Off piste Valluga north face | west face | St. Anton to Zuers

Off-Piste Valluga Routes

Access:
The Valluga 2 gondola is only accessible with a guide. Alternatively, you can hike from Valluga 1 (a very steep ascent).

The Valluga is a steep alpine run, and many skiers freeze up as soon as they leave the cable car. The first impression is one of extreme exposure, like an eagle in its nest. The Valluga requires the right conditions to ski safely. In early winter, there is often very little snow, and the snowpack can have a persistent weak layer. Read more about persistent weak layer

Starting Point:
From the top of the Valluga 2 cable car, you have a couple of options to begin your descent:

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Valluga North face:

Start from the cable car with a slight left side slipping turn, maintaining full control, then make a sharp right before the slope becomes extremely steep. Ski toward the rocks on the right-hand side, and from there, traverse hard left to reach the saddle between the Valluga West Face and the North Face.

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North Face “ridge line” to the saddle between West and North Face:

Side-slip along the ridge line on the left side to reach the same saddle mentioned above. This section is partly very exposed, with rocky terrain in places, as you’ll be skiing on an actual ridge line that is often affected by the wind. This line is frequently used when there is a persistent weak layer in the snowpack to avoid the steepest part of the run and to stay clear of the more exposed gully in the middle of the North Face.
From the saddle, traverse 50 meters back into the north-facing slope, and ski down in gentle turns.

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From the saddle between the West face and the north face

Option 1: Descending the West Face:
From the saddle, traverse left into the West Face. This section is often wind-affected, so you may need to side-step over rocks with your skis. From there, follow the most conservative line down towards Zürs, keeping in mind the conditions and terrain.

Option 2: Traverse back into the North Face
From the saddle, traverse about 50 meters to the right where the slope flattens out. Ski gently for around 100 meters until the terrain becomes steeper and rockier. This section can be quite rocky. From there, follow the line to the left, which allows you to continue towards the Pazieljoch.

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Option 3: From the cable car over the ridge line to the bridge:
From the top of the cable car, begin by walking on the north side of the building towards a short via ferrata section, where you have two ropes to hold on to and secure yourself. Hike along the ridgeline over the rocks, similar to a small via ferrata, until you reach the bridge. From there, descend through the couloir

Option 4:
From the top of the cable car, start by skiing hard right around the building and the tower’s iron structure. Traverse across the South Face to the small saddle below the bridge, and then descend via the narrow Bridge Couloir into the West Face.
⚠️ Caution: The traverse on the South Face is often icy and can be challenging for non-professionals. Many skiers become nervous here, leading to poor body positioning, and with a bit of ice on the ski boots, it’s easy to lose a ski—which is the last thing you want to happen in this exposed area.

From Pazieljoch:

From Pazieljoch, many variations are possible. The flattest option takes you along the West Face below the Roggspitze, eventually leading you to Zürs at the bottom station of the Hexenboden chairlift.