Nockberge Trail Firn­enjoyment in March

I extend the hiking and climbing season well into November and always get very nervous when the snow for ski touring starts to run out at the end of April.

In recent years I’ve got the impression that my type has the advantage: very late snowfalls have invited me on sunny hikes high up in December, while in March the mountains are full of snow. It almost seems (without ever looking at stats on it) that the seasons are all getting pushed back a bit. The meteorologist might gasp at such a statement, but I’m not the only one who feels this way.

Here we go! Four great stages from Katschberg to Bad Kleinkirchheim await you on the Nockberge Trail in March. © Kärnten Werbung, Photographer: Franz Gerdl

March – i.e. the last of the three suitable months of January, February and March – is often an ideal month for the Nockberge Trail, not only because of the often considerable amounts of snow:
The days are a lot longer, so you can take your time – always keeping an eye on the softening of the snow cover during the day, of course. With the often warmer temperatures and stronger sunshine again, you just like to sit and enjoy the view. But not only the temperatures are more pleasant on average. In my experience, the wind in March often has much less influence than in January and February. And less wind not only means more comfortable walking, but often also has a positive effect on snow quality.

You don’t have to wait until sunset like here on the Falkert (as an additional feasible summit shortly before the end of the 3rd stage) to collect fantastic impressions on the Nockberge Trail. © Kärnten Werbung, Photographer: Tine Steinthaler

Speaking of snow quality:
Everyone always talks about powder, but I personally love firn. Gliding along on a butter-soft surface without much effort is just something beautiful. And the Nockberge Trail is ideal for this: its often south-facing ski slopes are ideal for firn descents. Sure, only if the weather cooperates – but the conditions for this are good in March with mostly cold nights and strong sunshine during the day. Of course, with firn you only have a small daily window for ideal conditions that are not too hard and not too soft. With a bit of flexibility in the choice of slopes, you can, with a few exceptions, adapt your descents quite well to the warming of the day on the Nockberge Trail. Are you wondering whether there is still enough snow on the Nockberge Trail in March? Luckily we can’t play the weather gods yet – we are happy to hand over this responsibility. But the conditions for this are excellent on the Nockberge Trail: Consistently high starting points between 1,550 and 1,850 m above sea level guarantee good snow conditions until the end of March.

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Speaking of snow quality: everyone is talking about powder, but I personally love firn!

Only the final descent on the last stage to Bad Kleinkirchheim takes you down to 1,100 m above sea level. However, this last descent on your ski crossing of the Nockberge is on a piste, so you will always have good snow conditions. And what could be nicer than at the end of a great multi-day ski tour than descending through a still wintry high mountain range into spring, where the first plants are slowly beginning to sprout as a harbinger of summer? All important information about the Nockberge Trail here!

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