Wildspitze, Ötztal Alps
Wildspitze Nordwand
After our first tour together earlier in the year, Evelyn and I made plans for a big day out to this mini-north face route on the second highest peak in Austria.
We caught the first lift up through the tunnel in the mountain and raced down to the glacier, only to find we would be likely alone on the nordwand as the crowds headed around the corner towards the normal route. Breaking trail through the deep powder was hard work, although the crux of the route proved to be a large step across the bergschrund that needed an ice screw to protect. Shortly later we were overtaken by a band of cavalier Romanians, whom we followed to the traverse over and down to Vent. A hard, tiring ski out for tired legs and an aching head.
