Baschi Bender

It was the end of August 2020, I had just returned from my summer vacation, the surfboard had been put away and the ski season was just around the corner. Like any normal skier, I asked myself typical questions for the time: When is the first snow coming? How many PowderAlerts await us? Is my setup right for the new season?

Petzl, known for climbing equipment and headlamps, has an ultra-light set of crampons and ice axes in its range that is perfectly suited to ski touring and ski mountaineering. I was allowed to test the Ride ice axe and the Leopard crampons last year.

"A true all-rounder with unique 3D.Ridge technology for the best stability and liveliness on and off the slopes." This is how the 90EIGHT is described by Völkl and I tested the ski for precisely these characteristics (all-round suitability on and off-piste).

Who hasn't always wanted to shape their own board? Your own pro model, so to speak! Exactly the shape you've always wanted for your board? The CLARK from YES Snowboards makes it possible! All you need is an idea and a jigsaw!

The Sweet Grimnir helmet is the pro model from Terje Haakonsen. It is probably the most advanced freeride helmet on the market - only the best materials and manufacturing technologies are used. Certain helmet cameras can be attached to it without having to be glued. This also enables certification with regard to the additional forces that can be caused by a helmet camera in the event of a fall. The helmet is also equipped with MIPS technology, which reduces the rotational forces that can act on the head in the event of a fall.

The Monkeywrench combo from Sweet Protectionist is made from the finest 3-layer Gore-Tex material. It is inspired by the outfits worn by deep-sea fishermen and hunters in Norway. Every detail has been thought through and the dungarees and jacket are equipped with ample pockets. The combo is cut rather wide, but doesn't look like a "bag" at all.

My freeride colleague Thomas Gaisbacher has been trying to lure me to his home in East Tyrol for years. But until now, the journey from Freiburg to East Tyrol was always too far for me. But this year I just had to go! The snow conditions there were just too tempting. And what's more, his place of residence, the Dolomitenhütte, is simply awesome! So I decided to stay there for a few days and explore the area in perfect conditions. For me as a photographer, pictures are always worth a thousand words, but to help you find your way around, Thomas has put together three tour tips for you.

Removable airbag systems allow expensive avalanche airbag systems to be inexpensively swapped between different backpack models, so that you are optimally equipped for more situations on the mountain for an acceptable additional cost. One such backpack that is ready to accommodate an R.A.S. - Removable Airbag System is the Mammut Pro R.A.S. ready.

Photographer Baschi Bender put the Especial Pant from Flylow through its paces in practice.

Basti Haag is one of the best-known German-speaking extreme ski mountaineers. On September 23, 2012, Basti narrowly escaped one of the biggest avalanche accidents in Nepal. 30 people were buried in the avalanche - unfortunately 11 died. Basti was one of the first people at the scene of the accident. PG spoke to him about his experiences.

Nowhere in the Alps is there currently more snow than in the Gotthard region. And since no ski resorts are open apart from the glaciers, but glacier vultures are not everyone's cup of tea, the Gotthard region is once again a good choice. Because there is the small, fine red train (Matterhorn-Gotthard-Bahn) that takes tourers up quite far and cheaply. From the Oberalp Pass you then have a whole host of fine ski or snowboard peaks to choose from...

After having to turn back two weeks earlier on the Helgenhorn due to the high avalanche risk, we decided to go on another tour in the Bedretto Valley. This time, however, with ideal avalanche conditions and perfect mountain weather.