PowderGuide

You want to become a freeride pro, but don't know exactly how to go about it? We are keeping a close eye on the scene and have put together a new, irregular and not entirely serious series of important tips. First of all, the aim should be to raise your profile. How do you do that? Social media! Through systematic Instagram research, we have found the best posts to increase your follower numbers! Caution: Don't get too creative!

As many of you will have noticed, the ConditionsReport has not been working since the end of last week. Some other functions of the site are also down. PowderGuide.com is currently struggling with some kind of DDoS attack. We are trying to solve the problem as soon as possible, but cannot say exactly how long it will take.

Jackie Paaso, FWT veteran who now lives in Sweden, takes us on an unusual adventure in the Swedish wilderness in "Arctic 12". Together with Reine Barkered and other pros from the Scott team, she has set herself the goal of skiing up all 12 mountains in Sweden that are over 2000 meters high.

PowderGuide partner Ortovox has produced a summary of important basics on the subject of avalanche safety. The content is available online for reference and is intended as an introduction to the topic (or as a refresher!). Of course, it is no substitute for an avalanche course in the backcountry, but it does provide a good basis on which to build.

January wasn't exactly at its best: down in the valley, climbing and mountain biking were already back on the agenda and up on the mountain, the last remnants of snow and artificial snow slopes were slowly but surely melting away. But before we get back into winter mode and start thinking about ski tours and freeride adventures, we ask ourselves when we last really took a close look at our equipment.

There's something to win! Together with the PowderGuide partners in Engelberg, we are giving away two days in the Swiss freeride mecca! Ski tickets and accommodation with breakfast are included, the winners only have to take care of the après-ski entertainment themselves!

The popular contest at the Saarbrücker Hütte in the Hike To Ride format had to be canceled the last two winters due to the pandemic. The organizers hope that the 8th edition of the Back on Track Feel Free Ride Contest will finally take place in April 2022.

One thing is clear, Christmas 2021 will once again be characterised by the coronavirus in one form or another. Unfortunately. So even at the beginning of December, many people are still not sure how they will spend Christmas, when they will get out into the snow, how the winter season, and in fact life as a whole, will continue over the next few months.

Michael Larcher, head of the mountaineering department at the ÖAV and mountain guide, will address various aspects of the topic in his annual lecture at the start of the winter touring season, from rescuing companions to recurring accident patterns. The live stream will take place on December 8 at 19:00.

The PowderGuide weather service is back so you can follow the snowfall forecast for the weekend on the PowderMap again! As usual, in addition to new snow forecasts, a forecast text and the SNOWGRID and sunshine maps are also available.

The Austrian Society for Snow and Avalanches (ÖGSL) is organizing an open Zoom workshop on Monday, 29. 11. 2021, at 19:00 on the subject of first aid in avalanche accidents with Manuel Genswein.

*UPDATE: Due to the lockdown in Austria, the film tour and competition have had to be postponed! Most people will be familiar with Swiss freeskier Jérémie Heitz thanks to his spectacular runs in the first part of "La Liste". Back then, he set out in search of the steepest 4,000-meter descents in the Alps.