Ski tour Simmering

It is a day after abundant snowfall in the greater Innsbruck area. Hubertus, Thomas, Gregor and I, start for the first time towards Simmering. In fact, none of us Innsbruck residents have been on a ski tour in Obsteig, the westernmost community of the Mieminger Plateau.

So we arrive today, quite early for a ski touring day in January, at 9:30 am at the parking lot at the Grünberg lift. But the parking possibilities are already exhausted. So Thomas, who gave us a lift in the sense of car sharing, reverses. So the FFP2 masks make it difficult for us to breathe for another quarter of an hour. Thanks to the hint of a friendly neighbour, whom we stopped while walking the dog, we park the car at the sports ground. First we unmask and enjoy the fresh air. So about 10:00 o'clock we are then adjusted after checking our avalanche transceivers.

We walk on a hiking trail through the wide winter landscape that has settled over the fields and meadows. At the parking lot of the Grünberg lifts, Thomas meets an acquaintance who lives in these parts and already has his home mountain ski tour on the Grünberg in his legs. He beams and we get a detailed description of the way, which raises our blood sugar level because of the anticipation. We don't park the car anymore.

So now we are right in the middle of it. A short forest path leads us into more open terrain, where a jagged steep slope welcomes us. Accompanied and circled we are by dogs left on the leash, who share enthusiasm about the weather and snow paradise with us, but more carefree. After all, this is our first time on this mountain and we want to conserve our energy. Besides, it is really bitterly cold today. Nevertheless, we take off our overcoats, because now we are at operating temperature.

After the steep slope we turn right onto the picturesque toboggan run. From all directions, nature basks in the fresh snow. After an entertaining 15 minutes we turn right into the forest. According to local lore, all paths here lead to the Simmeringer Alm. And this idyllic forest path shortens the toboggan run noticeably. But the forest demands sharp turns from us. The metres in altitude always have to be worked for.

Back at the toboggan run, Thomas and I take a small photo and drinking break. While Hubertus and Gregor follow the trail, we turn left onto the Harersteig. An impressive ascent trail winds between meters of snow through the forest. Obviously the trail has been tracked on the summer hiking trail. Because it leads again and again past almost eye-high tree markings. I would gladly pay the leader a beer. Because off the trail you sink up to your hips in the snow. At a hairpin bend I disappear briefly in the snow.

Slowly but surely we suspect that the Harersteig will probably no longer cross the toboggan run. Therefore, we phone each other again and again to perhaps still go together to the Simmering Alm. But since we come out of the forest far above the Simmering Alm, we postpone the joint stop for refreshments until later. At the edge of the forest, a vast, snow-covered mountain landscape opens up. Also the last 200 meters of altitude towards the summit are a pure pleasure. The panorama with the Mieminger chain, Mieminger plateau and Inn valley leaves just no superlatives to describe these impressions.

10 minutes after our summit arrival we receive Hubertus, who comes without Gregor. Unfortunately, his skins have come off and he had to abandon the tour. Instead, he warms up a wooden bench outside for us at the Simmering Alm. The descent from the summit is really easy and we catch deep powder.

At the Simmering Alm we toast with non-alcoholic bikers and enjoy the culinary delights of the takeaway. From the Simmering Alm downhill we mostly stick to the toboggan run, although in this snowy situation there are also free aisles in the forest.

A super ski tour that is safe even in the deepest winter with avalanche warning level 4. On the descent, as always on the mountain, you should pay attention to which slopes you enter. If you follow the standard tracks and keep to the left, then you are on the safe side.

There are two ascent variants. The very comfortable variant along the toboggan run to the Simmering Alm. From there, you can ascend 300 metres in altitude to the Simmering over extensive terrain. The somewhat more demanding and longer variant leads over the Harersteig, which leads into the open terrain. From there, it is still about 200 meters in altitude to the summit.

Tour data:

• Starting point: Grünberglift car park in Obsteig (1,031 m)
• Destination: Simmeringalm (1.813 m) or Simmering (2.096 m)
• Duration: to the Simmering Alm 2 to 2:30 h, to the Simmering another 30 to 45 min
• Altitude difference: between 800 hm and 1.100 hm depending on the tour destination
• Rating: valuable and worth seeing
• Further information: here