The date is 17.5.2012 - the Magic May Day of 2012. Almost every year, the so-called "ice saints" come as a positive surprise. In many years, this weather phenomenon enables one or two perfect powder days in the middle of what feels like early summer in the middle/end of May. Lush powder snow at the top of the mountain and a beer garden atmosphere down in the valley. So we once again had the pleasurable duty of putting this farmer's rule to the test.
The 4 (or 5) days commemorating the saints Mamertus, Pancratius, Servatius, Boniface and Sophie are known as the "ice saints". They are understood to be the meteorological singularity that leads to regular weather conditions in Central Europe. The weather saints are bishops and martyrs from the 4th and 5th centuries who are celebrated annually from May 11-15. Meteorologically, the singularity could not be scientifically confirmed, but this is due to calendar reforms. The days with the N/NE weather conditions longed for by powder enthusiasts bring cold air from 21 May to 23 May, accompanied by snowfall and often sunny and relatively cool powder snow days.
The Ice Saints: 2012 version
This year, we had the chance to enjoy a memorable powder-season-ending day a few days before the regular date. Once again, the alarm clock rang far too early and of course we only arrived at the Hintertux Glacier ski resort half an hour after the lifts opened. Despite the public holiday (Ascension Day), there were only a few hundred skiers in the area, and the freerider quota was as low as it has rarely been this winter.
Out of the gondola, binding clacks and straight into the "frozen wall" variant. At the top at the entrance on the open glacier slope, slightly blown fresh snow for a few turns. Further down in the variant, however, the first whoops of joy are already multiplying. 40 cm of fresh snow, steep but not too steep terrain, no tracks ahead of us. The snow is falling in fountains behind the rider. Fresh snow of perfect consistency for freeriding. The group knows the terrain and the stopping points, the throttle remains at full stop for a whopping 900 vertical meters. High fives. Perfect descent.
We do a few more laps of the Gefrorene Wand, take a few quick photos as a memento and continue on, locust-like, to the Lärmstange variant. Even at 12 noon, there aren't 50 tracks on the 1-kilometer-wide slope. The slightly hilly terrain is once again a great place to play and enjoy swinging. Down in the valley, the meadows are already turning green, but up here there is great powder snow until midday.
End of the season - with an option to extend
We ride one run after another until 2 p.m. without a break. We enjoy the obligatory after-work beer on the sunny west-facing balcony. What a perfect end to an outstanding powder snow season in the Tyrolean Alps. (The PG editorial team reserves the option of extending the trip to the date of the "real" ice saints.)
