Powder Alert on the Arlberg: Five Deep-Snow Slopes without a Climb

Deep-snow skiing on the Arlberg – where can you find the finest deep-snow slopes without a climb? The Arlmont Hotel reveals five freeride descents in St. Anton, Arlberg

Since then, for many winter sports enthusiasts, it has become far more a way of life than a trend. Around St. Anton am Arlberg, the fascination of deep snow can be experienced quite literally. Anyone wanting to know where the finest powder slopes are waiting shouldn't miss the following lines. Because the best thing about the deep-snow paradise of St. Anton is that numerous powder slopes can be reached by lift, without any strenuous climb.

Just because the suggested slopes can be reached by anyone, however, doesn't mean everyone should attempt a descent. Only truly experienced skiers will enjoy off-piste skiing. It's also important not to forget one thing: venturing into open terrain means leaving the marked ski area. You are then solely responsible for your own safety, and must also assess the risk of avalanches yourself.

Mattun & Schindlerhänge: a powder challenge for true experts

Fancy being an early bird in the powder? From Hotel Arlmont, located right in the heart of St. Anton am Arlberg and yet also right on the ski slopes, that’s exactly what you can do! Take the Nassereinbahn up to the Gampen, then the chairlift up to the Kapall at 2.330 m. From there, head onto the open terrain, or more precisely, the Mattun: wide slopes with varying gradients lead down into the Steißbach valley, through which a blue piste runs. From there, you have several options. Either cruise down to the valley towards the Galzigbahn or Gampenbahn in a relaxed manner, or, if you still feel the adrenaline from the powder, tackle the route again. With the Mattun and Kapall lifts, you’re back at the summit in no time. In the Mattun, incidentally, you can set yourself an excellent challenge by trying to complete the entire run non-stop. Depending on the snow conditions, this requires a great deal of stamina, strength and, above all, the right technique!

An alternative after the Mattun run opens up after a ride on the Zammermoosbahn chairlift up to the Galzig. From there, simply try out the new Schindlergrat chairlift, enjoy the sweeping panorama during the ride, and further off-piste variants soon present themselves. The terrain here is completely free of trees. Steep slopes east of the chairlift – known as the Schindlerhänge – lead back onto the groomed piste. From there, the Schindlergratbahn takes you back up to the top. Naturally, the other side of the Schindlerhänge also needs to be tried, and the Schweinströge west of the lift are equally tempting. Due to their gradient, however, they should only be chosen by true experts.

Bachseite: An off-piste run for in between

The Bachseite is perfect for a quick foray into the powder. From the 2.185 m Galzig, you head towards the black Kandahar piste, but before it drops away steeply, you turn left to the north into the Bachseite.

A steep, short powder run eventually leads into an easy piste in the Steißbachtal. From there you can either head down into the valley or take the Zammermoosbahn chairlift back up to the Galzig.

In the south of St. Anton, too, off-piste variants open up at Rendl. To reach them, take the Rendlbahn from the village centre and then board the Rifflbahn I and II. After that, you cross a short slope and the vast expanses of the Rossfall slopes open up before you. A somewhat longer deep-snow run takes you to the Maaßlift.

Madloch: A day trip into the deep-snow expanses of the Arlberg

Fancy something more? Then a day trip to Madloch is highly recommended. Even the journey there is a pleasure in itself – after all, groomed pistes have their own charm too. So simply let the skis run and enjoy a bit of carving. First, the Schindlergratbahn takes deep-snow fans from the St. Anton ski area on a long descent past the Ulmerhütte towards Stuben. After a ride on the Flexenbahn, which connects St. Anton am Arlberg with Lech-Zürs, the freeride slopes of Madloch are almost within reach. Down to Zürs, then up the Seekopf chairlift, and all that remains is the lift up to the Madloch Joch. A short stretch of piste leads to the entrance to the terrain at Madloch-Mitte. You could almost forget you're in a ski area at all, since there is nothing but snow-capped mountains as far as the eye can see. After the off-piste descent, once you reach the valley station in Zug, the chairlift carries you on into the Lech ski area. From Lech, the Rüfibahn heads towards Zürs, and the familiar Flexenbahn finally brings you back to the ski area at St. Anton.

Safety first, powder fun second

Deep-snow skiing is a creative game played with alpine terrain and snow. But you can only join in if you follow certain rules: the basic requirements are knowledge of alpine conditions, good technique and the ability to judge your own limits. That's because powder skiing means leaving the secured ski area. That is precisely the special appeal – one that can quickly turn into a danger for inexperienced and uninformed winter sports enthusiasts. So it's “safety first” – especially when you can hardly wait to try the spectacular freeride variants. Full avalanche equipment is essential! And anyone who wants to play it safe can do so in St. Anton am Arlberg accompanied by an alpine guide. It's a decision well worth making, if only because, quite logically, there are no markings whatsoever in off-piste terrain.

Deep-snow base camp with ****S

Fresh powder is a precious commodity, and the same rule applies throughout the Arlberg: first come, first served – with the right amount of fresh snow, you can be the one to lay the first tracks down the slope. If new snow takes its time, the slopes turn into challenging mogul runs within a few days and become a training ground for honing your own technique. The ideal base for reaching the pistes in general, and the deep snow in particular, as quickly as possible is Hotel Arlmont in St. Anton am Arlberg – just as ideal, of course, when your thighs are truly burning after an adventurous day in metre-deep powder snow. That's when warmth and relaxation in the hotel's own spa area come to the rescue. From the RoofTop Pool you have the perfect view of the Arlberg's peaks. The perfect setting for planning your next powder tour!

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Your ****S powder skiing base

Fresh powder is precious, and the following applies to the Arlberg: Whoever comes first can - with the appropriate amount of fresh snow - make the first tracks. If there is no new snow available, the slopes will turn into challenging mogul pistes after a few days and become a training area for refining your technique. The Hotel Arlmont in St. Anton am Arlberg provides fast access to the slopes in general and powder in particular. The hotel’s wellness area is wonderful to relax after an adventurous day in metre-high powder snow. And soaking your burning thighs in the rooftop pool while taking in gorgeous vistas of the Arlberg is the perfect ambience for planning your next powder tour!