Hiking in the mist!

Mid-November has been as epic as last year. Only this week I have had three amazing ski days! First few days in Stubai and the climax of the week; first hike of the season in Kaunertal. The second day in Stubai was incredible deep. It proved my opinion of chest mount for GoPro faulty: there is no point filming when 60% of the time the camera is under snow. My new favorite is using the ventilation mount on backpack's shoulder pads!

Wednesday morning was one of the most foggiest drives up to a glacier I have had. Luckily most of the clouds were down in the valley and there was some visibility above 2000meters. Snow wasn't extremely fresh but we were still able to score some good lines. All in all, another great early season day!

Friday morning I wasn't expecting anything special - 10 cm of new snow at max. Yet again I was wrong, there was at least 30cm of fresh snow - Faceshots one after another. So much snow has its way of reminding you to not get too excited. Luckily the small mistakes done were not fatal, even though they left us with a scratched butt and a swollen knee.

Saturday was my first day in Kaunertal. The area has some really interesting terrain! Many accessible coulairs and other interesting lines. I was skiing with my Danish friend Martin and he completely crushed me. I have never felt so slow in my life. The first boot back was easy 10minutes for a great coulair with superb snow! (See video) The second line took us - or to be honest me - about 2 hours. And I have to say it was an interesting adventure. If I had known the terrain better I might have done different route choices! Nevertheless, it ended up to be a great peek into what the season is going to be all about!

A short and rough edit of the early season skiing! More and higher quality coming later this season!

- Pave

There is always something good about something bad!

The day started early.... apparently not early enough. Leaving Innsbruck with expectations of tracked runs and hard snow the first hurdle we met was lines. When I say lines I mean really long lines. The kind of line that even impresses the lift personnel.  People pushing forward where no way could be made shouting and muttering under their breaths in various languages the mood was low to start with. There is something completely European in the idea that to get ones own child in a gondola 3 minutes earlier, so that they can practice their shitty slalom technique, parents are willing to push 8-year-olds against concrete walls. These situations reminds me why I prefer to tour and be in the middle of nowhere, instead of being exposed to the absolute disregard of common courtesy that I witnessed today.

Skiing tracked snow makes me grumpy - there seems to be no explanation for the reason why. The guys have given me a motto: "If it's not over 20cm. I'm not into it." Thinking rationally, it is excellent exercise to ski bumps and avoid sharks. Ones brain has to focus way more on the terrain which in turn trains the "skier's eye." In addition, no matter what we do the society is pushing us more and more into communistic thinking. There is less room for being creative. Skiing in tracked conditions forces us to be innovative, to search for lines or even for small bumps to launch off from.

 
The funny thing is that when one is forced to be creative in order to have fun with enough effort and commitment forces us as skiers to find "fun" in the little things. That is what we did today, took all the bad and played with it till it became fun. We go skiing because we love it, days like today solidify that even skiing on rocks and bumped out snow, we at heart are skiers and what skiers do is ski. Its still early in the season and the days of sliding on snow that we are gifted now are a bonus to what is coming. I think that I learned a lot about being grateful for the little things. Three turns in crud are better then no turns at all.
 

It is a gift to be able to spend time with people who share the same feelings and opinions. That is the reason we will always be singing while booting up for a spot and smiling for the camera on the way home!