Bleispitze, Austria

The morning initially had some promise when we woke up. the skies were clear, but the forecast indicated storms on the way.  We left the backpacker hostel, and headed up the pass to Lermoos.
There were a couple of likely candidates in the book just up the road from a place called Bichlbach. The parking was a a lay-by at the end of the road, and there were a couple of vans already there, but only just stirring.

Heading up the valley towards the summit we could see.. Bleisptize. This involved a circuitous route.

following the valley upwards it was clear to see that in the right (wrong) conditions this would run the gauntlet of avalanches dropping into the base of the valley.

As the valley rose several subsidiary ones came in from the side of the Bleispitze but we went past all these until reaching the last ridge rising to the left. taking to the side of the ridge caused a few palpitations as we were back in corn snow, and forging a new trail.

Rising out of the difficulties we got on the ridge top. However this just brought on another problem. in the valley we had been sheltered, but as we came out of it we were blasted. and so was the snow, which became very hard packed.

Bryon took over the trail breaking, as we continued upwards. The wind was relentless and became more painful as we progressed. The time was ticking away the corn snow and the wind had really slowed us down. So as we got to the ridge it seemed a good point to turn around.

The col was a much used passage, it seemed and there was a lot of signs on the post.
A quick change over and the skins were packed away, and we were heading back down the way we had come.

The snow started of hard packed with occasional drifts of soft stuff, and then as we came to the valley became easier, but the light got flatter

The avalanche debris we skinned up the side of was more of a problem descending. .. simpler on foot.
And soon we were back at the van. the weather reports were not far from reality, and the clouds moved in and it started snowing.

This was the final straw and with no good weather on the horizon we decided to head home. The idea was to get a far as possible today, and finish off tomorrow. In the end we actually got to Dunkirk (albeit late) and finally found a cheap place to stay after many rejects.

SilvaPark 2nd Day, Austria

Tuesday morning time to move on again, but the day was so good, except for the ever present wind. We decided to buy a half day on the ski pistes and find out where exactly we had gone in the white out 2 days before.
An early start saw us on the lifts by 9am.

The morning view down the valley

The route went through this debris and angled gently up

a good view point to examine the slopes to see where our route had gone the days earlier

 The end point of our escapades the other day...  it is easy to see why we turned around. the slope was not really where we should have been if we could see properly..  we would have gone several meters higher and had an easier route, but in the very limited visibility we followed a compass bearing, and the trials it brought.

When we got to the top of the ski areas it was too much temptation to run a couple of lines down the slopes .. We were early enough that no one had ventured too far away from the pistes. this was a veritable bonus

this was Bryon's first cornice jump :)
 After a while we made our way to the point of "turning"..  vague outlines in the snow show where this was.

To prove how right it was to turn around, as I skied over it a large chunk of the slab sluffed off and when down the slope as I crossed over ...  not very calm I kept on, luckily riding over the top of the  break as if fell below me. Equally luckily the slope was not very long and there was no one below.

A very quick exit back onto the safety of the piste with a very chastened group ...  it had been close and we had been reminded of the dangers.
Time to go ...
one final look as we came down at the sculpture we passed in the cloud the other day ...
then it was down to the car, and lunch.
After this we set off for a new area. we were heading back towards Germany and a third area
We had got some details on a hostel in Imst - Romedihof, built in an old monastic building.
It was not easy to find or get to, but once there it was amazing ...  we were the only guests in a large building.

The ski trails

Bielehohe, Austria

Tuesday, and the skies were clear - still a bit windy - with snow predicted for the afternoon/ evening.ere 

The second of our routes was the obvious choice, this was a long day, following a very frequented trail up to the Piz Buin hotel/ hutte at Bielehohe.

The left side of the valley was cordoned off for the forthcoming night biathlons, so we used the cross country trail on the other side of the road.

The end of the road was a carpark and the trail followed the summer road, visible in places, but essentially a piste

The hotel has a mechanical mechanism to attract those who just want to ski down, as well as trains of ski de fond racers blasting past us mere mortals.

The relentless long long, long road seemed to get no where.

The trail was long and not very steep, but just a gradual ascent.  there were a few flat areas that would cause problems on the descent.
As we reached the end of the main stretch and the valley curved around to the right
 The final stretch was much steeper ... the road zigzaged but the route went straight up.
It was a welcome sight to see the hotel, and made the last meters easier with the thought of "lunch".

Very tired and exhausted we had a long rest on the tranquil patio (and a huge plate of chips) to be ready for the return.

The Panorama across the lake from the Piz Buin patio

 

There was no difficulty on the descent ... apart from the endless poleing on the flat sections. It was a simple track piste.

Some interesting shacks ...

The parking left lots to be desired, a tricky little step with consequences for a slip

The last lap, before the return to the cow barn

The trace route