– The Backcountry Ski Touring Blog
  • Avalanches
  • Gear Reviews
    • Ski Reviews
    • Boot Reviews
    • Binding Reviews
    • Snowboard Splitboard
    • Book Reviews
    • Avalanche Beacon Reviews
    • Airbag Backpacks
    • Backcountry Electronics
    • Misc Gear Reviews
  • Podcast
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Ski Touring Basics
    • Boot Fitting
    • Fitness & Health
    • Gear Mods
  • Trip Reports
    • Fourteeners
    • Huts – Cabins – Lodges
    • Denali McKinley
    • 8,000 Meter Skiing
  • Stories
    • History
    • Humor
    • Land Use Issues
    • Evergreen Ski Touring
    • Poetry
  • Resources
    • All Posts Listed
    • 100 Recent Comments
    • Backcountry Skiing & Ski Touring Webcams
    • Ski Weights Comparison
    • Archives of WildSnow.com
    • Authors Page
    • Ski Touring Bindings
      • Trab TR2 Index and FAQ
      • Salomon Guardian & Tracker
      • Naxo Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Silvretta Pure Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Marker F10-12 Duke Baron
      • G3 Onyx Ski Binding FAQ
      • G3 ION Ski Touring Binding
      • Fritschi Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Fritschi Diamir Frame Bindings Mount DIY
      • Fritschi Diamir Bindings FAQ
      • Fritschi Tecton FAQ
      • Atomic Salomon Backland MTN
      • Dynafit Tri-Step Binding 2001-2003
      • Naxo randonnee alpine touring AT ski binding FAQ
      • Dynafit Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Dynafit Binding Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Review 1
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Page Two
    • History
      • Ski Touring Binding Museum
      • Trooper Traverse Intro & Index
      • Randonnee Ski Touring “AT” ski gear — What is Hip?
      • Chronology
    • Backcountry Skiing Core Glossary
    • Gear Review Policy & Disclosures

– The Backcountry Ski Touring Blog

Banner
  • Avalanches
  • Gear Reviews
    • Ski Reviews
    • Boot Reviews
    • Binding Reviews
    • Snowboard Splitboard
    • Book Reviews
    • Avalanche Beacon Reviews
    • Airbag Backpacks
    • Backcountry Electronics
    • Misc Gear Reviews
  • Podcast
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Ski Touring Basics
    • Boot Fitting
    • Fitness & Health
    • Gear Mods
  • Trip Reports
    • Fourteeners
    • Huts – Cabins – Lodges
    • Denali McKinley
    • 8,000 Meter Skiing
  • Stories
    • History
    • Humor
    • Land Use Issues
    • Evergreen Ski Touring
    • Poetry
  • Resources
    • All Posts Listed
    • 100 Recent Comments
    • Backcountry Skiing & Ski Touring Webcams
    • Ski Weights Comparison
    • Archives of WildSnow.com
    • Authors Page
    • Ski Touring Bindings
      • Trab TR2 Index and FAQ
      • Salomon Guardian & Tracker
      • Naxo Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Silvretta Pure Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Marker F10-12 Duke Baron
      • G3 Onyx Ski Binding FAQ
      • G3 ION Ski Touring Binding
      • Fritschi Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Fritschi Diamir Frame Bindings Mount DIY
      • Fritschi Diamir Bindings FAQ
      • Fritschi Tecton FAQ
      • Atomic Salomon Backland MTN
      • Dynafit Tri-Step Binding 2001-2003
      • Naxo randonnee alpine touring AT ski binding FAQ
      • Dynafit Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Dynafit Binding Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Review 1
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Page Two
    • History
      • Ski Touring Binding Museum
      • Trooper Traverse Intro & Index
      • Randonnee Ski Touring “AT” ski gear — What is Hip?
      • Chronology
    • Backcountry Skiing Core Glossary
    • Gear Review Policy & Disclosures
   

Another EU TR — Grieskogel from Sellraintal

by Lou Dawson May 4, 2009
written by Lou Dawson May 4, 2009
European backcountry skiing

European Ski Alpinism

I’ve been out in Virginia Beach for the last week, doing family stuff related to father’s passing. Traveling was smooth and we’re back in the Colorado blog command center. Biggest hill near us in Virginia supported the aptly named Hilltop Shopping Center — something like three inches above sea level. Ouch. The beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains rise to the west, but we didn’t have the time for road tripping so I had to dream of real mountains. With that, my mind wandered back to the last Europe backcountry skiing trip. Which led to digging out more ski photos. Which of course led to another blog post…

Backcountry Skiing

Manfred Barthel clones himself on Grieskogel (actual summit not visible).

Grieskogel is a medium sized peak in the western Stubai Alps of Austria, in the Larstiger mountains between Sellrain and Hochstubai. You reach it via the usual network of roads you find in this area, in this case reminding me of spring skiing on Independence Pass back in Colorado. I’d hooked up for today’s trip with Manfred Barthel, the Austrian alpinist elder I’ve come to know over the past few years (and father of Dynafit binding inventor Fritz Barthel). Manfred continues to amaze me with his skill and endurance, not to mention his amazing knowledge of the Alps. He seems to have a telepathic sense of where the snow is good, the avy danger lower, or the weather friendly. Last night was warm, so he knew that lower altitude snow wouldn’t firm up. Hence, we needed to utilize road or cable access to reach a higher altitude start. Manfred knew exactly where to go, and it worked out terrific as a result. As always, I felt privileged to spend the day skiing with him. His subsequent advice on pastry consumption was equally valuable.

Backcountry Skiing

This is Easter weekend, perhaps the most popular backcountry ski days in central Europe. Thus, a few cars were present. Reminded me of the first few opening spring days on Coloardo's Independence Pass

Backcountry Skiing

One thing I really like about ski touring in Europe is the age range. We've got some of that going on in North America, but the number of folks who ski past middle age here is mind blowing, and you see the kids out too, as in this photo.

Backcountry Skiing

Heading up. Conditions were similar to the Western U.S. in May.

Backcountry Skiing

Manfred and myself on the summit. Thanks Manfred! And check out those Alps, they seem infinite for backcountry skiing.

Backcountry Skiing

Yours truly headed down. Nothing extreme, just a nice mellow morning of corn snow and views.

Backcountry Skiing

Now, some of you might be fighting obesity from just looking at all the pastry photos that keep sneaking into these EU blog posts. But the stuff is just so fun and tasty it has to keep coming. No guesswork here, just a blueberry crepe. Happy belated Easter.

3 comments
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
previous post
Kids 101 — Swedish Fish Are Key for Backcountry Skiing
next post
Congratulations Jordan White — Skiing 54 Colorado 14ers!

3 comments

Jack May 5, 2009 - 12:00 am

Lou, my condolences on your Dad’s passing.

As an over-the-hill 2 planker who enjoys skiing with the youngsters, I really am heartened to read about the elder skiers such as you come across in Europe. Thanks for another terrific post.

Lou May 5, 2009 - 6:53 am

Thanks Jack.

Indeed, one thing I’ve noticed more and more about ski mountaineering is it has an amazing age range for such a physical and high-tech sport. Very nice.

Euro Rob May 5, 2009 - 7:41 am

I (just 30) ski a lot with 50+ guys. It’s awesome to learn from them and see all the peaks far away from the mainstream. One of them, well over 60, told me how things were when he did his first tours, alpine boots and bindings, seal skins clipped onto the skis. Far from high tech 🙂

And yes, the pastry (and generally cuisine) is great here in Austria!

Comments are closed.

Recent Comments

  • A. K. Mattix on Tele Tech First Look — Voile Ultra Vector BC, 22 Designs Lynx, Scarpa TX Pro
  • Roy Haraldstad on Envisioning a Friendly, Busier Backcountry — Shaun Deutschlander Q&A
  • Jim Milstein on Simple and Dependable — Black Diamond Helio 145 Binding Review
  • Peter M on Tele Tech First Look — Voile Ultra Vector BC, 22 Designs Lynx, Scarpa TX Pro
  • Peter M on Tele Tech First Look — Voile Ultra Vector BC, 22 Designs Lynx, Scarpa TX Pro

Gear Reviews

  • Simple and Dependable — Black Diamond Helio 145 Binding Review

    January 20, 2021
  • Versatile and Sustainable — WNDR Vital 100 Ski Review

    January 14, 2021
  • Meidjo 3.0 Binding Review – Backcountry Telemark Evolves

    January 12, 2021

Trip Reports

  • Finding Early Turns on Rainier’s Muir Snowfield

    November 14, 2020
  • Treading Lightly Through Close-to-Home Mountains

    October 6, 2020
  • Snoqualmie Classic — Chair Peak Circumnavigation

    May 26, 2020

Totally Deep Podcast

  • Risky Business — Zahan Billimoria on Solving for Z

    December 14, 2020
  • Totally Deep Podcast 81 — CAIC Director Ethan Greene

    December 9, 2020
  • Unraveling the Mysteries of Avalanche Education — Totally Deep Podcast 80

    November 16, 2020

Tips & Tricks

  • 10 Essential Mistakes for the Backcountry Ski Touring Beginner

    December 2, 2020
  • Buying Used Gear Guide Part II — Poles, Avy Gear, Packs

    November 25, 2020
  • Save Your Ski Day — Emergency Car Kit Essentials

    November 24, 2020

Ski Touring Stories

  • Giving Myself the Gift of Backcountry

    January 15, 2021
  • Six Who Dared — Elk Mountains Traverse & Richard Compton Tribute

    January 7, 2021
  • Risky Business — Zahan Billimoria on Solving for Z

    December 14, 2020

Newsletter Sign-Up

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • About Lou Dawson
  • Authors Page
  • About
  • Contact
  • Copyright & Legal
  • Website Security

@2020 - All Rights Reserved. Designed and Developed by WildSnow


Back To Top

Read alsox

Six Who Dared — Elk Mountains...

January 7, 2021

Finding Early Turns on Rainier’s Muir...

November 14, 2020

Treading Lightly Through Close-to-Home Mountains

October 6, 2020