We woke up on Monday morning, the cloud was down ... not unusual for this trip.
We had two valley routes worked out, if we could not get up high, so we chose the closest one as we anticipated padding up the ski piste and then a minor detour to a little summit.
Stepping outside the wind was still vicious and we put the skins on using the van as cover. Setting off up the ski de fond track, past a sing to clear up you dog mess!
The end of the valley was lost in the cloud, but before we even got to the ski lifts we were engulfed in the clag. Even the piste bashers preparing for the night race later in the week.
Heading up the piste aiming for the mid station, visibility about 10m. past the ice sculpture, and the only positioning was the occasional lift pylon. After the mid station we continued on, given the conditions we were now on a GPS style compass bearing. No visible features and a direct line meant no way to avoid the landscape features.
With me in the front and Bryon controlling direction we struggled on. The occasional feature leaps out to be avoided.
In the end I reached a slope where the corn snow was struggling to hold the skis and the surface was sluffing down. I called time... we turned around and headed back the way we came. Initially this was a traversing action retaining as much height as we could until we hit the piste again/
Once back on the piste the visibility was no better, but the feeling was more secure as there was no doubt where we were or what was hidden in the mist. Back in the valley we could see more, but also the snow was softer and we were soon back at the cow shed. |
| Trace of route |
A-trip track