– The Backcountry Ski Site
  • Avalanches
  • Gear Reviews
    • Ski Reviews
    • Boot Reviews
    • Binding Reviews
    • Snowboard Splitboard
    • Book Reviews
    • Avalanche Beacon Reviews
    • Airbag Backpacks
    • Backcountry Electronics
    • Misc Gear Reviews
  • Podcast
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Ski Touring Basics
    • Boot Fitting
    • Fitness & Health
    • Gear Mods
  • Trip Reports
    • Fourteeners
    • Huts – Cabins – Lodges
    • Denali McKinley
    • 8,000 Meter Skiing
  • Stories
    • History
    • Humor
    • Land Use Issues
    • Evergreen Ski Touring
    • Poetry
  • Resources
    • All Posts Listed
    • 100 Recent Comments
    • Backcountry Skiing & Ski Touring Webcams
    • Ski Weights Comparison
    • Archives of WildSnow.com
    • Authors Page
    • Ski Touring Bindings
      • Trab TR2 Index and FAQ
      • Salomon Guardian & Tracker
      • Naxo Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Silvretta Pure Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Marker F10-12 Duke Baron
      • G3 Onyx Ski Binding FAQ
      • G3 ION Ski Touring Binding
      • Fritschi Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Fritschi Diamir Frame Bindings Mount DIY
      • Fritschi Diamir Bindings FAQ
      • Fritschi Tecton FAQ
      • Atomic Salomon Backland MTN
      • Dynafit Tri-Step Binding 2001-2003
      • Naxo randonnee alpine touring AT ski binding FAQ
      • Dynafit Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Dynafit Binding Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Review 1
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Page Two
    • History
      • Ski Touring Binding Museum
      • Trooper Traverse Intro & Index
      • Randonnee Ski Touring “AT” ski gear — What is Hip?
      • Chronology
    • Backcountry Skiing Core Glossary
    • Gear Review Policy & Disclosures

– The Backcountry Ski Site

  • Avalanches
  • Gear Reviews
    • Ski Reviews
    • Boot Reviews
    • Binding Reviews
    • Snowboard Splitboard
    • Book Reviews
    • Avalanche Beacon Reviews
    • Airbag Backpacks
    • Backcountry Electronics
    • Misc Gear Reviews
  • Podcast
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Ski Touring Basics
    • Boot Fitting
    • Fitness & Health
    • Gear Mods
  • Trip Reports
    • Fourteeners
    • Huts – Cabins – Lodges
    • Denali McKinley
    • 8,000 Meter Skiing
  • Stories
    • History
    • Humor
    • Land Use Issues
    • Evergreen Ski Touring
    • Poetry
  • Resources
    • All Posts Listed
    • 100 Recent Comments
    • Backcountry Skiing & Ski Touring Webcams
    • Ski Weights Comparison
    • Archives of WildSnow.com
    • Authors Page
    • Ski Touring Bindings
      • Trab TR2 Index and FAQ
      • Salomon Guardian & Tracker
      • Naxo Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Silvretta Pure Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Marker F10-12 Duke Baron
      • G3 Onyx Ski Binding FAQ
      • G3 ION Ski Touring Binding
      • Fritschi Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Fritschi Diamir Frame Bindings Mount DIY
      • Fritschi Diamir Bindings FAQ
      • Fritschi Tecton FAQ
      • Atomic Salomon Backland MTN
      • Dynafit Tri-Step Binding 2001-2003
      • Naxo randonnee alpine touring AT ski binding FAQ
      • Dynafit Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Dynafit Binding Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Review 1
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Page Two
    • History
      • Ski Touring Binding Museum
      • Trooper Traverse Intro & Index
      • Randonnee Ski Touring “AT” ski gear — What is Hip?
      • Chronology
    • Backcountry Skiing Core Glossary
    • Gear Review Policy & Disclosures
   

Perfect Austrian Ski Tour – EU Days 2-3

by Lou Dawson January 3, 2009
written by Lou Dawson January 3, 2009

The Austrians I’m with are fast. But what else do you expect? You start out in the lineup, stop for a whiz, and the next thing you know your Tyrolean berg-friends are over the next rise 500 vert above. But the mountain boys and girls like hanging out at the summit, bundled up in their puffy with a cup of hot from their thermos. So eventually you catch up. That’s what it’s like when you ski Austria; it seems like everyone is an expert, everyone is fast, and everyone is smiling.

Backcountry Skiing


Fritz took this photo of Stephen headed into the undercast that lurked below us all day. Conditions were zilch avy danger due to rain cement under a well bonded pow storm layer. Not exactly hero skiing but close to it, though once we hit the whiteout all bets were off.

Euros don’t carry much (typical pack is a shovel and a cell phone — sometimes without the shovel). So they don’t drink much. So they don’t pee much and get ahead every time a well hydrated American has to stop. But mostly they’re fit. More so, these guys have muscles used to the plentiful oxygen of lower altitudes than we tour at in Colorado (I’ve got the lungs, but until I’m used to the lower altitude my skinny high altitude legs can’t handle the amount of O2 my huffers can gather.) So there you have my excuses for dropping back a few minutes. Pee stops and reverse acclimation. Any questions (grin)?

Lou in Austria, first EU 09 turns. Photo by Fritz.

Lou in Austria, first EU 09 turns. Photo by Fritz.

It’s day 2-3 of this year’s WildSnow European visit. I’m touring with Dynafit binding inventor Fritz Barthel, along with his dad and a group of their friends. We’re backcountry skiing the Schafsiedel and another peak above the Langer Grund valley, south of Bad Haering in the Zillertal region of the Austrian Alps.


Backcountry Skiing

I caught this shot on the way up in the morning. Undercast always adds beauty. In this case, it was gradually creeping higher as the day progressed, eventually broaching timberline. Above the trees, being in pea soup can make it hard to find the gasthaus at day's end, so I kept my eye on things with some concern.

Backcountry Skiing

Summit of Schafsiedel, looking southeast.

Backcountry Skiing

Lou (left) and Fritz Barthel.

Backcountry Skiing

Manfred Barthel arrives -- this guy was walking to these ski tours back when they were all 2-day trips from town, amazing what he's seen and knows.

Backcountry Skiing

Riki the speed queen, all Dynafit, all the time. Seven Summits skis, ZZero Green Machine boots, clothing, backpack -- even her gloves?

Backcountry Skiing

Our down route off Schafsiedel.

Backcountry Skiing

Another view of our downroute off Schafsiedel.

Backcountry Skiing

Euro march to the day's second summit.

Backcountry Skiing

Paolo coming up -- the Italian Stallion won't stop for anything.

Backcountry Skiing

Like misty tendrils in some horror flick, the fog continues to seek us out. We go to meet it, and find ourselves flailing for a few hundred vert, then we break out of the bottom into flat but skiable light for the last 1,000 vert to the valley.

Backcountry Skiing

Snacks and brews at Brennhutte round out the day. (Full disclosure, I only had a bite as to not spoil Huberta's cooking.) We ended up with about 5,500 vertical feet of climbing and skiing. A bit of a leg ache what with jetleg and all -- but finally a good sized Austrian tour on a mostly bluebird day with good snow. Imagine that!

Lou Dawson

WildSnow.com publisher emeritus and founder Lou (Louis Dawson) has a 50+ years career in climbing, backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering. He was the first person in history to ski down all 54 Colorado 14,000-foot peaks, has authored numerous books about about backcountry skiing, and has skied from the summit of Denali in Alaska, North America’s highest mountain.

www.loudawson.com
0
Email
previous post
Kästle FX84 Sighted in Colorado Mountains
next post
Gecko Climbing Skins Redux

Trip Reports

  • A Small Hut for Big Skiing in the San Juans: Aladdin’s Lamp

    April 23, 2024
  • Revisiting a 2011 Trip Report: Adventure in the Pickets — Thread of Ice Ski Descent

    December 9, 2022

Avalanche Department

  • Ask a Forecaster: Q&A with CAIC’s Andrew McWilliams

    March 10, 2024

Tips & Tricks

  • Transition Efficiencies 101 with Tech Binding Heel Units

    January 6, 2023
  • Visualizing the Backcountry as a Splitboarder: Minimizing the Challenges of Movement by Anticipating Terrain

    December 5, 2022
  • TURBOCHARGE YOUR TRAILHEAD BEACON CHECK

    November 15, 2022

Recent Comments

  • Daniel on Backcountry Ski Boots Buyer’s Guide: The Touring Boots Worth the Money
  • Jim Milstein on Best Touring Packs for Guides and Daytrippers
  • Bergen Tjossem on Much more than a steep ski: Fischer Transalp 92 CTI Long-Term Review
  • Maciej on Much more than a steep ski: Fischer Transalp 92 CTI Long-Term Review


  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • About Lou Dawson
  • Terms of Service
  • Authors Page
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Copyright & Legal
  • Website Security

@2025 - All Rights Reserved. Designed and Developed by WildSnow


Back To Top

Read alsox

A Small Hut for Big Skiing...

April 23, 2024

Revisiting a 2011 Trip Report: Adventure...

December 9, 2022

Feeding the Backcountry Soul on Crete

August 25, 2022