@Dabber, you are so clearly in the wrong forum topic - this is touring for wallies! Your geo-choices clearly indicate you do not fall into that category. Fantastic scenery and experiences (and crazy lucky with the snow). Perhaps the OP can start a fresh topic “When ski-touring works just fine, thank you very much” …and if that new thread could omit all HR and Garmin stat details that would be even better.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
@Grinning, thanks for the props , but I can testify to many "wally " moments on our trip , mainly involving the top 50 m of ascents and first turns thereafter , but can confirm no HR straps were worn or M/HR discussed over dinner . seriously tho , northern Norway and Iceland provide a perfect base for those thinking of getting into touring , so many uncomplex routes , no altitude issues , and fairly constant temps lead to a happy bunch of uphillers
not sure my next trip will be so easy though , off to Svalbard in may , few more big white hairy scary factors there
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
I want to take the "Ski touring for wallies" course. Never tried touring but I'm really getting the urge to start.
I'm off to Zell/Kaprun over summer. Mostly for summer hols, but I may sneak off up the glacier. Is there such a thing as a "ski touring intro" course / guided touring? How do I even hire the right stuff?
(PS I've even got a fenix 6 so maybe I've got wot it takes to be a tourer)
@AntonAusTirol, yes you can defo hire skis , skins , and avi equip in resort , depending on your boots you can get frame bindings that will take a regular alpine binding , but if you have tech ( pin ) inserts in your boots then tech bindings are the way to go , learning on piste or in bounds is a great way to work out the techniques for up hill travel and transitions , but next step is defo an "intro to touring " course , which should be easy to find in your local , not sure what would be running in the summer , but getting some work in on the summer glacier should be fun if they allow it .... welcome to the wonderful world of uphill travel
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Cracking tour again today, was not too sure what to expect with the snow-pack after yesterday's sortie using lifts and getting a couple of off-piste lines in that were somewhat on the technical side to ski and again the wind kicked in big time, hence I was optimistic in thinking I might score some windblown cold snow.
Driving up did think it might not be too busy what with the election vote today, but arrived at the parking to see various big groups heading up all over the place, mainly from Grenoble area, judging by the plates and talking to some Brits living in Grenoble, who too were doing the M25 Pic Blanc tour.
Don't know why they had to come here as thought that they had more snow their way, and some of their navigation was something else, don't know who the designated leaders were but some were taking a strange/dangerous choice of route, and not least bearing in mind the evidence of slides all around the place & AVI risk, so skinning under a huge 35degree slope that often goes, was not the most sensible of options, mind you that had probably more to do with the fact that they started from the wrong parking area anyway
I took this shot as I was driving up of the sector and on the left of the picture you can just about make out the Galibier road and the big slope above it. The actual ski-tour route is more or less in the centre to the left of the gulley.
I ended up skinning up towards the Col centre of the picture and around 100m up from that to the right, having skinned along the ridge.
Quite tough as I was breaking trail in cold windblown snow for the last 50% or so of the route.
The hound was in fine form and nearly took me out as you'll see towards the end of the video
Hope it’s a good season over that way next season and we can follow your 2022 tracks!
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Seconded; that line looks awesome. Snow looks bang on for steeps too
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Yep, absolutely perfect snow for steep skiing, just a shame there's still so many sharks lurking about making it all a bit more puckering than it should be. Nevertheless, probably the best four days skiing of my albeit short life.
I went back to Combeynots for a spicier and a bit scary variant of the same face today, nothing in any of the topos but I'm sure it must have been skied given the frequentation of the place.
Mate finally managed to climb and ski North Face Mont Blanc couple of days ago.
What with Covid and him having long covid it's been a tough wait to achieve it.
He said it was super technical even with four years of hard training, with the ridge being very difficult, in a very cold wind, breaking trail whilst others were turning back, he thinks they were the only ones to summit doing it that way on the day?
Anyway, the FatMap route is pretty impressive, so you can all download it and then off you go
@JackSkier, nice! I like the soundtrack How puckering was the downclimb? Dropping a ski there and you'd be in trouble!
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
@Sharkymark, the downclimb wasn't too bad with crampons. Before that was the scary part, two hanging snow ramps above huge cliffs, with two very exposed traverses full of rocks. Not something I want to be doing too regularly!
@Sharkymark, the downclimb wasn't too bad with crampons. Before that was the scary part, two hanging snow ramps above huge cliffs, with two very exposed traverses full of rocks. Not something I want to be doing too regularly!
Ballsy stuff! On your own too by the looks of it. Enjoyed the vid - get your hands on a 360 cam if you can for a wider field of vision
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Weathercam wrote:
Mate finally managed to climb and ski North Face Mont Blanc couple of days ago.
What with Covid and him having long covid it's been a tough wait to achieve it.
He said it was super technical even with four years of hard training, with the ridge being very difficult, in a very cold wind, breaking trail whilst others were turning back, he thinks they were the only ones to summit doing it that way on the day?
Anyway, the FatMap route is pretty impressive, so you can all download it and then off you go
Isn’t that a lot of Serac/avi exposure versus going up the ridge. I’m vaguely tempted by another 3 Monts attempt if end May / start June conditions are good
On April 24, Jack Kuenzle, 26, summited and descended Oregon’s 11,254-foot Mount Hood in record time: 1 hour 31 minutes 31 seconds. The route’s 5,254 feet of elevation gain included an extended technical section involving a narrow ridge and a steep chute. He beat the existing fastest known time (FKT) by 13 minutes. His ascent alone—1 hour 16 minutes—was also completed in record-breaking time.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
kitenski wrote:
Record with a twist!
On April 24, Jack Kuenzle, 26, summited and descended Oregon’s 11,254-foot Mount Hood in record time: 1 hour 31 minutes 31 seconds. The route’s 5,254 feet of elevation gain included an extended technical section involving a narrow ridge and a steep chute. He beat the existing fastest known time (FKT) by 13 minutes. His ascent alone—1 hour 16 minutes—was also completed in record-breaking time.
Meanwhile, I'm down near Tarifa and the winds are nukin and your's truly doesn't have the bottle to initiate myself, kitesurfing, in these conditions, few years ago I would have been out there
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Think I mentioned a mate of mine was flying up to Tromso with his two sons, renting a car and doing his own trip around Lyngen.
And he seems to be doing really well so far with the conditions.
Meanwhile, I'm down near Tarifa and the winds are nukin and your's truly doesn't have the bottle to initiate myself, kitesurfing, in these conditions, few years ago I would have been out there
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
Feels like the season is drawing to a close unless we get some precipitation.
After 4 days of waiting around in refuges and turning around due to avalanche conditions, I finally managed to get score two big objectives in the Ecrins massif.
First time out today on new boots. Zero G Peak. Sub 1kg. Noticeably more fore/aft movement on the up and very similar on the down to my old Zero G Scouts. Progressive flex but slightly more upright. Need to adjust the forward lean.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
zzz wrote:
First time out today on new boots. Zero G Peak. Sub 1kg. Noticeably more fore/aft movement on the up and very similar on the down to my old Zero G Scouts. Progressive flex but slightly more upright. Need to adjust the forward lean.
Very nice! Glad to hear you like them. I just ordered the Carbon version
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
