Linker Fernerkogel (3277 m) from Mandarfen

Technical difficulty: 5/10
Fitness: 6/10
Objective danger: 6/10
Landscape: 8/10
Busy: 4/10

The Linker Fernerkogel in the uppermost Pitztal is a classic glacier ski tour suitable for almost the entire winter season. The traverse with descent via the “Hängender Ferner” is best done in spring conditions.

Starting point: Mittelberg, Mandarfen
Ending point: Mittelberg, Mandarfen
Ascend: 1550 vm / ~5 h
Exposition: Ascend west/south, descend north

guest post by @bennibru

Route:

The ski tour to the Linker Fernerkogel follows the ski route along the “Notweg” (the valley descent from the Pitztal Glacier ski area) for a long but not overly difficult ascent to this scenic summit between the glacier ski resorts. As with many ski touring objectives near ski resorts, the ideal time for the ascent is shortly after the winter operations have ended. At that point, full glacier equipment is often not strictly necessary.

We start in the district of Mittelberg in Mandarfen (small parking area after the bridge near the Postbus turnaround). Depending on snow conditions, carrying skis may be necessary in late winter. Usually, however, snow coverage remains sufficient on the right-hand side of the ascent route, west of the Pitze – the glacier stream rushing down the valley.

Following gentle ups and downs, we pass the Gletscherstube on the left and continue upward along the increasingly steep service road through several switchbacks. Avalanche debris often needs to be crossed here, and this section in particular must be evaluated carefully for avalanche and rockfall danger, especially during late-morning or afternoon descents.

After crossing to the other side of the valley, snow conditions usually improve significantly in the final turns before reaching the Mittelbergferner. Passing the increasingly shrinking glacier gate, we step onto the wide glacier and continue southward at moderate gradient, passing beneath the striking summit pyramid of the Linker Fernerkogel – our later destination.

Apart from the gradually disappearing infrastructure of the glacier ski resort, the scenery becomes increasingly impressive. One could almost be tempted to continue endlessly toward the Wildspitze, but for today’s objective we soon branch left and aim for the broad basin along the eastern edge of the Mittelbergferner.

The terrain steepens slightly, though never becoming truly steep, as we climb in a wide left-hand arc before finally ascending due south to the high point called “Tiefenbachjoch” at 3140 m between the ridge extending from the Fernerkogel and the upper station of the Sölden Tiefenbach cable car.

To reach the summit, a traverse beneath the north side of the summit ridge toward the summit slope is required, including a short descent on skins. From there, a few kick turns lead without major difficulties to the summit with its modern summit cross and excellent panoramic views across the massive Mittelbergferner, framed by the Wildspitze massif in the background.

Descent:

For the descent, we choose the route via the moderately steep but heavily crevassed Hängender Ferner, which should only be skied with a substantial snow cover in spring conditions. Thanks to its northern aspect, good powder snow can often still be found here late into the season.

At the lower end of the glacier, the slope falls away to the left. We follow the natural fall line but try to maintain enough elevation to regain the Mittelbergferner and the Notweg without requiring a counter-ascent. The remainder of the descent follows the same route as the ascent via the Notweg, with the previously mentioned avalanche and rockfall hazards from the surrounding steep slopes becoming increasingly relevant as the day warms up.

Photos by @bennibru