I guess we got one of those years, where I will be spending most of my backcountry days in Austria, and not in my home mountain. We still have some 30 to 40cm of snow up in mountains, which is way too little for any kind of skiing (except for xc skiing on 3km loop made from mixture of last years snow and what they managed to make in single cold week we had this "winter"). But 1.5h drive north into Austria, they got 2 huge dumps caused by "Nordstau", and conditions were great until now. Last few days, when I was laying home sick, they got another 1m of fresh snow but with winds up to 200km/h, it means it's going to be super tricky in next few days, when I hope I will be good enough to go there again.
But until now, I had few super cool days there.
That was first day of the season on beginning of December, and first 50cm of powder higher up. It's been a bit late start, but it was actually worth waiting
Across the valley is our first mountain and while snow was just too good, we had to do another climb to this side for another 500 or so height meters of really great descent. These two guys were not so enthusiastic on the end of this second climb anymore as they were down in valley. Obviously old guys like me, have more endurance then kids nowadays
Two weeks, and another meter of snow later, only some 10km from previous photos, was probably best day in last 2 years. On bottom it didn't look all that good, but higher we hiked better snow was turning on.
Looking down the other side from top of first mountain. We were actually considering going toward this at start, but when I was looking from top, I was happy we didn't, as conditions on other side of mountain looked a bit more sketchy from top, and snow would probably be worse then what we had.
I still know how to make good photo, even if I had just phone with me. And friend finally have photo of himself where it looks like he even knows how to ski
But that was only time I stopped in this run. After that it was for me perfect 400 height meters of waist deep super light powder, really steep terrain and super nice GS turns all the way down. As I wrote, probably best day on skis in last 2 years.
One more climb to top of another mountain.
It was first day with these awesome rockets. They might be slightly heavy on way up, especially when I try to keep up with my group of mountain goats, but for down... they are worth every drop of sweat on climb. They ski so good in such conditions, I don't regret extra few grams I need to drag up.
After this photo, I had another 20km on xc skis next day, and then I was "enjoying" 3 days in bed with covid. But week later I'm all good and ready for some more (I hope)
