Freeriding in the Grossglockner/Heiligenblut adventure area

Powder Dreams & Freeride Life Style in the Freeride Arena Grossglockner/Heiligenblut
The sun is shining from an immaculate blue sky. It's bitterly cold and the previous night has brought a fresh layer of new snow. We get into the first gondola of the day, hopefully we will be the first on the mountain. So far, only workers and safety officers have been out and about in the ski area , ensuring safety in the fresh snow. The air "bites" and as we strap on our skis, it's immediately clear that this is going to be a real freeride dream.

And then we set off and immerse ourselves in the endless freedom of an untracked powder snow slope. Turn by turn and meter by meter, we leave our tracks in the fresh snow. The Großglockner stands as a silent observer in the distance, even it can still sense our joy. Once at the bottom, everyone agrees: head straight up and dive into the powder dream in the Heiligenblut freeride arena once again.

Freeride arena & Sectors

There are six freeride sectors that divide up the seemingly endless area around the highest mountain in the country. The range extends from sector A - Schareck to sector F - Tal-Runs, where experienced freeriders can put together their own individual freeride day. The sectors and runs are not secured or marked. This is open ski terrain, where wonderful powder snow usually awaits. However, great attention must be paid to safety here. If you are out and about on them, you should have a good knowledge of avalanches and terrain.

Ski routes & Safety Check-Point

A ski route is a generally accessible descent that is not groomed, but is marked and secured against avalanches. In contrast to the freeride sectors, you can assume a very high level of safety on ski routes. However, you should still have good know-how and freeride skills. At the free freeride checkpoint with avalanche transceiver test, freeriders can obtain valuable and up-to-date information about the avalanche situation, open lifts, local weather and its development.

Facts & Figures about the Freeride Arena

approx. 1,500 hectares of free ski area
High alpine terrain with countless descents and variants
Downhill runs and powder runs with an altitude difference of up to 1,500 m
Highest point: 2,989 m, lowest point: 1,204 m
High snow reliability and treeless terrain thanks to the altitude
6 freeride sectors with descents down to the valley
5 ski routes - not groomed, but secured and marked
Starting points for numerous high-alpine ski tours on three-thousand-meter peaks

Guiding and courses - on the road with experts

Safety is one of the most important issues when it comes to unforgettable freeride days. Not only that, but if you set off with a guide or mountain guide, you can be sure to get the best out of your freeride day. The local guides on site know the ropes. They know the best runs, can best assess the danger and safety and will be happy to show you their "secret runs", which you would never find on your own. The Grossglockner/Heiligenblut snow sports school and the Grossglockner mountain guides offer various courses and are reliable partners when it comes to the best days in the powder snow.

Safety check: what we look out for when freeriding

We never ski without safety equipment (avalanche transceiver, shovel, probe)
If you have an airbag rucksack with you on the mountain, we practise how to use it
We check the functionality of our equipment before every session
We store all emergency numbers in our cell phone (No. 112)
At the start of each day, we check the avalanche report and the weather
We also asked the Local Heros about the conditions
We never go into the powder alone and never lose contact with the group
In the open ski area, we never all ski at the same time - we ski individually at a distance
We look for "safe spots" to stop and wait - never IN a slope
We never follow other people's tracks into terrain we don't know
Dangerous slopes where people are present are not crossed

Hot for unforgettable powder days in the freeride arena?

Then it's time to hit the road. Load up your skis, pack your safety gear, get in the car and off to Heiligenblut am Großglockner!

For more information & details about your vacation, please contact us or send us a non-binding vacation inquiry. We are also at your disposal by telephone on +43 4824 2700-20.

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