Montafon Advanced Skiing

Montafon ski pistes are mostly red and blue, with black runs amounting to only 15% of groomed runs. But when snow conditions are good and, if you’re a strong skier comfortable skiing deep snow, there are some good off-piste possibilities including some excellent ski tours.

Hochjoch, has one relatively short black run (3) from Sennigrat to the top of the Kapell chairlift, and although the marked runs are best for intermediates and beginners, there are good opportunities for skiing with a guide off-piste above the tree line including the wide open area to the right of the Sennigrat chairlift and between and around the pistes in the wide-open area between Kreuzjoch (2395m), Grasjoch (1975m) and Hochjoch (2520m). The steep couloirs above Herzsee are used to host extreme ski competitions, but otherwise out of bounds, and we’re reliably informed that the lift company hopes to be allowed to cut some new trails off-piste from Freda to Silbertal which will be seriously steep and for experts only.

Golm has one black run, the Diabolo, which is the steepest groomed black run in Montafon, and an enjoyable balck ski route. On a powder day it seems there’s good skiing to be had off-piste below Sonna Hűsli, but otherwise there’s not much for advanced skiers on Golm.

Silvretta Nova has more to offer advanced skiers including 4 black runs, 5 black ski routes and lots of opportunity to ski off-piste with guides. Best of the black runs is number 20 from the top of the Madrisella chair lift (2200m) to Alpe Nova (1720m). Ski routes 2, 3, 4 and 5 are fun and it’s also worth checking out the red ski routes above Gaschurn. The local Ski School organises ski safaris with authorised mountain guides from Bielerhöhe to Galtűr (not visible on the ski map), then on via Zeinis, Kops and through the Ganifer valley back to Partenen.

The local Ski School organises ski safaris with authorised mountain guides from Bielerhöhe to Galtűr (not visible on the ski map), then on via Zeinis, Kops and through the Ganifer valley back to Partenen. There’s good off-piste skiing on north facing slopes beneath the line marked on the map by the ski touring route between Madrisella (2466m) and Berg (2247m) and more difficult off-piste on steeper slopes beneath the Gampabing drag lifts and ending in the valley between St Gallenkirch and Gargellen.

Gargellen is the starting point for the Madrisa tour (to Klosters in Switzerland and back) and there are also a few ski routes and some relatively easy off-piste skiing in the main Gargellen ski area on Schafberg.

Day ski tours in Montafon

Day ski touring routes with guides include the relatively easy Madrissa Tour from Gargellen (Schafberg) around Madrissa (2770m) to Klosters (Switzerland) then back; and easy-medium ski tours from Bielerhöhe to Breitfielerberg (2417m), Kromerscharte (2793m), Winterberg (2832m), Seehorn (3089m) and Rauher Kopf (3101m).

There are more difficult higher altitude ski tours in the Rätikon mountains to Sulzfluh (2817m), Drei Türme (2830m), Vergaldner Schneeberg (2832m), Heimspitze (2685m) and Rotbühelspitze (2853m) and high touring in Silvretta to Dreiländerspitze (3197m), Piz Buin (3312m), Jamspitze (3178m), Schneeglocke (3223m) and Silvrettahorn (3244m) which include ski touring on glaciers.

Montafon mountain guides are fully qualified (state examined and authorised) Bergfuhrers and prices (2009/10) are from EUR229-249 for one person to EUR 69-75 for groups of 4-6 people.

One-week ski touring in Montafon

Alpinschule Montafon offer one-week (7 days) high alpine ski touring trips including the Montafoner High Route (Sivretta – Rätikon) from Silvrettasee via Rauhkopf - Wiesbadner Hütte - Piz Buin - Silvrettahütte (CH) - Schneeglocke - Saarbrücknerhütte - Seehörner - Hotel Vergalden (Gargellen) -

Sulzfluh - Lindauer Hütte - Drei Türme - Hueter Hütte - Schesaplana and ending up at Vandans. Cost EUR 530 per person (2009/10) for groups of 3 people. Or 5-day tours costing EUR 415 per person.

Off-piste powder skiing in Montafon

Alpinschule Montafon offer 1-day and 3-day trips skiing deep snow off-piste in Montafon, Graubunden and the Arlberg. Prices (2009/10) for one day are from EUR 225 down to EUR 66 for one person or groups of 4-6 people respectively and from EUR 705 down to EUR 213 for 3-days (staying in huts).

Alpinschule Montafon – Bergfűhrer Montafon
Tel: +43 (0) 664 431 1445
Email: montafon@bergfuehrer.at
Web: www.montafon.bergfuehrer.at (German language website)

Montafon-Guides Silvretta
Tel: +43 (0) 664 102 6028
Email: info@montafon-guides.at
Web: www.montafon-guides.at (German language website)