Mölltaler Gletscher

Mölltaler Gletscher
Surrounded by 30 three-thousand-meter peaks

The only glacier ski area in Carinthia is, as the name suggests, located in the Mölltal and is easily accessible via the southern motorway and the main road. A funicular takes you to the top. Once there, 24.1 kilometers or 210 hectares of slopes await you - there are almost seven kilometers for off-piste skiers. The Wurtenkees glacier around which the ski area is grouped is shrinking, but that does not detract from the fun in the snow. The panoramic view is particularly impressive, offering a clear view of 30 three-thousand-meter peaks - including Austria's highest mountain, the Grossglockner.
The perfectly groomed and very wide slopes from the 3,122 meter high Schareck make the hearts of every carving fan beat faster. But be careful: if you carve down from there to the 2,483 meter high valley station of the Klühspies lift, for example, you should be careful not to get too carried away by the speed. The Alteck chairlift takes you up to 2,751 meters opposite and down some fairly challenging slopes or off-piste attractive alternative routes. You can also ski in open terrain next to the Eissee cable car, although you should definitely pay attention to any avalanche warnings. The condition of the lifts is generally good, only the Schwarzsee 4-seater chairlift (2,108 to 2,384 meters above sea level) gives a somewhat dated impression.

The snow reliability The slopes are also used by numerous international World Cup teams from Austria, Germany, Sweden, Italy and Slovenia, for example, thanks to the good training conditions that the slopes offer. This is a great opportunity for amateurs to watch professionals practise and learn a few skiing tricks. Austria's former top star Marcel Hirscher was just the spearhead of those racers from various nations who train there time and time again. Another pleasant thing about the Mölltal Glacier is that there are usually hardly any queues or waiting times worth mentioning at the lifts, which is not insignificant for the quality of a day's skiing.

The culinary offer Overall, it's OK, although the quantity isn't exactly overwhelming. The centrally located Eissee Restaurant has the character of a mass restaurant, but the quality of the food is OK. On the other hand, the visually appealing and idyllically located Duisburger Hütte - at least during our visit - was less convincing in terms of cuisine. An alternative for anyone who wants something a little more rustic is the Weißsee Hütte. There is also a kiosk at the top station of the funicular - and that's it.
Several years ago, the glacier cable car - like the Ankogel cable car in Mallnitz - was sold to the Slovakian Tatry Mountain Resorts group. Little has changed as a result; except that, as a positive effect, there is now a bus from Ankogel (Mallnitz) to the Mölltal Glacier. The Europabar at the middle station was recently rebranded and the valley station, where there are e-charging stations, was also visually refreshed. And an avalanche dam was built at Alteck. The accommodation options in the region can certainly still be improved. The nearest place with accommodation is Flattach. Either way - the Mölltal Glacier has a lot to offer winter sports fans, and not just because it is unique in Carinthia.