Essener Spitze (3200m) from Obergurgel

Technical difficulty: 8/10
Fitness: 7/10
Objective danger: 7/10
Landscape: 10/10
Busy: 3/10

Essener Spitze (3200 m) ski tour from Obergurgl: a classic spring ski mountaineering route via Ferwalltal and Ferwalljoch across the Granatenferner, finishing on a scenic summit ridge.

Starting point: Festkogelbahn Parking
Ending point: Festkogelbahn Parking
Ascend: 1300vm / 4h
Exposition: north/north-west

Route:

Start at the Festkogelbahn parking lot. Start first up the ski slope steeply until you cross under the transition cable car high above. Then head north into the long, gentle Ferwalltal. This is efficient skinning, usually with a clear track, and it sets the tone: steady pace, keep it aerobic, eat early.

As the valley narrows and steepens, you work your way up to the Ferwalljoch. This is often where conditions first show their hand (wind, crust, slab, or whiteout). If visibility collapses here, the day can become way more “navigation-heavy” than it looks on paper.

From the pass, continue onto the Granatenferner. The glacier section is generally broad and safe in winter, but it’s still glacier terrain: spacing, clean line choice, and staying alert is important.

The tour’s key moment is the finish: the ascent typically ends with a bootpack over the north–western ridge up to the summit of the Essener Spitze. It’s slightly exposed / tricky depending on snow and wind - this is where a calm head matters most.

Descent

Mostly skied back the same way as the ascent: glacier → Ferwalljoch → long runout through the Ferwalltal to Obergurgl. On a good day, it’s one of those “big tour, big grin” descents with room to choose your flavor (conservative, or playful).


Photos by @the.running.nomad, @bennibru, @troopni and @annikasuess