Skiing in Fulpmes – Skiing Schlick 2000

The base station of the Kreuzjochbahn gondola is located above the town of Fulpmes. Motorists arriving in the resort have a choice of paid underground parking or the lower open parking area which is served by a regular ski shuttle.

It is possible to exit the gondola at the mid-station, but the ride to the Kreuzjoch would be worth it just for the panoramas of the Stubai valley and the views of mountain goats or ski tourers negotiating the precipitous rocks under the ski area.

The actual ski area is located in a “hidden valley” on the other side of the mountain ridge from the Stubai valley and under the stunning walls of the Kalkkögel range.

Those new to the ski area may wish to take the long blue motorway piste from the top station and restaurant into the main ski area. An alternative is the red ski route which drops away to the left from the blue run to the side of the steep Kreuzjoch draglift.

(A word of warning however: what appears to be a relatively benign area of bumps soon closes in to an extremely tight gulley through the trees where skiers need to be confident of their ability to turn. This area, is safe conditions, is also frequented by off-piste skiers and boarders.)

The blue run mentioned above leads either to the base of the Kreuzjoch, which returns to the top station, or to the Zirmach draglifts or the much lower Sennjoch chairflift, which both climb to the Sennjoch.

Again, from the Sennjoch, there are some fabulous views down either into the Stubai or Inn valleys. A variety of red runs – with some opportunity for skiing between the pistes – run under the chairlift down to the blue connecting run.

On the other side of the Zirmach drags is another selection of reds (and one easy black) along with the the lovely Burgstall blue run. Beginner skiers may raise both eyebrows at the blue designation but the run is well worth it for the lovely views and environment.

(Skiers may see tracks on the unpisted slopes above the run – please note the Avalanche Danger markers and closure ropes as this area can be very unsafe for those going outside the marked runs in bad conditions.)

The blue and red runs eventually join together on a wide and flattering shallow valley run down to the Schlickeralm and the bottom of the Sennjoch chair.

The route down from here is the way back to the mid-station and, although wide, can be crowded at peak times. There is a small beginners’ area near the mid-station and the somewhat hidden Galtalm draglift with a pleasant – if short – red run to break up the journey back to Fulpmes.

The blue run down to the town is possibly best undertaken in decent conditions and a quiet period – it is a typical forestry road descent with hairpin bends and icy patches if it hasn’t snowed in a while.