Dec 7

Posted by: Matt Spenceley
07 December 2009 

 After Engelberg last Wednesday, we ended up waiting until the weekend to get the skis out again, using the time to get back into some winter rock training - always a strange transition after so much climbing outside over the summer.  The reports on the touring conditions from a couple of folk who had been out weren't great, the lack of a firm base making for some BIG scratches in the skis.

Our local resort, Meiringen Hasliberg, opened for the first time this season so Lorenz, Rahel, Nina and I met on Saturday morning, all pretty excited.  Many of the pistes were in good nick but the deep powder meant that we barely touched any of the groomed surfaces.  Rocks were still lurking, but by sticking to the clean slopes, we avoided any major damage.  It was great to be all out together again, with a whole season to look forward to.

 

Lorenz and Nina earning some new tracks by hiking away from the pistes of Meiringen Hasliberg

 

Lorenz and Nina again, looking over towards the touring area of Rosenlaui (main peaks R-L: Schwarzhorn and Wildgärst)

It's now raining up to around 1600m, which as long as it doesn't melt too much away, should hopefully help stabilise the pack and make for a hard base (if it ever freezes again!).  I'll try the top of resort this afternoon to see if any of this rain's falling as powder.