The ski tour to Kalser Törl is one of the challenging tours in the Schober group and should only be tackled when conditions are absolutely safe. The flanks which for the most part appear to be inaccessible in the depths of winter fall into the extreme slopes category, that is, they are rarely tackled are over 35 degrees steep and are on the shaded side. However in spring when the snow pack has set in, this tour is a real treat, away from all the hustle and bustle. Starting point is the parish of Lesach, around 1. 5 km before Kals. The road takes us between traditional buildings to the established car parking area at a wooden shelter in Oberlesach (1415 m). Access to the closed barrier is no longer permitted and the route is shortened on the forest trail via the pastures on the mountain side. A wide gravel path now takes us into the valley to the lovely Lesachalm Hütte (1818 m, 1 ½ hours), which we get to via a downward crossing. A 60 metres altitude counter climb on the way back should be factored in here. We now follow the ski track to the left of the river in the adventurous Lesachtal and its impressive mountain shapes. At around 2000 m we head out of the bottom of the valley between light larches, heading south east to the steep and rutted moraine flanks beneath the Kalser Törl. It is the conditions that decide here where exactly the climbing route should start. Via attractive hairpin bend terrain (NW, 30°) we keep well away from the windswept gully and get to flatter terrain at around 2400 m. A little high alpine valley starts here and through the archaic looking landscape we climb to a narrow wind gap between Glödis and Ralfkopf. The final slope (NW, 35°) is often deceptively windswept and requires the ability to assess an avalanche situation. In several hairpin bends we laboriously head into a short steep gully which brings us, carrying skis – depending on the conditions – to the Törl (cairn, 4 hours from the valley). Descent along the ascent track.
Additional ski tour tips can be obtained in the ski tour guides by Thomas Mariacher. These are available here: www.grafikzloebl.at/verlag/buecher/
