Skitourenführer Kitzbüheler Alpen

Scope and structure

This third edition (2025) of Markus Stadler’s Kitzbüheler Alpen guide zeroes in on ski touring and ski mountaineering across the broad “grass mountains” between the Inn valley and the Saalach. The book is organized valley by valley—Zillertal, Alpbachtal, Wildschönau, Kelchsau, Windautal, Spertental, Jochbergtal, Fieberbrunn, Saalbach‑Hinterglemm, and the Oberpinzgau (East/West)—with concise intros to access, parking, and local logistics. A substantial “How to use this guide” section explains grading, abbreviations, avalanche considerations, best season, and GPS use, setting expectations before you dive into the routes.

Coverage and route quality

With roughly 180 tours ranging from mellow classics to steeper ZS outings, the selection suits most tourers: think easy-angled meadows and rounded ridges for powder days, plus a handful of more demanding summits. Kelchsau stands out as a dense playground (e.g., Schafsiedel, Kröndlhorn, Molterfeldgeier), while Saalbach‑Hinterglemm and Jochbergtal add lift-adjacent options when snow or time is limited. Each chapter balances well‑trodden favorites with quieter lines deeper in the valleys—useful for avoiding tracked-out “mode tours” after high‑pressure spells.

Mapping, safety, and usability

Route descriptions are tight and field‑tested, supported by clear aerial overviews and photo lines that highlight ascent variants and safe exit options. The summary tables are excellent for planning: difficulty, aspect, vertical gain, distance, time, and an avalanche exposure indicator appear at a glance. Ethical and safety pages cover wildlife-friendly touring and piste‑touring rules, a welcome inclusion for a heavily skied region. A unique strength is the included download code for GPS tracks; pairing these with the recommended DAV Skitourenkarten 34/1 (Kitzbüheler Alpen West) and 34/2 (Ost) makes navigation straightforward.

Who will benefit

• Beginners and intermediates seeking forgiving terrain and reliable snow layouts.
• Fit tourers eyeing hut-based days around the Neue Bamberger Hütte.
• Powder hunters looking for aspect options during variable conditions.
• Visitors combining touring with resort days around Kitzbühel and Saalbach.

Verdict

Panico’s Kitzbüheler Alpen delivers a thorough, field‑savvy portrait of one of Austria’s most versatile touring arenas. Its valley structure, planning tables, GPS downloads, and thoughtful safety guidance make it a standout practical companion. Highly recommended for anyone planning a ski-touring trip to the Kitzbühel Alps, from first-time visitors to repeat explorers.

Details

Weight

460g

Pages

336

Publisher

Panico Alpinverlag