A few days ago I posted about getting my cuerpo up to the Sulzfluh Hutte in Switzerland, during my European sojourn this past January. The day after, we got beautiful weather for climb and ski of the Sulzfluh peak (2817 meters) above the hut. This was still part of Dynafit’s annual press event. Nice they have an exercise day to work off all the beer and pastries. Check it out.
Swiss ski touring preparations involve quality maps and quality consumables.
The way this works is Dynafit hires a few guides, then they divide into different groups with varied goals. I skipped the “freeride” group and went with the summit hounds led by George, the Dynafit product manager and former German ski mountaineering race team member. George is fast, so I was feeling a bit intimidated since around 3,500 vertical is nothing to trifle with on a high peak in the Alps. But hey, I’m pretty fit these days so why not? Besides, as the group filled in it was obvious it wasn’t going to be a race. Ended up being a pleasant pace, though we did do the climb in about 2 1/2 hours so some hard breathing occurred on occasion.
Blocky summit of Sulzfluh rises above the hut. The ski route winds to the right, around behind the cliffs.
We actually got started fairly early. I'd like to think that was because the guides were on top of it, but the truth is we had to get back for Dynafit's gear presentation.
Knocking off the first 1,000 vert or so, looking back at area where the freeride contingent went to enhance their endorphine levels.
A peak as steep as Sulzfluh has to have a headwall somewhere. Easy booting, but any higher and it would have been scary as the steps were icy.
After we got around the corner the route still looked questionable, but the track kept winding around to the back of the summit, skin climbing the whole way.
One of the guys I enjoy seeing every year at this event is Olaf Perwitzschky, who's with Alpin magazine. Every year Olaf does one of the most comprehensive ski reviews you can find, and thus pisses off lots of ski makers.
View from Sulzfluh summit, the Alps really do look good -- and vast. One cool thing about this summit was that Salewa/Dynafit owner Heiner Oberrauch came along with us -- awesome leadership and demonstration of the hands-on spirit making Salewa and Dynafit so successful these days..
The skiing was typical of any midwinter alpine mountain range. You started on some wind influenced snow interspersed with hardpan, then segued into the pow zone. (Apologies if I published this photo a while back, it's cool so it's re-upped.
You could ski around the booter, but doing so was so hacked up and icy I didn't bother. It felt good to exercise the climbing muscles.
More skiing.
After the climb and ski descent, tradition ensued.
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.
