Last updated on April 8th, 2020 at 06:49 am
The Pitztal mountain guide association combines three great activities into one day in the Pitztal glacier world.
Under the gaze of the Wildspitze, the highest mountain in North Tyrol (3774m), hiking, crevasse abseiling and mountain biking are on the agenda each Wednesday. The new hike/ice/bike offer is suitable for families and can be booked by children aged eight and over.
The start is at 08.00 at the valley station of the Pitztal Glacier Express before rising to the starting point of the alternative Alpine Triathlon at Café 3.440, the highest in all of Austria.
“I’ve been here about 1000 times, but I just can’t get enough of it,” enthuses mountain guide Alfred Dworak and explains which peaks can be seen. The Zugspitze, the Dolomites, the Tauern and, of course, the Wildspitze.
It is only a few minutes to the Gletschersteig, a descent down to the Taschachferner secured with steel ropes. “If you’re afraid of heights, you definitely have to overcome them here,” says Alfred Dworak. The climb is steep and narrow, the drops are long.
A few tips on how to walk correctly and the participants gradually feel more secure. After about an hour the hardest part of the tour is over and Alfred Dworak grants the group the first break at a small mountain lake.
Roped together and wearing crampons the group marches over the Taschachferner – until the ideal crevasse for abseiling is found. “The most beautiful, safest and deepest crevasse belongs to us,” says Alfred Dworak.
© Kunz PR
Generally, the crevasses are about 30 metres deep. From time to time, however, there is also a 60 metre crevasse. The more curious can free themselves from the rope team, step into a climbing harness with carabiners and put on a helmet. Alfred Dworak secures the abseil rope.
Probably the biggest hurdle to overcome when abseiling is taking the first step over the crevice edge and vertically into the ice wall. After this stage it becomes quiet at first, then a slight noise can be heard, which gets louder with every metre further down.
“Most people are frightened and do not know that they can hear the glacier water flowing down below,” explains Alfred Dworak. But it’s not just the acoustics that impress, the play of colours is also impressive – blue in all its shades.
After about four and a half hours we reach the Taschachhaus (2434 m), which stands alone on the edge of the glacier world.
Alfred Dworak recommends Dal Bhat, the Nepalese counterpart to the Bergsteigerjause (typical mountain hut snack), for refreshment. The German Alpine Club Hut is part of “NepalHilfe Tirol” and takes in an intern from the roof of the world every year who delights guests with Asian specialities and returns home with valuable knowledge about modern hut management.
© Christian Forcher
Another hour down the mountain, then on the mountain bikes, which are available at the material lift of the Taschachhaus. The last seven kilometres are down to Mandarfen in the valley on forest tracks. Alfred Dworak’s tip: “If you pedal, you’ll be safer and faster.”
The Hike/Ice/Bike offer costs 100 Euros per person including crampons and climbing harness. The ascent to Café 3.440 costs an additional 32 Euros. Sure-footedness and a good basic physical condition are prerequisites.
More information: www.pitztal.com
