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Tyrol Hut Trip — Part 2

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Dynafit backcountry skiing.
Okay, after getting up to the chalet and enjoying a good night’s sleep, we did head up to the Gerstinger Joch (as mentioned in comments on yesterday’s blog) and met Basti there while he was on his second lap (if you ski 8,000 meter peaks, you’ve got to keep your cardio up there where it belongs).

Dynafit backcountry skiing.
As mentioned before, this area of the Alps is not gigantic cliffy features like those around Chamonix, for example. Instead, you’ve got what seems like thousands of square miles of perfect moderate touring terrain, with plenty of steeper but smaller summits if you do care to touch a couloir now and then. In my view, this stuff is as near to perfect alpine ski touring terrain as one can find. It’s similar to our best terrain in Colorado, only with a snowpack that’s frequently more predictable in terms of avy danger. Only downside is you don’t always have the powder of places such as the Wasatch or Selkirks, but the access is incredible, with outstanding culture. In other words, you don’t have to finish your tour at a restaurant in downtown Salt Lake City, but rather stop halfway through the tour at some bar up on the side of a peak — stuff like that.

Dynafit backcountry skiing.
A few shots of me skiing. I have to admit I frequently don’t feel that on top of it when I’m here. All the traveling, different food, etc. makes for sometimes awkward athletics. During this trip I did feel better than last year — my strategy was to come a bit more prepared in fitness, and try to avoid catching a cold. Both worked out, so it was definitely more fun. The difficult snow did get the better of me at times, but there were indeed turns to be had.

I’m still using the Green Machine boots, and have to say they’ve helped as they’re light going up, but give more support going down. I don’t always need this much boot, but when feeling tired and awkward it’s nice to just lean into a stiff cuff and feel the love. Funny thing is, these things are so stiff I ditched the power strap before I left the States, and have not been latching the top buckle more than one-finger tight. Wimp settings, I guess…

Dynafit backcountry skiing.
The “kid” again.

Dynafit backcountry skiing.
Fritz is a beautiful skier who needs nothing from the new school. He never falls, carves breakable crust like it’s powder, and smiles the whole time even with a tricky knee driving one ski.

Dynafit backcountry skiing.
And me again, with a word from our sponsor a la ze Green Machine.

Dynafit backcountry skiing.
Myself with Sabastian “Basti” Haag. It was extra fun spending a few moments with these guys, as they knew of my early mountaineering and rock climbing career in the States, as well as my brief stint as an extreme skier on the fourteeners, and they thus made it clear I was welcomed as a fellow climber as well as a journalist. That’s appreciated, as my years as a mountain boy (aka climbing bum) were a beautiful time of life, but somewhat of a sacrifice that seems to sometimes become lost to me as I franticly try to focus on current ski alpinism and web work.

Dynafit backcountry skiing.
Oh yeah, another WildSnow sticker that seemed to appear out of thin air on top of the mountain. Note endless touring terrain in background.

Dynafit backcountry skiing.
And to close today’s presentation, another Guess That Pastry. This one is known to my wife as “Dutch,” but we need the German name for a winner. Good stuff, Fritz and I split this and still gained a kilo each.

Posted by Lou on January 16, 2008 | Filed Under Trip Reports Backcountry 

previous post: Austrian Hut Trip Tips and Tricks
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Comments

11 Responses to “Tyrol Hut Trip — Part 2”

  1. Matt January 16th, 2008 11:24 am

    That to me looks like Kaiserschmarrn, or just Schmarrn if you are lacking an emperor to give it to. It still gets my vote for the best energy meal at the alms and refugios all over the alps…

  2. Christian Buss January 16th, 2008 11:29 am

    Das ist ze Kaiserschmarn

    Also know as calorie bomb #10

  3. AJ January 16th, 2008 12:25 pm

    Hi Lou,

    That looks like Kaiserschmarrn mit Apfelmus

  4. Lou January 16th, 2008 1:19 pm

    AJ, bingo!

  5. Marc January 16th, 2008 5:00 pm

    Nice shot of Fritz, Lou! That terrain looks awesome, especially the stuff in the background of that photo! I’m envious… I lived in Japan for several years and toured a fair amount there, but I’ve never been to Europe. Thanks for all the Dynafit info and wetting my appetite with Euro pastries- I mean terrain!

    Cheers, Marc.

  6. Randonnee January 16th, 2008 10:25 pm

    Great reports, Lou, thanks.

    I just wanted to pass on to the Dynafit folks thanks for the Zzero4 boots that I am using on my FR10 ski. It is a nice balanced combo, lots of power, light for touring considering the category of gear. Some of my original Dynafit stuff from 9 years ago was in a very different category. The new technology is great!

  7. GreenA January 17th, 2008 4:35 am

    looks like Kaiserschmarrn

    the third picture is awesome!

  8. Basti Haag January 17th, 2008 5:28 am

    Hi Lou, was very nice spending time with you in the “kitzbuehler Alpen”. I hope you enjoyed the time on our range. nice pictures we made and a good day we had on skitouring. We could have had more time though, but time is allways short. I hope nico droped you well at Fritz´s place.
    So maybe you visit us again (next year?), you´re allways most welcome.
    See you soon and have a great time!

    Basti

  9. Matus January 17th, 2008 8:35 am

    Lou, at first I could not understand why you do not like that bright “Euro” color of green machines. Now I do. And, whats more, it is almost impossible to match them with the design of modern touring skis. Though, after seeing them in the local shop and trying how stiff and light they are the color would be the last issue :o ). BTW, they cost about 830 USD here in Slovakia, which is slightly more than an average monthly salary here….

  10. Lou January 17th, 2008 3:16 pm

    I’m a fashion victim, by definition.

  11. Alvin Isaacs January 19th, 2008 10:12 am

    It’s been awhile since I toured in the Kitzbuehler Alpen, but they are great aren’t they. And the Kaiserschmarr’n ist immer gut.

    Haven’t visited your site lately either. Some great stuff here.

    You may not remember me but we met when I was with 10th Special Forces doing ski training at Sunlight. Ahhh… mid 90s.

    I’ll be touring in the Soelden region of Oesterreich in March.

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Welcome to Louis (Lou) Dawson's backcountry skiing information opinion website and e magazine. Lou's passion for the past 45 years has been alpinism, climbing, mountaineering and skiing -- along with all manner of outdoor recreation. He has authored numerous books and articles about backcountry skiing and is well known as the first person to ski down all 54 of Colorado's 14,000-foot peaks, otherwise known as the Fourteeners! Books and free back country news and information here, and tons of Randonnee rando telemark info.

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