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Ski Touring
· Mürzsteg Alps
Hohe Waxenegg: Ahorngraben and eastern northern gully
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Ascent track on the shady north side of Waxenegg – in the background the snack station LeitnerPhoto: Wolfgang Drexler, Alpenverein Gebirgsverein
The Hohe Waxenegg shows very different faces in winter:
The standard descent on the north side leads over old clearings and weakly pronounced gullies near the ascent track into the valley and is also suitable for less experienced skiers. It lies completely in the shade, so good powder snow often lasts quite a long time. However, the northern slopes are often badly affected by the wind. The remaining snow is then highly compressed down to far below. In such a case, you might prefer to descend from the Taborsattel east back into the valley of the kalte Mürz.
On the other hand, the beautiful south slopes directly below the summit lie in the sun all day. It often takes only a few days there for a pronounced hard crust to form on fresh new snow. If it is warm enough, the crust softens around noon and can then be quite rideable again. In spring, the south descent from the summit towards the Ahorngraben often offers wonderful firn already in the morning.
The two northern gullies, however, can only be skied under very safe conditions and with sufficient snow. Due to their steepness and several narrow sections, they are also only suitable for experienced and rather daring skiers. For this, the powder snow lasts the longest here. With a bit of luck, after a nice firn descent into the Ahorngraben including re-ascent to the summit in the northern gully, one can float down in perfect powder...
Author’s recommendation
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Track types
Safety information
The entry into the eastern northern gully is extremely steep and often drifted with snow. There is often avalanche danger here.
Due to the steepness, loose snow avalanches can also occur in both northern gullies.
Tips and suggestions
At the same starting point, at Jausenstation Leitner, also begins a rarely done route on the Windberg with the Dirtlerschlucht.
A bit further north lies the Göller with the Schindlergraben.
Roadbook
Behind the bridge over the stream at the Jausenstation Leitner, turn right at the timber storage area and walk about 200 m level downstream over a meadow to a clear gap in the forest on the left. Through this gap, you reach quite steeply the lower end of a wide clearing, through which the ascent track is laid out as evenly as possible with few switchbacks depending on the snow conditions, orienting yourself rather on the uphill left edge until you reach a forest road at a striking rock formation, which is clearly visible even in winter. Follow the road a few meters to the right and then leave it at the bend to the left and upward, ascending again rather on the left edge of the clearing. Passing between fallen tree trunks, you reach another path, often only recognizable as a snow ramp, and turn diagonally to the right upward, just before a pronounced gully to reach the forest edge. Through sparse woodland, you finally reach the ridge above the Waxenegg hut.
Along the ridge (or slightly north of it) continue eastwards up to the summit of the Hohe Waxenegg.
From the summit, depending on snow conditions, descend directly south towards the Taborsattel or southwest to the lower end of the open terrain in the Ahorngraben.
Before the ascent again, find a sheltered spot for a break among one of the beautiful groups of trees here.
The ascent leads through sparse woodland uphill to the north and above that diagonally to the west, where you see the Waxenegg hut (private) and first head there, but then turn into a hollow to the right and pass by snow cornices to reach the ridge again, which leads back up to the summit.
The entry to the eastern northern gully lies just behind the summit in a faintly pronounced notch. Initially, during the descent, keep more to the right edge of the gullies to avoid any snow drifts below the summit. Then, it goes very steeply and basically following the fall line down through the gully. At about 1300 m, a forest road is crossed, which can be used as an emergency exit to the left towards the ascent track, although it involves an uphill section.
In the lower area, both northern gullies are overgrown with dense underbrush, which can cause difficulties for ski descents when there is little snow.
After another forest road crossing, you reach the flat exit of the eastern northern gully, which turns left towards the end and goes through dense bushes to the riding path in the valley of the kalte Mürz, which you follow back to the starting point.
Public transport
No connectionDirections
S6 to the Mürzzuschlag exit, B23 via Neuberg an der Mürz to Mürzsteg and further towards Frein/Lahnsattel to the Neuwald junction.
If you come from Lahnsattel on the B23, you reach the Neuwald junction before Frein.
At the junction into the valley and up to the driving ban at the Jausenstation Leitner.
Parking
If you plan to stop at the Jausenstation Leitner after the tour, you can use the customer parking lot directly in front of the house.
Otherwise, there is a timber storage area behind the driving ban on the other side of the stream, which is usually cleared in winter and can be used for parking.
Coordinates
Equipment
Transceiver, shovel, probe, and the usual ski touring equipment.
Every backpack should contain: cold and sun protection, first aid kit, enough fluids, and a hiking map of the region.
Localization
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
User Questions