For those who want to go freeriding in Davos in the future, but are not familiar with the area and/or have little experience in tour preparation and situation assessment, the new "Freeride Guide Davos Klosters" offers a handy and well-structured reference work in German and English. But experienced freeriders will also find plenty of inspiration and great route suggestions in the new Freeride Guide. At first glance, I like the practical, handy format and the clear and good structure of the book. The Freeride Guide consists of three parts: Introduction, ski areas (each of the five Davos ski regions is presented in detail) and general information (wildlife rest areas, avalanche danger, tour preparation etc.). As befits a freeride guide, the main focus is clearly on downhill skiing. Most of the descents presented can therefore be reached directly from the lift or via a short ascent, and most of the descents end at a bus or lift station. Below the introductory section is the user guide, which explains how to work with the book and how to understand the signs and symbols used. The symbols are clearly chosen and provide a quick overview of the most important information: Difficulty level, time required, altitude difference, special features of the route or even "local"knowledge. The main part is made up of the chapters on the Parsenn, Jakobshorn, Pischa, Rinerhorn and Madrisa ski areas. Here you will always find a map section at the beginning of the chapter with the routes marked (each with number and name), which are then described in detail later. A detailed photo of the terrain with the routes marked provides a good overview. As the descents presented are usually not too complex, you get a good first impression of the character of the route thanks to the detailed tour description. Additional visualization is provided by the mostly successful action photos from the respective descents. Every freerider will find a descent to suit their personal ability level and safety requirements. The respective exposure (advantages, disadvantages, special features) or avalanche danger (particularly dangerous spots, tricky when...) is also pointed out. A good selection of routes for freeriders of different levels is described for each area. The chapter "General information" deals with tour preparation, wildlife protection and avalanches. Due to the complexity of the individual topics, only a brief insight can be given in each case. The references to local particularities are well done. In addition, reference is always made to further information.
Conclusion
The book largely contains the variants that ski instructors in the Davos/Klosters area are allowed to ski with groups. The book is easy to understand and illustrates the information well. A few beautiful and easily accessible variants are not included and some worthwhile variations of runs are not included either. But the local guides can show you these. And besides, we locals are happy if not all runs are published... I think it's very nice and important that so much importance is attached to the topic of wildlife protection and wildlife quiet zones. Especially in the Davos area, freeriders have almost endless possibilities, so the few wildlife quiet zones should be strictly observed. Please respect nature and the other "locals" who live in it! The book is a great reference book for freeride beginners, but also for experienced freeriders looking for inspiration in the Davos/Klosters area. Beginners should stick to the easy and short tours or take a local guide to get started in the region.
Information about the book
Freeride Guide Davos / KlostersAuthors: Christian Frei, Ruedi Berli, Roger Fischer
170 pages
Price: 36 Swiss francs
Languages: German and English
Format: 19 x 12 cm
Available directly from the publisher
