From the mountain station of the Ankogel cable car, trudge 10 meters up into a saddle just behind the building on the left. From here, cross the south-facing slopes as high as possible towards the top station of the T-bar. The traverse ends in a shallow hollow above the drag lift, directly below the obvious Ebeneckscharte. Here you put on your skins and ascend approx. 150 vertical meters into the saddle. This is where the 1,400-metre descent through the north-facing Knallkar begins.
Crossing to the Ebeneckscharte
Crossing to the Ebeneckscharte
From the saddle, turn slightly to the right into the Knallkar and you are at the start of the north slope, which is a good 400 meters long. The entrance is briefly around 40° steep, the large north slope has a 35° gradient. Perfect skiing terrain and a unique descent amidst impressive and rocky north face scenery.
After the first slope, the terrain becomes somewhat flatter at around 2,100 m and you can give your thighs a breather. Here you cross briefly to the left and reach the entrance to a wide, gully-like valley. Follow this and finally reach gently inclined slopes. These lead in a fall line directly to the stream or, keeping left, further out of the valley through sparse forest. As this provides a few more meters of descent, always keep left on the left side of the stream further out of the valley. Cross the stream at a suitable point at approx. 1,600 m and you will reach the Radeckalm in just a few minutes.
From here, follow the summer trail and later the forest road out of the valley. Apart from a few short skating sections, the Anlauftal runs smoothly out to Böckstein. From reaching the bottom of the valley to Böckstein station, you should allow around 45 minutes.
Tip: An ideal base for a freeride weekend is the Hannover-Haus: it is located just 100 meters below the mountain station of the gondola. From here, you can reach the freeride tour to Knallkar, the larger freeride tour to Ankogel and a bunch of easy runs in the ski resort. The absolute bonus: while everyone else is waiting in line for the lift ticket, you're already on your way or just entering the first run directly from the hut's terrace. And you're even well-fed after a relaxed hut breakfast.
Further information about the area in TouringTip Ankogel and SpotCheck Freeride Ankogel.
Difficulty: ***
Starting point: Böckstein train station or Hannover Haus
Altitude difference ascent | descent: 150 m | 1.400 m
Maximum gradient: 40°, short section at the entrance to the Knallkar
Requirements: Technically, the descent through the Knallkar does not present any major difficulties. However, slopes of 35-40° should be mastered. The steep entrance and consistently steep slopes in the Knallkar require safe avalanche conditions.
Base:Hannover Haus of the German Alpine Club (2,566 m). The hut is ideally located just below the mountain station of the Ankogel cable car. It is a good idea to use this hut as a freeride base for a freeride weekend. You'll always be the first to make fresh tracks in the ski area or set off towards the Ankogel.
Logistics: The tour through the Knallkar requires some planning, as the starting point and end point of the tour are not the same. Coming from the north, leave your car at Böckstein train station and take the train through the "Tauernschleuse". In 10 minutes you reach Mallnitz on the other side of the main Alpine ridge; a ski bus takes you directly to the valley station of the gondola in another 10 minutes. If you want to return to Hannover Haus for another day of freeriding, you'll have to adjust your departure to the train times, as it only runs every hour.
Maps: Alpine Club Map 44 / Hochalmspitze-Ankogel, 1:25,000
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