Oberstkogel (2728 m) North Couloir from Praxmar

Technical difficulty: 7/10
Fitness: 5/10
Objective danger: 6/10 (some steep skiing)
Landscape: 9/10
Busy: 3/10

One of the most technical and the least visited peaks accessible directly from Praxmar. The north couloir offers a more technical downhill variant.

Starting point: Praxmar 
Ending point: Praxmar
Ascend: 1050vm / 3h
Exposition: North

Route:

From the parking lot, start straight ahead at the next fork in the path, following a gully that leads to the former lift station. From there, ascend the wide slope and traverse diagonally southwest until just before reaching the Schäfalm (this section is identical to the ascent route for the Zischgeles). Shortly before the Schäfalm, turn left and climb broad, not-too-steep alpine pastures heading south toward the short steep sections below the Köllenzeiger.

Traverse diagonally to the right over the first short steep section and reach the open terrain of the Köllenzeiger (2101 m). From there, continue through gently sloping, wide hollows toward a steep rise (at this point, an alternative ascent track often joins from the right, coming diagonally up from the Zischgeles route – note that this route crosses a steep avalanche-prone area!).

Climb this steep section with a few switchbacks until you reach a cluster of cairns (Dreizeiger) directly in front of a small depression. Cross the depression and approach another steep slope, which you ascend on the left (from the perspective of the ascent), and in the middle section, head left out onto the ridge (slightly above where the summer trail branches off from the Praxmar high trail).

From there, continue along the ridgeline in numerous switchbacks heading southwest toward the summit. Before the final steep rise—usually windblown—you leave your skis at a ski depot and hike the remaining distance to the summit on foot.

Descent:

In safe conditions, you can ski straight from the summit into a north/north-east couloir (see picture). At the exit of the couloir join the alpine meadows and slopes coming down from Zischgeles back to Praxmar.

Photos by @bennibru and @the.running.nomad