"Rachen" ski route

introduction

This is a famous and difficult ski tour that requires really safe conditions and has some very steep sections in the lower part. The popularity of this trip comes a bit from the intimidating name "Rachen" (german for "throat" or "abyss")

Getting to the hut

To Tschagguns in the austrian Montafon valley see main page. At the upper part of the village called Latschau (994 m) there is a parking at the reservoir of the hydroelectric power station and the station of the cablecar to the Golmer Joch.
Along the Gauertal valley leads a gentle ascent along the little road (Ratrac trail in winter). The last part is in the forest where you can shorten the bends.
Time to Lindauer hut (1764 m) (details see also main page) is about 2,5 h from Latschau. In spring the hut is probably not guided or perhaps only on weekends. then you can use the open self-service room with 20 places.

Route Description

Best is to follow the road back and down until the first meadows. (Going directly through the Porzalenga forest has man ups and downs and does not spare time). At P. 1684 (swiss map) east of the lowest rocks of the Sulzfluh the ascent starts very steep to the upper right above these rocks. Then turn left and climb between some bushes the steepest part (shortly 40 degrees, I would estimate), then a bit less steep until you reach the plateau at the bottom of the "Rachen". Climb this steep slope between the walls and turn right at the upper part to reach the upper gentle slopes and the backside of the fore-summit of P. 2710. The last ascent brings you to the ridge where ski are left. The final meters to the summit cross are easy rocks
4 h from Lindauer hut

downhill

downhill on the same route. Other possilbilies are through Gemstobel to St. Antoenien in Switzerland (most popular ski route)

Essential Gear

normal equipment for a ski trip: ski, sticks, furs, showel, avalanche transceiver
If the lower steep slope is hard, an ice axe and crampons may be useful.

best time

normally conditions for this trip are not safe enough before March. But exeptions are possible - so you have to decide according to the avalanche bulletin
- of Vorarlberg (Austria) or
- of Nord- und Mittelbünden (Switzerland)

Miscellaneous Info

If you have information about this route that doesn't pertain to any of the other sections, please add it here.

Images

View "Rachen" ski route Image Gallery - 8 Images