There was organized the ski-touring course Skialpinistický kurz pro členy Klubu Hedvábná stezka 25. až 27. ledna 2013 in RaxAlpe at the end of January 2013. We have been focused on all aspects for basic and intermediate ski-touring trips in the mountains without glaciers.

A preparation in the Saturday's morning was thoroughly, teeth were lighting around

Full photogallery: Ski-touring course for Hedvabna stezka in RaxAlpe, Austria

First ascend in the morning was with nice fog in the valley below

We have used ski-touring and avalanche equipment from the renting company SP Sport půjčovna – excellent Swiss skis Movement, shoes Scarpa, binding Diamir, Dynafit and Plum. The only exception was I as I had rented skis Movement Jackal – 176 cm, 136–105–124 mm with binding G3 Onyx – DIN 6–12 from Boatpark.

Our first ascend up the slope with interesting slope, this angle of slope was the premiere one for skiing for majority of participants

We had met in the front of BVV Trade Fairs Brno around 4 p.m. on Friday. We had distributed ski-touring shoes, we loaded in the cars and we started in the direction Vien. We continued on A2 highway in the direction Graz, and we turned right to RaxAlpe. We ended up at parkplace Preiner Gscheid at 1070 m. We distributed skis and set bindings within the size of ski-touring shoes. We started uphill in the dark. Some people used headlamps, but it was not needed, as there were nice lighting from the moon. Finally, we reached our hut Waxriegelhaus (1361 m).

We trained proper way of falling on the slopes with the rotation on backpack or backbone – it was good fun!

Some used headlamps, others wanted to have some fun in the dark Austrian forest. It seemd that both groups liked that to the top of the forest, when it began to be very windy. All of us reached the hut Waxriegelhaus (1361 m) without any problem. After the accommodation and small refreshment there were presented several lecturer describing all possible activities in the winter mountains. A couple of short films about telemark skiing were presented as a motivation for next two days.

Test of snow layer stability – Rutsch block test

We could see incredible winter weather in RaxAlpe – sunny and calm – on Saturday morning. After breakfast, we fine-tuned the equipment and went to basic ski-touring training. We tried various ways of climbing, traversing and turning on a slope on the slope opposite from the hut. Since the slope was small and with icy surface, everyone thoroughly tested climbing on skins, turning, traversing, etc. all of them with gliding down from time to time.

Two girls covered by snow simultanously – it was the first time we have tried it

During the first skiing down using different kind of turns we are also practiced to rise and fall from the slope. Some of the participants liked it so much that they fall from the slope several times. The second ascend was already faster and we focused on identifying snow profile and stability tests of snow. Several participants also tried practically what it is when you are covered by snow from the avalanche. Some others tried to localize people under snow by avalanche probes.

I am skiing down on skis Movement Jackal with binding G3 Onyx

We skied down and after a short refreshment we climbed on skins to the side ridge. Since I started from a place of rest first and I did not want to wait until others arrived on the side ridge, I skied down part of the slope gently-covered by the forest. At the top we met two grazing chamois, that were not disturbed by us.

Chamois on the side ridge of RaxAlpe

After lateral ridge we continued still quite far – partially on feet. Once we got to the appropriate start point for skiing in a wide notch slope, we prepared for the descent. The downhill was excellent, the top of the slope was beautifully lit by the sun, while approximately half of downhill was in the shadows. Everyone enjoyed skiing fully.

Karl-Ludwig-Haus on the top, nice and long slope with interesting steepness below the hut

After dinner, we focused on details in the methodology of usage of avalanche transceivers. The task for the participants afterwards was to find out and dig out two avalanche transceivers somewhere outside in the dark – they could use headlamps, snow showel and avalanche probe. Once, they dig them out, they had to dig them again in other positions. Finally, there were some presentations about the sleeping on the snow – tents, bivouac, snow caves, etc. Subsequently, as an accompaniment to the ongoing discussions background music began – Slovak group Horkýže Slíže or something more standard.

A small summit in the side ridget is just above us

The weather began a bit wrong during the night, but it was still great in comparison with the standard RaxAlpe weather. There was planned a half-day ski-touring trip to Heukuppe (2007 m) via the hut Karl-Ludwig-Haus (1804 m) as the first fixed point and refreshments. The skins on skis worked nicely in the the lower part of the main couloir. As none of us was equipped with crampons on skik-touring binding, the ascending in the upper part of the slope was quite uncomfortable. Therefore, ultimately our entire group put skis on backpacks and we climbed on feet.

Turning on the icy surface just below the side ridge

After refreshments at the hut Karl-Ludwig-Haus we have quickly ascended the Heukuppe (2007 m), where there were beautiful panoramatic views of the surrounding wide area. Skiing down from the summit to the hut was great.

We split into two teams next to the hut, where one team has come down after the first part of chains on feet, while the rest gathered in this section, including uncomfortably icy ski traverse. After entering the main couloir the skiing was great again.

Fall and smile…

We skied down the hut, bought some liquid refreshment, packed all our staff and continued on skis down the parkplace. We loaded all people and equipment in the cars and went to Brno.

We had to walk a little on the side ridge

Conclusions:

Whole group of participants from the club Hedvábná stezka was excellent and it looked that all of them have learned a lot of important thing from real basics up to quite hard ascends and descends on the hard and icy surface. The only missing kind of snow was powder snow.

We had to walk a little to the beginning of downhill

There remained only small part from the snow to shadow

Excellent snow and angle of the slope

Sun has melted partially the snow in the upper part of the slope

Telemark skier on the border between the sun and shadow

Falling down is a good fun – smile is on the face all the time

Ascend to Karl-Ludwig-Haus

There was good fun at Karl-Ludwig-Haus

Summit photo on Heukuppe

Skiing down from Heukuppe towards Karl-Ludwig-Haus

Hard and icy downhill and traverse

Down the hill on skis

We are leaving Waxriegelhaus

autor: Jan Pala palic