Baumbachspitze (3,105m)

Route: 14.23 km
Elevation Gain/Loss: 1,661m
Orientation: North - East
Difficulty: S2 - S3 (three sections S4)
Time: 5h 45min
Required Equipment: Ski Crampons can be useful in some uphill sections.

DESCRIPTION

The current snow conditions in Austria allow us to undertake trips in February that are usually done in the midst of spring. The snow cover has gained stability, and we did this outing with a risk level of 1 and above 2600 meters with a risk level of 2. The main danger is the possibility of medium-sized glide avalanches above 2600 meters in any orientation.

We start the journey from the SportGastein area, where the route begins that will take us to the summit of Baumbachspitze (3,105m), located on the border between the states of Salzburg and Carinthia. This summit is part of the Hohe Tauern National Park, where Austria's highest peak, Grossglockner (3,798m), is also located. The chosen summit belongs to the subgroup of mountains called Goldberggruppe (the name comes from being a gold-rich area some years ago). We start the journey an hour and a half later than last week to avoid encountering overly hard snow.

In the first part of the journey, we cross the cross-country ski slopes and head towards a small corridor through which we have to pass to continue gaining elevation. During this section, we cross two basal slides that occurred during the week. The corridor is easily ascended, and in the last section, we carry our skis as the snow is harder due to the freezing of the moist snow with nighttime temperatures. This corridor has a slope of between 35 and 40 degrees and does not exceed 200 positive meters.

Once we exit the corridor, we continue progressing until we reach a flat section where we advance without difficulties. The surrounding environment is extremely beautiful, and we only have two skiers ahead of us that we see in the distance. At 2500 meters, we remove our skis a few meters to overcome a quite icy rise. We reach the top, where an impressive circus opens up, allowing us to see various peaks, as well as the final stretch towards Baumbachspitze.

We advance easily until reaching the elevation of 2,900, where we remove our skis again because the 40-degree slope is quite icy. Crampons are not necessary, but progressing with skis on the back to the summit is more efficient. The views are spectacular, and the wind is not excessively strong; nevertheless, we decide to lose elevation to regain strength in a more sheltered area.

During the descent, it is necessary to consider the three steepest sections and the state of the snow. On this occasion, the snow has improved due to sunlight, allowing for a pleasant descent. It is important to use the ski edges well, especially in the higher sections where the snow is icier. Upon returning to the area where the sun no longer reaches (below 2600 meters), the wet snow hardens and becomes uncomfortable to ski.

Baumbachspitze offers a beautiful alpine atmosphere, with an ascent consisting of three somewhat complex sections and a long and very beautiful descent. It is always essential to ensure that the snow cover conditions are optimal. Despite being a long ascent, it is extraordinarily beautiful. Another great day shared with expert skiers that allows me to continue learning and improving in skiing.