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Austria: Backcountry Skiing - Ankogel

Quite a large group gathered in Bistrica pri Tržiču and together we drove to Malnitz area. We were a little bit early at the ticket office, where we wanted to buy ski passes for Ankogel cable car, so we waited. Quite an expensive ticket, 29.5€ each, took us to 2636 meters above sea level and from there we started our backcountry skiing tour. At first we descended a little bit and then we continued in a foggy weather towards the Kleine Ankogel, 3096 m. The weather changed its face and we were hugged by the Sun. We regrouped at Kleine Ankogel and then we slowly conquered our main goal, Ankogel, 3252 m. Cameras were soon in our hands, photographing all directions and angles. Soon we descended back to Kleine Ankogel, where we made a group photo and then the group split. I joined the group that skied from Kleine Ankogel all the way to train station in Böckstein, so rougly a 1800 meters of descent. The next train back to Malnitz was cancelled due to repairs because of the fire, so we had to wait one hour longer and since our backpacks were without any beer and there wasn't any bar or shop nearby, we simply waited. Train arrived and on the other side of the mountain our cars were waiting for us, hydration was soon successful and so was the whole trip.

My previous attempt to Ankogel, that failed - 14513.

Not promising at the beginning.

After a while, the sky cleared.

We came right out of the fog.

Our plan, skiing in the valley that is clear of the fog and a view to Veliki Klek - Grossglockner.

Arriving to the Kleine Ankogel, 3096 m.

The summit of Ankogel isn't far away.

Sea in the mountains.

Tuši and Ana on the way to the top.

Anže and Tuši on the summit.

Nearby mountains.

One more photo from the summit.

Tauern Queen - Hochalmspitze, 3360 m.

Exploring the ridge around the summit.

 

Ski wax for the skier.

One more photo of our today's summit.

Group photo.

Skiing time.

 

After a long descent we finally got onto the train, that took us from Austrian federal state of Salzburg back to Koroška - Garmin Connect.

Geocaches found (all received a visit by trackable items "Magic: The Gathering, Rivals of Ixalan Trackable: Vampire Die Bonbon Dose", TB8Q8AY, Chakkuri's Community Volunteer Travel Tag, TB676DY and "Get a photo of a tree", TB8JV00):

- Kleiner Ankogel 3.096 m, GC62K9Q

- Franz Josephs Tunnelportal, GC1A0M0

- ÖBB Infobox, GC99YC4

#backcountryskiing #mountains #HighTauern  #geocaching