, cultural tours and study – chances are we have just what you’re looking for. We can also arrange all accommodation, from a hotel or B&B to a self-catering apartment or gite.

Can’t see what you’re after? We’d be happy to arrange a bespoke trip for you.

 

Pyrenean Mountain Tours
2 Rectory Cottages, Rectory Lane, Wolverton,
Hants, RG26 5RS, UK
tel and fax: (0044)(0)1635 297209, web: www.pyrenees.co.uk

(Pyrenean Mountain Tours is a trading name of European Mountain Holidays Ltd.)


 

.....background preparation

Maps and Guidebooks
Your guide will carry all the maps that the group needs but you may want to plan or record your journey on your own copy. The most practical map for you to carry is:

Sheet 30/2 “Otztaler Alpne ” (Ski Touren) , 1/25,000, published by the Austrian Tourist Board.

For a specific ski touring book covering the Oesztal read Alpine Ski Moutainerring, Vloume 2, Central and Eastern Alps, by Bill O'Conner.

You can order maps and books online at: www.mapsworldwide.co.uk, www.amazon.com, or buythem at Stanford books in London.

Fitness and Skiing Standard

This tour requires that you should be able to walk uphill for up to 4-5 hours a day over moderate but varied terrain, gaining an average of 1200 metres. Ski descents are on wide slopes with plenty of space. This is a second or third ski tour but equally good for experienced tourers wishing to visit the area and bag some good peaks - even though it is not technically demanding.

Group Size: 2 groups of 7 people.

Group 1: DAF Scale:D2: A2:F2

Group 2: DAF Scale:D2:A3:F3

Questions about this tour ? Email Simon for help.

Mountain Guides and Leaders
Your tour will be led by Austrain UIAGM mountain guides, headed by Klaus Lorenz from Galtur who has worked with is now for four years. Richard Dupont and Remi Laborde may also guide groups on this route.



.....travel details & costs

Departure Dates & Flight Details
We recommend that you use the following Ryan Air flights:
Fly Details to be Confirmed:
please call our office on 01635 297209 or email Wendy for latest informtion on flights to
Friedrichshafen.

Go to www.ryanair.com to book your flights.

What your Holiday Will Cost
£850 per person
(It is not possible to have a single room at any point on this tour).

Is this your first ski tour ?
This year we are trialing a new discount scheme for people trying ski touring for the first time. If you book an Introduction to Ski Touring course and a ski tour in the same year we will reduce your overall bill by £80.

Toured with us Before ?
If you have been ski touring with us twice or more before you are entitled to a £30 discount. Please remind us when you book!

The Diary Discount
We know that lots of you keep diaries of your ski tours and we want to publish some of them ! Our aim is to have a link on each of our ski touring itinerary pages to a previous years diary of the trip. If we publish yours we'll pay you £15 (in the form of a discount on a PMT trip of course) for your trouble.

Transfer Arrangements
We collect you in our minibus free of charge if you arrive on the flights we have recommended above. If you choose a different flight you will be responsible for your own transfer to the start and from the end of the tour. Call for advice.

.....more details

Accommodation Quick List
Day one: Haus Eberhart, Vent
Day two: Martin Busche hut
Day three: Martin Busche hut
Day four:
Similaun hut
Day five: Vergnat hut
Day six: Vergnat hut
Day seven:
Haus Eberhart, Vent

Please note: accommodation changes may have to be made if weather conditions or other unforeseen circumstances make it necessary. We try to ensure that hotel rooms are twin bedded with en suite facilities but this is not always possible.

Included in the Price
-2 nights half board at hotel or hostel
-5 nights full board accommodation in mountain huts
-mountain guiding fees and expenses

Not Included in the Price
-International air travel
-Hiring of equipment from the equipment list specified for this trip
- Drinks and snacks at huts and hotels
- packed lunch for day 1

- ski lifts, buses or taxis needed

Spending Money
Please bring all money in local currency (Euros), as there will be no opportunity to go to a bank en route. There is little opportunity to spend much on this trip other than on a few beers at the huts.