Backcountry skiing routes in Austria

In the west of Austria there are countless ski areas where you can make your tracks in the snow off-piste in the open countryside and on ski routes. In Vorarlberg, the Montafon is one of the top addresses for all powder freaks. In the Silvretta Arena, there are countless downhill runs that get a thick pack of snow, especially after north-west weather conditions.

But the cradle of freeriding in Österreich is undoubtedly the area around the Arlberg on the border of Vorarlberg and Tyrol. The perfect terrain, the high snow reliability and the many ski routes always attract many powder fans here, so you have to get up early. At the same time, the area is so big that even if you're a morning grouch, you still have a good chance of finding untracked snow if you're equipped with skins. Whether in Stuben, Lech or Sankt Anton, the Arlberg is a great base for your freeride trip to Austria.

Other hot tips for cool runs in Tyrol are Fieberbrunn and the Stubai Glacier. While the pros of the Freeride World Tour stop off in Fieberbrunn every year, the Stubai Glacier is the perfect terrain to make your first turns in high alpine terrain. There are several official ski routes here and the Freeride Center Stubai is also a place to go for anyone looking for a guide.

Mrs. Holle often means well for the Salzburger Land. Then almost every area beckons with easy runs, but don't take too long. Most freeriders can be found in Obertauern, in Zauchensee and in Kaprun on the Kitzsteinhorn. Especially on the Kitzsteinhorn you will also find beginner-friendly runs and, with the Freeride Info Base, always up-to-date information on the conditions. Runs like Ice Age or Westside Story are sure to put a big smile on your face.

Also in Bad Gastein and Sportgastein, the highest skiing area without a glacier in the Salzburger Land, you will find many skiers and snowboarders with their powder skis and boards. Those who have the necessary experience can also undertake challenging descents from Mallnitz or the Mölltaler Gletscher far off the beaten track.

Yes, on good days you can also unpack the freeride slats on the Rax in Lower Austria, but unfortunately such days don't come around too often anymore. Most of the time you have to go a bit further west to have a chance of a good snow cover with a loose powder layer. The first spot that is regularly visited by freeriders from the east of Austria is the Salzkammergut and Ausseerland region. Here lies the family ski area of Tauplitz, which also offers beautiful off-piste terrain and is ideal for improving step by step.

A little further west is the Krippenstein near Obertraun, which offers great variations but requires good area knowledge due to the many sinkholes and slopes – so it's best to take a guide to show you the nicest runs. On the Styrian side of the Dachstein, you can reach challenging runs with the Dachstein-Südwandbahn in Ramsau. Classics like the Edelgrieß however, can only be reached after a little climbing.

For freeriding, you first need the right ski or snowboard equipment. So far so simple and no difference to skiing on the slopes. In order to be safe on the slopes, however, the following equipment is essential:

• Backpack: Backpack with airbag system or classic backpack to store everything
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• Avalanche beacon: Colloquially known as a „beep“, this device helps you to find yourself or others in the event of an avalanche – Important: You have to learn how to use it! We strongly recommend taking a course!
• Shovel and probe: The probe can be used to locate the victim precisely and the shovel can be used to dig him out
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• Never go into the open without a helmet!
• Mobile phone: Important for informing help in case of emergency and for orientation (it is best to create a map with slope layer offline in the Outdooractive app)
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Before every freeride day, you need to plan carefully. The following things must be taken into account:

• Avalanche danger
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• Weather forecast

On Outdooractive you can check the current avalanche situation, the weather forecast and also the snow cover – it is best to take some time the evening before to check the conditions and also download the map section of the area with slope layer.