Dec
2
Posted by:
Matt Spenceley
02 December 2009
It’s been a slow start to the ski season this year. In the last two winters, we made our first tours in early November, but over the past month the temperatures have remained high and the first light flurries of snow melted almost as soon as they fell. Back in the UK last week for the expedition meetings and trad climbing, I kept an eye out on the forecast and the high-pressure system holding the snow away from the Alps (and directing the rain at us in the UK!). It looked like we’d be waiting into December for first tracks. In Manchester airport, I received a text from Nina that there was snow falling in Meiringen. An exciting return home to deep snow down to the valley floor!
Most of the resorts in the Bernese Oberland and central Switzerland are either still closed or only open at weekends (that’ll change from this weekend onwards). However, the glaciated ski area of Engelberg/Titlis is running with most pistes prepared from the Trübsee station upwards. Michiel and I headed over there this morning (over an hour’s journey to access a mountain that rises above our valley - the lifts are on the Engelberg side). With summit temperatures at –10 degrees C, it looked like we were in for powder. I did my last tour in June but even so, I felt some new season nerves as we reached the top station, my K2 Mount Bakers getting tested for the first time. The new snow has only hidden the slots on the main glacier, so it’ll be awhile before that’s ok to ski. We set out exploring the upper mountain, finding some untracked lines as well as some stones; whilst there’s up to 120cm in places, there’s no consolidated base so watch out! The biggest problem proved to be getting bogged down on the flatter sections and I soon figured it paid to keep fast and lay down few turns.
All in all, a great first day of the season. As for the next few days, below around 1800m, a freeze-thaw cycle has kicked in and more snowfall is forecast for Friday. I’m planning to get out on some of the less avalanche-prone tours in Rosenlaui in the next couple of days. Fingers crossed that this snow will form a good base for the rest of the season.
