Freeride-Abfahrt Edelgrieß und Kraml-Lahn

Descent from the Dachstein mountain station to the Austriascharte to the east of the Hunerkogel. Short ascent (skis are attached to the rucksack) to the notorious 30-meter-long ladder to the Rosmariestollen. Secured with a climbing harness and via ferrata set (of course you can also climb freely), you climb up the ladder to the tunnel door - the tunnel is opened and uncovered by the glacier lifts. At the other end of the tunnel, you stand directly in the exposed southern flank of the Dachstein. The approx. 150 m long traverse to the Edelgrieß is marked and secured by ropes - if the conditions are suitable, it is advisable to put on crampons, use the via ferrata set and attach yourself to the rope. At the end of the exposed traverse, strap on your skis and ski or rope into the Edelgrieß depending on the cornice - the choice of line requires your assessment of the avalanche situation. From here, the cirque turns slightly to the right, with deep snow or firn slopes depending on the season and conditions.

In the wide Edelgrießkar you can look for your own line. The further to the right you traverse (Hintere Türlspitz), the steeper the slopes become. In the lower part of the cirque you will find powder snow on the shady western slopes until spring. Be careful when exiting the Edelgrieß! Rockfalls block the way here. The trail therefore leads left below the rock faces (often deep transverse gullies) to the wide Burgleiten.From Burgleiten there are two options:

1. Head west across the wide slopes of the Burgstall down into the cirque floor and cross to the right towards Türlwandhütte to the valley station of the Dachstein Gletscherbahn.
2. Keep left towards the Jungfrauensteig. After a short ascent over the Sunniwendner, you reach the start of the Kraml-Lahn. On this you ski another 700 vertical meters to Ramsau. Via the piste of the magic lift you reach the country road at Ski Willy. From there, there are bus connections back to the valley station of the glacier lift.

The terrain is often highly structured and - with the exception of the areas below approx. 1,800 m above sea level - also treeless. This often makes orientation difficult. In fog (“white out”), orientation can become almost impossible. For more challenging tours, we strongly recommend that you use a GPS device and carry the appropriate safety equipment.

As a general rule, when you leave the marked and open pistes, you are in open ski terrain. The open ski terrain is not marked and not secured against alpine dangers.

Most of the tours described are between 1,800 and 3,000 meters above sea level. At these altitudes, your body sometimes reacts more strongly to stress. Your breathing becomes faster and your need for fluids increases. Please take this important fact into account when planning your tour.

Catering
There are several huts and restaurants in the Dachstein massif that are also open in winter. For example, the Dachstein Glacier Restaurant at the mountain station, the Seethalerhütte, the Simonyhütte, the Wiesberghaus, the Gjaidalm and the Krippenstein Lodge. Nevertheless, it is necessary to always take enough liquid and food (e.g. muesli bars) with you. There are no refreshment stops on some of the routes described.

The alpine emergency number in Austria is 140 (Europe 112).