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Ski Touring
· Mürzsteg Alps
The Schafries on the Schneealpe (steep descent)
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View from Lurgbauer towards Steingraben – the Schafries is not visible herePhoto: Wolfgang Drexler, Alpenverein Gebirgsverein
The Schafries on the Schneealpe is purely south-facing and therefore only feasible in winters with locally good snow conditions. However, when there is snow in the Ries, it stays longer there due to shading from the western and eastern couloir boundaries than, for example, on the neighboring Heualm below the Schauerwand or at the Lohmstein.
The Schafries is also a "steep couloir with forest road connection," which makes the approach and return to the start point quite easy.
The entrance to the Schafries starts on a flat saddle just below the Schneealpe plateau. If you are not familiar with the area or the route from the ascent, you can easily miss this entrance and at best end up somewhere in the upper Blarergraben.
The ascent through the Schafries is really magnificent in terms of scenery!
The couloir is well visible and not threatened by high rock walls with significant rockfall danger (like, for example, the Lahning couloir).
The exit onto the plateau is relatively easy and does not feature extremely steep summit cornices (unlike the Geierkogel NE couloir).
On the approach via the shady "Forstweg Steingraben," the snow stays on the ground quite long and it is usually not necessary to carry the skis for long distances on your back (unlike the Stofferkar couloir). The lowest couloir outlet thaws first when only a little avalanche snow has accumulated there.
The steepest and narrowest section is located (unlike in the Blechmauern couloir) in the middle of the Schafries and has snow as long as its other sections. For a ski descent, however, this narrow section is still a real challenge, since over about 20 vertical meters it has a skiable width of significantly less than 2 meters with a slope angle of nearly 50 degrees. Without this section, the Schafries would be the prototype of an ideal steep couloir – but everyone must somehow get through it due to the narrow section…
Author’s recommendation
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Track types
Safety information
In a steep couloir there is undoubtedly always a higher objective risk than on a normal ski tour. In addition to the avalanche situation relevant everywhere, here especially the danger of rockfalls and icefalls applies. Also, with hard snow conditions, particularly at the narrow section of the Schafries, there can be a risk of falling.
It is therefore essential to keep all these factors simultaneously and constantly under close observation throughout the entire ascent and descent through the couloir!
The ascent should also take place as far right as possible in the upper part of the couloir as icefall from breaking cornices on the left can threaten.
Tips and suggestions
Lahning couloir, Blechmauern couloir, Geierkogel NE couloir and Stofferkar couloir;
"Family descent" from the Schneealpe through the Grubbichlwald
Roadbook
At Lurgbauer, take the "Forstweg Steingraben," which leaves Lohmgraben westward. After the first left bend, the forest road crosses the summer trail, which you can follow for a short distance through the forest to shortcut the following very flat right bend. Afterwards, stay on the forest road and at a fork after the next double bend keep right. The path leads diagonally uphill and from here straight to the outlet of the Schafries. Just before it, a new path branches off to the left (uphill) leading up to the summer parking lot of the Michlbauer toll road, but continue straight ahead and reach a wide scree cone at the end of the road directly below the Schafries.
As far as snow conditions allow, climb up the scree cone with climbing skins, then put the skis on your backpack and proceed on foot directly towards the couloir and up through it, with the narrow section posing no difficulties during the ascent.
After the steep narrowing, the couloir becomes flatter again and you reach a small saddle. Beyond this saddle, the terrain descends to the right towards the Blarergraben, diagonally up to the left the edge of the Schneealpen plateau is reached, either on foot or with skis already strapped on again. From the plateau edge, it is finally not far to the Schneealpenhaus.
The descent essentially follows the ascent line, with care to cross far enough right from the plateau to the saddle with the actual couloir entrance. The steep narrow section of the Schafries is probably only really "skiable" with short skis or spring snow gliders; with normal skis, you are more likely to slip sideways or descend this passage on foot (possibly also with skis on your backpack).
Both the upper part of the Schafries and the second half below the narrow section can offer a wonderful spring snow descent.
Public transport
No connection.Directions
S6 to Mürzzuschlag exit, B23 towards Neuberg an der Mürz, in Kapellen turnoff towards Preiner Gscheid/Altenberg and 1 km later turnoff north towards Altenberg; in Altenberg turn left into Lohmgraben and in the ravine to the parking spot at the fork into Steingraben before the Lurgbauer farm.Parking
Directly at the fork into Steingraben there is winter parking for some vehicles on the left in the meadow, which is usually cleared.Coordinates
Equipment
AVALANCHE transceiver, shovel, probe, and usual ski touring equipment.
Every backpack should contain: rain, cold, and sun protection, first aid kit, sufficient fluids, and a regional hiking map.
Crampons are usually required for the ascent through the Schafries, and a rockfall helmet is also recommended.
Localization
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
User Questions