We respect your
right to privacy!

Cookie settings

By clicking on "Accept" , you consent to use cookies and other technologies (provided by us and other trusted partners). We use such data for anonymous statistical purposes, tailor-made settings and to display personalized content and advertisements. It will help to provide you with an improved website experience. Please find out more about this topic in our Privacy Policy | Imprint

  • These cookies are absolutely necessary for the operation of this site and enable safety related functionalities, for example. Additionally, this type of cookie is as well used to save your personal cookie settings.

  • In order to further improve both our offer and website, we collect anonymized data for statistics and analyzes. By means of these cookies we can, for example, analyze the number of visitors and the effect of certain pages on our website by optimizing our content.

  • We use these cookies to improve usability of the site for you. For example, based on an accommodation search you already made, you can conveniently access the same lodging when you visit our website again.

  • These cookies are used to display personalized content that matches your interests. It enables us to provide you with offers that are particularly relevant to your personally planned trip.

Ski Touring recommended route

Venter Skirunde- Ötztaler Klassiker

Ski Touring · Ötztal
Logo Ötztal
Responsible for this content
Ötztal Verified partner  Explorers Choice 
  • Photo: Julian Noggler, Ötztal
VENT -> huts and peaks -> VENT
difficult
Distance 72.5 km
19:30 h
5,940 m
5,939 m
3,768 m
1,882 m
The Vent Loop Trail for ski mountaineers ranks among the classichighlights and „hautes routes“ of the Eastern Alps. Even skiing enthusiastsfrom Switzerland and France spare no effort to conquerthis ultimate route. The challenging 5-day ski mountaineering tourstarts in Vent, leading across the central Ötztal Alps with some ofTirol‘s highest and most attractive peaks beyond 3000 m.

UNRIVALED PEAK CONQUESTS ARE ON THE PROGRAM:

–> Similaun (3606 m)–> Finailspitze (3514 m)–> Weißkugel (3739 m)–> Fluchtkogel (3497m)–> Wildspitze (3.774 m)

Author’s recommendation

Reservation of the sleeping places on the huts is necessary!

Please check opening times of mountain huts!

Similaunhut - closed in Winter 2024 (no winter room, not operated)

Profile picture of Roland Grüner
Author
Roland Grüner 
Update: March 16, 2024
Difficulty
difficult
Stamina
Experience
Landscape
Highest point
3,768 m
Lowest point
1,882 m
Best time of year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Track types

Show elevation profile

Safety information

Avalanche Hazard Scale

1 (LOW)

Triggering is generally possible but only from high additional load in isolated areas of extremely steep terrain. Only small-sized sluffs and natural avalanches are expected. Snow layers are generally stable.

2 (MODERATE)

Avalanches may be triggered in case of truly heavy loads, especially on a few explicitly indicated, steep slopes. Large spontaneous avalanches are not expected. In general, the snowpack is well bonded except on some very steep slopes. Choose your route carefully, avoid the indicated slopes and exposed sections.

3 (CONSIDERABLE)

Triggering is very probable even from low additional loads, particularly on the indicated steep slopes. On some steeper slopes, medium or even fairly large spontaneous avalanches may occur. On most steepslopes the snow layer is only moderately or weakly stable. Expertavalanche knowledge is required. You must avoid the indicated steepslopes and highly exposed sections.

4 (HIGH)

Avalanches are likely to be triggered on many of the indicated steepslopes even if only light loads are applied. In some places, numerous medium-sized and also large-sized natural avalanches are expected.The snowpack is poorly bonded on most steep slopes. Choose your route according to these criteria, select only moderately steep terrain by avoiding the avalanche runout zones. Very expert avalanche knowledge is required.

5 (EXTREMELY HIGH)

Numerous huge or very large-sized natural avalanches are expected also in moderately steep terrain. Safe skiing is not possible anymore, not even in the marked ski area. The snowpack is poorly bonded and largely unstable. Don‘t go ski mountaineering at all!

 

Also visit lawine.tirol.gv.at

 

Tips and hints

Ski Mountaineering Rules
  • If you enjoy activities amid nature always respect the local guidelines when you set out on a ski tour (for example: wildlife preserves, hunting enclosures, reforestation areas, information boards, etc.).
  • Don‘t enter protected wildlife zones or feeding areas amid naturelandscapes, and avoid noise.
  • Cross forest areas in winter only on sign posted trails or marked routes as wild animals can panic if they hear loud voices or noise.
  • Learn more about the habitat of wild animals in the mountains, avoid getting too close to them. Watch them only from a safe distance. Please put your dog on a lead, it is absolutely irresponsible to take dogs into the forest without leashing them because wild animals suffer from food deficiency and weakness in winter.
  • Excellent planning and time management: start your tour early enough and return before darkness. In spring you should be back on the hut or in the valley at 12 noon (avalanche hazard!) at the latest.
  • Never cross forestation zones and areas with young plants and trees.

 

Ötztal Tourismus doesn‘t take any responsibility for the suggested tours. It is strongly recommended to enlist a certified local mountainguide. Glacier crossings are allowed only in a group by using a rope.

Before you set out on a tour you should inform someone down in the valley about the tour‘s destination and when you plan to be back. Anavalanche transceiver is an absolute must for Alpine ski mountaineering tours.

 

More details about ski mountaineering tours in Ötztal: https://www.oetztal.com/skitouren

Start

Vent
Coordinates:
DD
46.859850, 10.914730
DMS
46°51'35.5"N 10°54'53.0"E
UTM
32T 645947 5191369
w3w 
///reseller.longitude.jumble

Destination

Vent

Turn-by-turn directions

DAY 1

From Vent to Similaunhütte (3019 m)

Ascent through Niedertal –> Martin-Busch-Hütte (2501 m, 3 hrs) –>Similaunhütte (3019 m, 2 hrs, closed in Winter 2024, no winter room, not operated); Altitude gain: 1120 m; Time: 5 hrs

 

ALTERNATIVE

Ascent to Similaun (3606 m, 2 hrs) or overnight at Martin-Busch-Hütte (2501 m, 3 hrs). Next day ascent to Similaunhütte(3019 m, 2 hrs) and Similaun (3606 m, 2 hrs).

 

EXTRA ALTERNATIVE

Ascent from Martin-Busch-Hütte to Saykogel.

 

PEAKS

Kreuzspitze (3455 m), Hauslabkogel (3402 m), Similaun (3606 m), HintereSchwärze (3624 m), Saykogel (3355 m), Finailspitze (3514 m)

 

HUT CROSSINGS

Similaunhütte (3019 m), Hochjoch Hospiz (2413 m), Hochwildehaus(2866 m), Ramolhaus (3005 m)

 

Martin-Busch-Hütte for acclimatization

(2501 m, DAV) serviced from early March to early May

T +43 (0) 5254 8130  T +43 (0) 664 3043 151 

www.hotel-vent.at

info@hotel-vent.at

 

DAY 2

Via Finailspitze (3514 m)to Schöne Aussicht (2846 m)

Ascent to Ötzi‘s finding place (Tisenjoch) –> towards Hauslabjoch(1.5 hrs) –> via north-eastern rock ridge up to Finailspitze(3514 m, 1 hr) –> downhill skiing to the eastern part of Hochjochfernerglacier –> crossing the lower glacier fields –> shortascent to Schöne Aussicht (2846 m)

 

DIFFERENCE IN ALTITUDE

Ascent 680 m, descent: 860 m; Time: 5 hrs

 

PEAKS

Similaun (3606 m), Finailspitze (3514 m), Similaun crossing (3606m), Marzellspitze (3532 m), Hintere Schwärze (3624 m)

 

HUT CROSSINGS

Martin-Busch-Hütte (2501 m), Schöne Aussicht (2846 m), HochjochHospiz (2413 m)

 

Similaunhütte (3019 m, privately owned)

serviced from mid-March to early May

T +39 (0) 473 669711 Satellite number: 072 0 9204 39

www.similaunhuette.com

info@similaunhuette.com

 

 

DAY 3

Weißkugel (3739 m) and Hochjoch Hospiz (2413 m)

Ascent on the saddle between Im hintern Eis (3270 m) and Egg (3219m) –> down to Hintereisferner glacier –> ascent via Hintereisfernerto Hintereisjoch (3460 m, 4 – 4.5 hrs) –>up to Weißkugel (3739 m, 1hr) on the southern ridge –> down via to Hochjoch Hospiz (2413 m, 2hrs) via Hintereisferner

 

DIFFERENCE IN ALTITUDE

Ascent 1360 m, descent 1790 m; Time: 7 – 8 hrs

 

PEAKS

Weißkugel (3739 m), Finailspitze (3514 m), Langtauferer Spitze (3528m), Saykogel (3355 m)

 

HUT CROSSINGS

Hochjoch Hospiz (2413 m), Similaunhütte (3019 m)

 

Schöne Aussicht (2846 m, privately owned)

serviced from late November to mid-May

T +39 (0) 473 662140

www.schoeneaussicht.it

info@schoeneaussicht.it

 

 

DAY 4

From Fluchtkogel (3497 m) to Vernagthütte (2755 m)

Ascent to Kesselwandferner glacier –> Oberes Guslarjoch (3361m, 3 – 3.5 hrs) –> further on to Fluchtkogel (3497 m, 0.5 hr)–>via Guslarferner glacier down to Vernagthütte (2755 m)

 

DIFFERENCE IN ALTITUDE

Ascent 1100 m, descent 760 m; Time: 4.5 – 5 hrs

 

PEAKS

Weißkugel (3739 m), Hintere Guslarspitze (3147 m), Fluchtkogel(3497 m), Langtauferer Spitze (3528 m), Saykogel (3355 m)

 

HUT CROSSINGS

Vernagthütte (2755 m), Brandenburger Haus (3272 m), Schöne Aussicht(2846 m), Similaunhütte (3019 m)

 

Hochjoch Hospiz (2413 m, DAV)

serviced from early March to early May

T +43 (0) 676 6305 998 Satellite number: 0720 9203 11

www.hochjoch.at

hochjoch@gmx.at

 

 

DAY 5

Via Wildspitze (3774 m)back to Vent (1900 m)

Past Großer/Kleiner Vernagtferner glacier to Brochkogeljoch (3423 m,2.5 – 3 hrs) –> via Taschachferner glacier to Wildspitze (3774 m, 1.5 – 2hrs) –> downhill to Mitterkarjoch (3470 m) –> steep descent to Mitterkarfernerglacier fields –> across Mitterkar to Breslauer Hütte (2848m) –> Stablein ski area –> down to Vent on the ski run

 

DIFFERENCE IN ALTITUDE

Ascent 1050 m, descent 1900 m; Time: 5.5 – 7 hrs

 

ALTERNATIVE

Ascent from Vernagt Hütte to Hochvernagtspitze (3 hrs)

 

PEAKS

Wildspitze (3774 m), Fluchtkogel (3497 m), Schwarzwandspitze(3466 m), Hochvernagtspitze (3535 m)

 

HUT CROSSINGS

Hochjoch Hospiz (2413 m), Breslauer Hütte (2848 m), BrandenburgerHaus (3272 m), Taschachhaus (2432 m)

 

Vernagthütte (2755 m, DAV)

serviced from early March to early May

T +43 (0) 664 1412119 Satellite number: 0720 920 315

www.wieshof.at

info@wieshof.at

 

 

Further ski mountaineering routes

–> Mittlere Guslarspitze 3126 m, time: 5 hrs

–> Hauslabkogel 3402 m, time: 6.5 hrs

–> Finailspitze 3514 m, time: 7 hrs

–> Vent-Breslauer Hütte (+ lift ride) 2848 m, time: 1 h

–> Vent-Stableinalm 2356 m, time: 1.5 hrs

–> Vent-Ramolalm 2218 m, time: 1.5 hrs

–> Vent – Chapel in Niedertal 2120 m, time: 1.5 hrs

 

Ramoljoch 3186 m, Vent, AV 30/1, High Alpine Tour - 4 hrs, 1300 m

Ascent and descent through the superb stone pine forests towards Ramolalm, steep climb up to a huge rock at about 2450 m above sea level, then cross the slope (be careful!), into the brook bed of Spiegelbach. Continue past scenic basins before you reach the last steep ascent to thecol. Downhill on the ascent route.

 

More ski mountaineering tours at www.oetztal.com/skitouren

 

Public transport

Enjoy a both comfortable and relaxing train ride to the train station in Ötztal Bahnhof. You get off the train in ÖTZTAL Bahnhof where you change to a public bus or local taxi. The current bus schedule can be found at: http://fahrplan.vvt.at

 

Directions

Vent is located in the western part of Austria in the state TYROL, in a southern side valley of the Inn valley - the ÖTZTAL. For your arrival by car, you can plan the best route from your home town with the route planner online at https://www.google.at/maps

 

Parking

The following parking options are available in the mountaineering village Vent

- In summertime in front of the village (parking machine, only coins or EC card) and at the chairlift (at the ticket office of the mountain railways)

- In wintertime only at the chairlift

Cost: € 6,00 per day/car

Coordinates

DD
46.859850, 10.914730
DMS
46°51'35.5"N 10°54'53.0"E
UTM
32T 645947 5191369
w3w 
///reseller.longitude.jumble
Get there by train, car, bike, or on foot!

Book recommendation by the author

Brochures Ötztal Moutain Winter / available Information Vent

Author’s map recommendations

Kompass #042 | Inneres Ötztal und Pitztal, Gurgler Tal, Venter Tal | 1:25.000

Kompass #43 | Ötztaler Alpen, Ötztal, Pitztal | 1:50.000

Freytag&Bernd WK 251  | Ötztal, Pitztal, Kaunertal, Wildspitze  | 1:25:000

 

Equipment

Recommended Ski Mountaineering Equipment

The „standard ski mountaineering equipment“ is: touring skis with touring bindings, telescopic poles, climbing skins, ski crampons, digital avalanche transceiver, avalanche shovel, avalanche probe, firstaid kit and mobile phone. A „complete glacier equipment set“ contains: sit harness, two prusik loops of different lengths and ascenders, two HMS biners, icepick, climbing irons and rope. Pack your rucksack carefully and don‘t forget extra clothes for the descent, sun protection/cream, cold protection, enough food and drink. If you stay overnight at a mountain hut take toiletry articles and a hut sleeping bag with you!

 

LEVELS OF DIFFICULTY

  • Easy: Short or moderately long tours, always easy, with ascents not steeper than 25° or slightly steeper only on short sections.
  • Intermediate: Moderately long or long tours of intermediate difficulty with ascents up to 35° or slightly steeper only on short sections.
  • Difficult: Very challenging and long or very long tours with ascents that can exceed 40°, comprising also climbing sections up to difficulty grade II (UIAA).

 

Similar routes nearby

  • Hinterer Spiegelkogel
  • Similaun Skitour
  • Start of Vent Loop Trail or Ötztal Loop Tour via Schalfkogl
  • Schalfkogel
  • Hochwilde
 These suggestions were generated by our system
Difficulty
difficult
Distance
72.5 km
Duration
19:30 h
Ascent
5,940 m
Descent
5,939 m
Highest point
3,768 m
Lowest point
1,882 m
Round trip Scenic Refreshment stops available Insider tip

Statistics

  • Content
  • Show images Hide images
Features
Maps and trails
Distance  km
Duration : h
Ascent  m
Descent  m
Highest point  m
Lowest point  m
Push the arrows to change the view