I was impatiently looking forward to the semester break. Not just because you have a bit more time then, but above all because it meant: off to Austria again!
After the really great risk'n'fun session in December, I went to the so-called Next Level on the Kitzsteinhorn in Kaprun at the end of February. We stayed in the middle of the ski resort, so we had a bit more time in the morning and were always the first ones out in the snow. On the day of arrival, after a round of introductions, we started straight away: and all the knowledge from the first session was refreshed.
First terrain check
The next morning, we were greeted by the most beautiful weather. The fog from the previous day had disappeared and we were able to admire the Kitzsteinhorn in all its glory first thing in the morning. After the avalanche transceiver check and analysis of the avalanche report, we set off. We didn't spend much time on the piste, but headed straight into the terrain. You can get used to it there too ... The first thing we had to do was repeat and apply what we had learned in the training session. How do I ski a slope with as little risk as possible and have a lot of fun? Individually or all at once? And where are the terrain traps and risky slope areas? The evening program also had a lot to offer: it was all about map skills and tour planning. In the afternoon, we had already tried, with very mixed results, to determine our location as precisely as possible using the topographical map and to name the surrounding mountains. The whole thing turned out to be quite difficult and we came up with surprising and contradictory results. That's why the theory unit on mapping and map reading in the evening came at the right time... How do I interpret the contour lines on the map correctly in order to be able to distinguish suitable from dangerous terrain in advance? And how do I recognize extreme terrain where there is a risk of falling? Even if I understood the theory, it would certainly take me many more hours of practice before I could find my way around the terrain safely with the map. Of course, we didn't have that much time during the week - but I'll get to grips with topographical maps more in future.
Perceive - assess - decide: in adverse conditions and endless powder
Unfortunately, I felt 50 years older the next morning. I noticed the unfamiliar mountain air: my mouth was totally dry and the headache was certainly not from the one beer the night before ... But after breakfast, the world was more or less back to normal. Being fit was really important for this day, as we had received a few centimetres of fresh snow overnight and it was still snowing... The Kitzsteinhorn had once again disappeared behind thick clouds, visibility was pretty poor - and the avalanche warning level had risen from 2 to 3, so we were in familiar, flat terrain. Nevertheless, it wasn't easy for me to keep my bearings - after all, you couldn't even see where it went up and where it went down. You often only saw stones when it was already too late. The Next Level is primarily about planning and carrying out descents and smaller tours independently as a group. The mountain guide and the guide from risk'n'fun should only be there to answer questions and intervene in an emergency. On this day, however, we were still a long way from achieving our goal of moving independently in alpine terrain with minimal risk. When I was given the task of leading the group down a ski route, I didn't feel very comfortable with it at first. Somehow I managed to get off the ski route and continue on another route. It wasn't a big deal, as both routes ended at the same place, but I was shocked at how difficult it is to find your bearings in such poor visibility. I was really glad when we all arrived at the bottom in one piece.
Watch out for avalanches!
In the afternoon, we did an avalanche rescue exercise in small groups. We actually knew what we were in for, but even in such (practice) situations you realize that you can't fully prepare for an emergency. And it's so important to keep a clear head: In our case, however, a (fictitious) worst-case scenario also awaited us: with three buried victims and two confused participants who were unable to switch off their avalanche transceivers independently and then also poked around wildly with the probes. The whole spectacle must have looked rather funny to outsiders. My job was to locate the buried victims (in our case, backpacks equipped with an avalanche transceiver) with the probe and dig them out with the avalanche shovel. Fortunately, the latter was not a problem given the snow and the depth of the burial. Searching with the avalanche transceiver proved to be more difficult. The directional arrow often disappeared or suddenly pointed in a completely different direction. As a result, it took a long eight minutes to find the last backpack. And although the whole thing was just a simulation, the atmosphere became more tense by the minute. It's hard to imagine what it must be like when you're looking for your friends and not just a backpack.
Another impressive exercise followed, in which the aim was to simulate the feeling of being caught in an avalanche. One volunteer was needed to play the victim. The rest lined up in two parallel rows, piled up as much snow as possible in front of them and armed themselves with a shovel. Now it was time to start, the victim slowly entered the trellis and we began to shovel like mad, preferably directly in the face. It was usually no longer necessary to knock the driver over. But if he did fight his way to the end of our row of shovels, it was easy to bring him down with a gentle tap. Last but not least, we all threw ourselves onto our brave "victim". I can't speak from personal experience, but the four brave people in our group who were buried under the "avalanche" all agreed that it was an absolutely shitty feeling. Especially all the snow on your face, which makes breathing extremely difficult, makes you panic quickly.
It's uphill
We then had to plan the next day completely independently. The avalanche report warned of a significant avalanche risk, which didn't make the situation any easier for us. We found it relatively difficult to make decisions in the group. This was made more difficult by the fact that we hadn't known each other well for very long - and when are you ever out in the backcountry with 10 people? After a long period of deliberation, however, we took advantage of all the powder for a few descents close to the slopes and then skied a little further out of the ski area to attempt our first small ascent with the help of our touring equipment. After all, we didn't always want to lug it around for nothing.
In the evening, acting talent was required: this time we mimed a press conference on the topic of "Train or punish? - How to deal with the increasing number of freeriders?" A wide variety of people were involved who come into contact with freeriders in different ways or are freeriders themselves. What I found particularly exciting was that for the first time it was also about the effects on nature. It was very interesting for me to learn more about the legal situation: The extent to which triggering an avalanche can also cause problems under criminal law was something I hadn't realized until now.
The final countdown
And then, all too soon, the last day arrived. We had decided to go on a slightly longer tour with a longer ascent that day - and we were lucky and the weather cooperated. This time our group harmonized much better. We were able to make decisions more quickly and everyone contributed their opinion. That was a huge step forward!
It was also everyone's turn to set the ascent trail and make tracks, which was much more strenuous in the deep snow than it looked with our mountain guide... After a few meters, I was already pretty out of breath and was glad to be able to hand over the lead again. After three hours of climbing, it was time to turn back. The sun had already taken its toll on the snow cover. We also had to get back to our hostel in time. So it was time to take the skins off our skis, put our helmets on and off we went... The descent was a dream. The snow was powdery and untouched, making the last run my personal highlight of the week. So our week on the Kitzsteinhorn came to an end and it was time to leave. I experienced so many great things this week and learned an incredible amount! "It's amazing how quickly such a diverse group grows together within a week at an event like this. They are all nice people with good riding skills and, in my opinion, exceptional sporting ability. In addition to all the knowledge you get, you also learn to express your opinion on possible dangers and further planning, which is something that also helps you in everyday life." It's hard to sum up the week better than Philip, who also took part in Next Level. Our group was really great, we had a lot of fun and I hope to see everyone again at the chill-out in Fieberbrunn at the end of March!
