Life is not a Practice

The Gaishorn summit is 2247 meters above sea level and a classic skitour in neighbouring Tannheimertal. A picture is at http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaishorn_(Allg%C3%A4uer_Alpen)#mediaviewer/File:Gaishorn_am_Gaishorn.JPG


A picture from Wikipedia showing the final part of our route. („Gaishorn Nordflanke02“ von Kauk0r - Eigenes Werk. Lizenziert unter CC BY-SA 3.0 über Wikimedia Commons).

Took the morning off today. Up at 05:00, Breakfast at 05:30, on our way to Austria at 06:10 and on the skis at 06:44.

As we left it was -7°C and you could just make out the difference between sky and mountains in the early morning light.

It took us four hours to walk with our skis up to the summit of the Gaishorn. A lot of that was spent on the steep 400 meter ascent to the Gaiseck. Here we had to repeatedly do kick turns which slowly drained us of energy. We are both fit but by the time we reached the Gaiseck we had pulses of well over 140 beats per minute.



At the Gaiseck we left our skis and walked along the snow covered ridge to the Gaishorn. Finally we could enjoy the sun as until this point we had been in the shadow on the north flank of the mountain. The picture at http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaishorn_(Allg%C3%A4uer_Alpen)#mediaviewer/File:Gaishorn_Nordflanke02.JPG shows the route well - firstly up the steep snow field on the right and then along the ridge to the summit on the left.

The total climb was 1100 meters.



A bite to eat, a flask of hot tea and many photos kept us occupied at the summit while enjoying the amazing views in every direction.



We then walked back to the Gaiseck and enjoyed a super steep run through the fresh snow back down in to the valley.

1150 meters of climbing. Route is at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=nutxmdtazgdhqtif

More photos at https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/103827427036815679772/albums/6097506762533868817

Heidi and I took our touring skis and skied up towards the Wertacher Hörnle. Coming out of the trees we were met with a driving blizzard so we hid behind a strategic tree to take our skins off.


The first part of the descent was through deep snow in the forest and was the sort of skiing that they show in adverts for ski holidays. Amazing!



The second part was across a wide open field where we found fresh untouched snow. After a coffee in the Alpe, we continued on back down to the car. Brilliant!

Track is at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=xaceprcvvmsryhem

Fotos are at https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/103827427036815679772/albums/6097506762533868817

In the morning Chris and I spent a few hours on perfectly prepared and largely empty pistes on the Alpspitz. At the top of the mountain we enjoyed the sun above the clouds.



In the afternoon Caro and I walked up the mountain to watch the sun setting above the clouds. We skied down and had the newly prepared and flood lit piste to ourselves for the second half.



Pictures at https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/103827427036815679772/albums/6097506762533868817

Yesterday we had a problem at one of our relay stations. We tried reaching it with the tracked quad but the huge snowdrifts eventually defeated us. The snow was deep. Once I walked round the quad and disappeared up to my shoulders in snow - another snow covered bush. Luckily Tom was there to pull me out while standing on the quad.



Asked the lift just over the border if they had a machine that could get through but they said no. Went and asked at the ski lift that runs up to the station if they could give me a lift at least half way but the storm wind made it impossible to run the lift.



We used the quad to drive about half way up and then I continued with touring skies and the needed components in my rucsac. The snow was deep so breaking a track was hard going but eventually I reached the top - four hours after we originally set out on the quad.



After making the necessary changes to the electrics, I skied down virgin, untouched, deep, steep snow. It really is a tough life.

Today Max and I skied back up with our touring skies. We started right at the bottom so it took some time. The steep part was still deep snow and there was no track to fiollow. Luckily Max is young and fit so he broke trail most of the way. We did some more rewiring and then enjoyed the descent down steep sun soaked snow.



5km and 570 meters of climbing. Track is at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=ifmpoyqhjrjhdpyo

Max's blog is at http://maxhogarth.blogspot.de/ and his pictures at https://plus.google.com/photos/102257273463070793435/albums/6077174649141629985

Planned was ski mountaineering to the Geishorn in Tirol but that did not happen so I took my equipment for a walk up to Sportheim Böck.



7.5 kilometers with nearly 600 meters of climbing. Track is at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=uxjmdtolsxowwdje

Extended lunch break today. Caro and I took our touring skis and walked up to Nadel Loch (part way up the local mountain) and then skied back down through the unpisted snow.



Expresso and cake and then back to work.

Another Sunday and another trip to the Grauen Stein.


(The Grauen Stein is on the right with the Riedbergerhorn on the right.)

I caught the Hörnerbahn to the top and then walked up the valley under the Weiherkopf and Ochsenkopf. I then turned up on to the ridge and tried to follow that to the Grauene Stein but a few very steep sections proved impossible. Skied off the ridge and then walked up between the Riedbergerhorn and Grauen Stein.



At the top the view in every direction was stunning. The Riedbergerhorn was full of people but on the Grauen Stein there were only three of us. Took some voltage measurements on the relay station we have up there and ate the cake that I had taken with me.



The run down was fantastic. New snow on a very steep slope. It is good that the avalance warn level is currently at 1 - the lowest.

Stopped at the Berghaus Schwaben for some lunch on the way back.

Pictures at https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/+NeillHogarth/albums/6097506762533868817

Track is at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=jfshwqbfdqbzojra

A ski tour up to the Berglodge Sportheim Böck. Beautiful fresh snow and two fun companions. There is a new manager and when he saw the ladies stripping their sweaty clothes off out in the snow he shouted "you can come in for a drink if you want".



The piste bully had flattened most of the powder by the time we skied back down in the dark but it was great fun anyway.

Track is at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=fkikaiozajhggikl

Oictures at https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/+NeillHogarth/albums/6097506762533868817

Today I picked up my new ski touring equipment (after losing everything on the way down from the Riedbergerhorn 2 weeks ago - http://neill.blogger.de/stories/2463603/ ).



The first (mini-) tour with the new skis was to rescue what I could find at Grasgehren. One ski was definitely buried far below the snow but I hoped I would find the other one with the carrying frame attached to it.


Max came with me but, as he has no touring skis, he took the lift up and then walked up to meet me.

I walked to the small hut where the mountain rescue had found me and from there searched the valleys until I found the equipment. As expected one ski is still buried so I set a waypoint with the GPS so that I can go back and look in spring.


This file contains the coordinates of the lost ski. lostski.gpx (gpx, 1 KB)

The snow was wet and slushy but my new skis worked perfectly going back down. I tied the ski to the carrying frame and put that on Sherpa Max's back so that he could ski it down for me.



The track is at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=cspbalvqzcntafli

More photos at https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/103827427036815679772/albums/6097506762533868817

[150525] Went and found the second ski today. See story at http://neill.blogger.de/stories/2504497/

Today is a holiday here in Germany so we made good use of it to have a five hour spinning marathon. You could register for single hours or for the complete event - so I did the latter.



At the facebook page of the fitness club ( https://de-de.facebook.com/FitnessNesselwang ) you can see lots of photos of us cycling and get the impression that we spent five hours just cycling. As these pictures show, we did cycle but managed a few bites to eat and drinks to keep us motivated.



My verdict. An absolutely fantastic event with great music and motivated trainers.

After getting the generator nearly all the way to the station yesterday, we today set out on phase two.

Last night we agreed that Klaus from the mountain rescue would accompany me today. Once I explained my problem to Max he said "me too!".


(Photo by Max. Sunrise and I am on the way up the ridge)

Max organised rental snow shoes and sticks and this morning we left at 05:45. Drove to work to pack the petrol, the charger, the cable and everything else and then on to Oberstdorf to pick up Klaus.


(I felt as tired as I look after 2 days of deep steep snow.)

Back up the Riedbergerpass (snow covered and icy but no tourists driving at 5 km/h) to the ski lifts. We met Tom there with the tracked quad and he drove us up to the top of the ski lift from where we once again set off up the ridge. There was no trace of the tracks from yesterday so Klaus broke the trail, Max followed and I came last feeling done in from yesterday.

At the top we stopped for a very short rest (-15°C and a wind are not conducive to long stops) and then carried on down to where I had left the generator yesterday.


(The vegetation in this picture is the tops of stunted trees. This is a small forest and the snow has filled up the space between the trees.)

We broke a trail to the mast and then Max returned and carried the 21kg generator up to the mast without a carrying frame. (Hero).

We now drank tea, ate cake, put on more clothes, fueled the generator and started it, connected the charger to the batteries and generator and left it running. Gave Tom a ring and he confirmed that it was charging.

Set off back across the pass and up to the Riedbergerhorn then Tom rang to say it was no longer working. Turned round in the biting wind and walked back. A red light was on. Stopped generator, started it, stopped, started. Got it running with no red light. Waited 10 minutes to be sure and then walked back down.

One of Max's snow shoes broke on the way up and one of mine on the way down. That just added to the fun.

Klaus had gone ahead with his touring skis and was waiting with the mountain rescue skidoo at the top of the lift to take us back down.

And the batteries are now charged up.

Pictures at https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/103827427036815679772/albums/6097506762533868817

Max's blog is at http://maxhogarth.blogspot.de/ and his (as always amazing) pictures are at https://plus.google.com/photos/102257273463070793435/albums/6077174649141629985/6098356433116069202?pid=6098356433116069202&oid=102257273463070793435

Yesterday my partner told me that the station on top of the Grauen Stein had electrical problems and would soon run out of battery power. No sun is forecast for the solar panels so some one needed to get a generator up to the mast.

I picked up the generator from a hoillock near Isny (using the amazing 4 wheel drive capabilities of my Skoda Yeti). I then drove "round the back" through Austria and up the snow covered pass - overtaking all those stuck in the snow and ice :-)

Tom had not yet arrived with the tracked quad so I attached the generator to a carrying frame and got the mountain rescue to take it up to the top of the ski lift on their skidoo. I used the lift. From the top of the lift I used my touring skis and carried the generator up the snow covered ridge to the top of the Riedbergerhorn. From there I carried on back down to the pass between the two mountains. By now visibility was really bad due to the mist and blizzard and I was worried about getting back in daylight so I left the generator and climbed back up to the top of the Riedbergerhorn.


(this picture was taken a day later. On this day there was no view and I had no time to even think about photos.)

I took the skins off my skis and started to ski down. The snow was very deep so I pointed steep downhill off the ridge (bad idea) and skied down in to the valley.

I crossed a bush covered ravine and disappeared through the snow into the bushes below. I was hanging in small trees but under the snow. I managed to get out but lost a ski and a stick so I stood the other ski up as a marker and attached the carrying frame to it. I then started "swimming" and "crawling" through the deep snow until I fell in to another ravine. I once again escaped and worked my way up to a small hillock from where I could see some skiers far below me on the piste. After a lot of arm waving and shouting "help" they got the message and disappeared. I was now really cold so I kept on moving towards a nearby sheep hut where I huddled feeling cold and frightened.

Apparently the mountain rescue tried to reach me with skidoos but they could not get through the snow either - I later saw one completely bogged in. They called up a pisten bully and together eventually managed to reach me and took me back down the mountain.

So I was safe and very thankful to all those who rescued me but had no touring skis and still the problem of a mast running out of power.

But tomorrow is another day.

Two days ago Max and I cycled to Sportheim Böck. Yesterday we were out driving off road and today I was back in Sportheim Böck - with the touring skis. It has been snowing since Max and I were up there two days.



The walk up was a gentle stroll always taking the flatest route. I ate lunch by the fire and then skied back down. The pistes have not yet been prepared so the run down was challenging but fun.

Boxing Day and it finally snowed. Being a responsible father, I took both sons out for some training in driving safely in winter conditions. Good excuse to get in to the forest and see what a 4x4 Yeti can take. Boys and Toys sort of thing.



Daniel and I met some cars on their sides in a ditch but we managed the trips with no incidents.

Woke up to rain and 3°C. Perfect Christmas Day weather. The last years Max and I have spent Christmas morning skiing but this year there is no snow.

We had agreed to meet this year at 10:00 for a bike ride and sure enough, despite the weather, Max was at the door and ready to go five minutes early.



After 10 minutes of cycling up the mountain we had to stop and take off half the clothes we had on. Surprisingly we met no one on the way up. A few hundred meters before the top the rain turned to snow and we finished the ride on a thin cover of snow.



The hotel at the top of the mountain was open so we ordered two mulled wines and a hot soup. Great! Before cycling back down we put on every item of clothing we had with us - unfortunately we had no ski goggles.



On the way down we met Caro (the neighbour) on her way up so we aren't the only crazy people in town.

We stopped off at the Explorer Hotel for a Cappucino before cycling home.

Track is at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=nkwmuczwhufznytb 10.8km with 600 meters of climbing.

More pictures at https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/103827427036815679772/albums/6050786238514201409?authkey=CM6y9qnHhfj9mAE

Max's blog at http://maxhogarth.blogspot.de/2014/12/christmas-day-biking.html

This was my last cycle ride in 2015. The total distance I cycled in 2014 was 4410 kilometre -
1303 km with the mountain bike and 3107 km with the race bike. I think that tells you which I prefer nowadays.