Padasterkogel (2301m) from Trins

Technical difficulty: 4/10
Fitness: 6/10
Objective danger: 4/10 (but can spike fast if you get tempted into the wrong descent line)
Landscape: 7/10
Busy: 4/10

A classic Trins ski tour with a varied forest climb and a wide-open descent playground - capped by a quick ridge stroll to the Padasterkogel summit view.

Starting point: Trins, Parkplatz 4 (Waldfest)
Ending point: Trins, Parkplatz 4 (Waldfest)
Ascend: 12vm / 4h
Exposition: north-east/ east

Route:

From the Waldfest parking, the start varies with snow cover:

• With good coverage: climb via meadows + steps and follow along/near the sled track above the St. Barbara chapel, then continue to the forest road. 

• With thin snow on the meadows: take the settlement road first, then connect via Hotel Zita to the sled track (or keep using the road to the former parking area), pass a gate, and reach the forest road.

You’ll gain height efficiently now: continue over open terrain to a crossing forest road around 1660 m, then climb up via the Herrenweg, crossing the forest road multiple times until you break out at treeline.

Once you’re out of the forest, it’s the good stuff: pass several wooden huts, then head south of the Foppmandl across nicely undulating terrain below the Padasterjochhaus, trending toward the Hammerspitze area.  From there, turn south and traverse diagonally into the Padasterjoch—give the steeper flanks proper spacing. 

From the col, continue south/ south-east along the ridge toward the summit build-up. The last meters are a bit steeper to the top.

Descent:

The “standard fun” descent is back through the broad terrain via moderately steep NE slopes toward Käferloch with lots of line options. In the valley bottom around ~ 1900 m, traverse left with a short counter-ascent to reach a forest track that leads back out to the main forest road - then return toward Trins roughly along the ascent area. 

Important warning: the direct descent through Käferloch has a very steep section and is running through an avalanche catchment zone—save that for the safest conditions only (or just don’t).

Photos by @the.running.nomad, @bennibru, @isale04, @annikasuess and @sontschi2604