Ski Touring Schattwald

Once again borrowed a touring ski set in Pfronten for the weekend. Maybe the last time for this winter as it is rather expensive and I need to save for Australia. I had agreed to go with Sebastian again, as he had a super tour planned for today and his gear was up to scratch again.

I got up to have some breakfast and there was a message from Daniel that he would like to come along, as well. So he got down mums touring skies and we adjusted them to fit to his ski boots. Took a while but we managed just in time as Sebastian pulled in to our drive. Set of towards Tannheimer Tal, as Nesselwang was drowning under clouds with no sun and there tends to be more sun over there. Arrived in Schattwald and went up the first section with the lift before we got to touring. Lovely view in to Tannheim with the clouds stuck over Germany in the background. Went up towards the Kühgundkopf and had the sun shining down on to us. It was warm most of the way. We have had minus degrees here for the past few days with a cold east wind blowing over. The surrounding mountains were protecting us from that most of the way but when we got near to the top it hit us again. Incredible temperature drop, but the trees where all nicely frozen over. Arrived at the cross after a load of picture stops and pointed turns and were greeted with a view over a sea of clouds. Had a short stop before we carried on along the ridge. Met an old associate of Wastl at the top, someone he had not seen for two years so that was a surprise.

We had some tee and food at the top in a wind protected are before the skins came off our skies and we went down. Down through nearly untouched snow, even if the sun had shone on it a bit, very difficult to describe that felling in words but “incredible” gets it rather well. Arrived at the bottom and got our furs back on for a short way up towards the Bschießer. Didn't go all the way and stopped not even half way up to go down the side. Had another small stop and then went down a super valley filled with snow. As it was in the shade for most of the day it was brilliant to ski down through and really long, too. Avalanche danger was a bit up for the day, so we were equipped with bleepers as well, but there were so many people up there with us it is hard to believe that it was that risky there. Down and down we went through un-pisted snow, jumping from curve to curve. Statement Dad: SHIT LIFE :D

Arrived back at the main piste and went up with one of the lifts before we headed down and took a dip in to a valley. Had to cross a river at the bottom, but that is were things get adventurous. Arrived at the bottom again and went up for something to drink and eat. Back down along another off piste part of the mountain, through a forest, where we saw a complete section of a hill had slid down about a meter. Arrived at the bottom back under the clouds and drove back to Nesselwang thinking of all the sun above us.

A track at GPSies from the car until to the hut we ate in and some pictures at Picasa from Sebastian and me.