In 1896, ski pioneer W. Paulcke climbed the 3327-metre-high Oberalpstock in the Bündner Oberland. This ski tour was the very first ski ascent of a three-thousand-metre peak in the Alps. And what the pioneer achieved with his old wooden skis and without the support of a ski lift should be no problem for us 112 years later?
Early in the morning, when all is still well with the world, we meet up with almost 80 other tourers at the Disentis valley station for the first touring gondola on this beautiful spring Sunday. We don't have too much pioneering spirit this morning and so we comfortably cover the first 1600 meters in altitude with the help of various lifts and a little later we are already at an altitude of almost 2900 m.
To be honest, our interest in Paulcke is not too great, rather, like many other tourers, we are attracted by the great descents with sometimes more than 2000 meters in altitude. And this despite the fact that April has already come to an end?¿
After a 150-metre ascent in single file in a north-westerly direction, we reach the south ridge. This is where it gets steep for the first time and also a little exposed, but thanks to the iron stirrups and fixed ropes, the rocky snow gap can be crossed quickly and safely.
On the other side, the gliding equipment can be strapped on again and after a short steep descent, the skins or snowshoes are finally strapped on on the flat glacier.
From there, we still need a good two hours of sweaty ascent in the strong spring sun until we reach the impressive panoramic summit at 3327 m above sea level. After the obligatory summit break, we get ready for the descent. We have chosen the rewarding descent through Val Strem to Sedrun because it is quick and easy to get back to the starting point from there. However, the even more rewarding descents lead north and west into the Maderanertal, via Stalderfirn and Bächerfirn. However, as these descents end far away near Altdorf, we decide against the top descent and take the equally rewarding option to Sedrun, especially as we could then do a few more firn runs in the Disentis variant terrain.
We quickly cover the first 1500 meters of altitude in harsh and firn snow...
As we reach the flat valley floor, the snow conditions become increasingly difficult, then nasty and finally almost unrideable. Again and again we get bogged down in the groundless rotten snow, which means that we need almost an hour for the last 500 vertical meters and when we reach Sedrun station - bouncing from snow patch to snow patch - it is clear to us that there is nothing more we can do today and with the massive warming.
So we order a refreshing drink containing hops at Sedrun station. And while we're still pondering whether a descent might still be possible, we hear a rumble that quickly swells into an enormous roar. A medium-sized avalanche has broken loose on the north-facing slope opposite, carrying the majority of the still massive snow cover to the bottom of the valley and growing into a huge monster avalanche.
Somewhat meekly, we order another round of beer and enjoy the good end to an excellent winter - and toast to a great season...
