Egger Berg, 2280 m

Popular approach and alternative tour in the Brenner region

The mountain ridge that separates the Gschnitztal and the Obernbergtal features ski touring terrain typical of a brochure on its entire south and east sides. Open alpine meadows interspersed with sparse larch forests, here and there a mountain farm, and above the tree line many decorative hay barns. The slope gradient rarely exceeds 30 degrees but is almost always steep enough to enjoy smooth turns in firn or powder snow. When heading up the Wipptal, the Nösslachjoch marks the start of this mountain ridge (see variant). The ski touring idyll is marred here by the ski area, which extends from the north almost to the summit. The next summit to the southwest is the Egger Berg. It can only be climbed under one's own power, so the tourers here are mostly on their own.
But what reason should Bavarian tourers have to ascend the Egger Berg? An inconspicuous hill, surrounded by far more impressive peaks, hardly a showpiece mountain – but requiring a disproportionately long approach? The main reason is definitely the location of the starting point directly on the Brenner motorway. This makes the half-day tour ideal for travel or return days to and from the southern Alpine touring areas. Those who do not want to get up very early will be too late for longer tours in the southern Alps. So the Egger Berg can be quickly slipped in, and you are still comfortably back in your accommodation in the Dolomites, the Ahrntal, or wherever by evening. Additionally, the mountain is suitable as an avalanche-safe and easy alternative if you have planned longer tours in the area but conditions do not allow it. Since the ascent has hardly any steep slopes but is always well tracked, it offers itself as an alternative.