We woke up to the predicted rain, heavy and persistent, however after a
leisurely breakfast things picked up enough for us to think about a short
trip, if we could get high enough to be in snow but also below the cloud. On
the Damuls ski area we had checked out yesterday, there was a sledge run
marked going up below a lift - UGA, and the web cam showed the top lift
station was below the cloud.
Quickly getting ready and out - we were even 30 mins in advance of yesterday
despite the relaxed beginning. By the time we had arrived in the car park it was
only light drizzle, and that was petering out, and we were soon climbing up the
sledge run - initially we were the first people on it, until we got passed by a
skidoo checking the route out.
The sledge run wound around the hill side gaining height in jumps of steep
followed by flatter pieces, I guess to assist the sledges so they maintain some
level of control! The Rodelbahn was surprisingly quiet and sufficiently away
from the piste so we could imaging our selves alone on the mountain.
As we climbed the ski area opened out as it went deeper up the valley we had
started at the beginning of.
As well as showing the mountains where we had been yesterday as well as showing
us some opportunities for later in the week behind us.
Then we were on the calmer approaches to the top station of the lift along with
a huge berg Gasthof, all sitting on the ridge.
As we approached the edge the wind grew fiercer and resulted in more layers
being required. Still early in the day we discussed options ... the peak
behind us (Elsenkopf) was too wooded to warrant further exploration, the next
peak on the ridge (Damulser Mittagspitze) was far too rocky and steep, however
beyond that was another chair lift station on the ridge terminating at the
summit of Hohes Licht.
Forgoing the temptation of the restaurant behind us we quickly converted to
downhill to drop into the valley between us - just a short drop, then reapplying
the skins for the onward climb. The chair lift was not working so the piste was
almost as quiet as the rodelbahn from earlier, however we would feel the full
force of the wind that had shut the lift once we got to the ridge above.
the piste wound around a reservoir - presumably for snow making then opened into
the bowls below the ridge. We left the piste here to make a rising traverse that
contoured around rather than directly over all the bumps, and passed the top
station of a second chair lift coming from deeper in the valley, by going for
the ridge above at a point where a piste come down from the closed top station.
Dropping over the ridge gave some respite from the gale blowing and we followed
it to the top.
Continuing to hide behind the ridge and the end of the chair lift return pylon
we got ready for the descent. The rain/ sleet/ snow also started in more earnest
and it would be driving into us on the way down, so needed more protection than
yesterday. We were joined on top just as we left by another tourer coming up
from the other side, but did not speak as it was too windy.
We dropped down following a more direct route under the chair lift, as I was
conscious that we could be stranded if we dropped too low into the valley and
could not get back to the initial route, especially as there was a higher car park in a dip that a lot of the pistes seemed to run to.
Once back at the chair lift start things were simpler as we picked up the piste
returning to our car park.
The snow by now was very slushy and you needed to maintain a good degree of
speed to avoid stalling on the flatter portions. We continued down the piste all
the way to the car park, where we suddenly met the crowds.
Avoiding them and increasing volume of rain we dashed back to the van for lunch.
Up the sledge run then beside piste 3a, followed by descend of pistes 3 then 1
