The time between my last visit to the Kitzbühel Alps a few weeks ago and the weekend just gone seems worlds apart. From the depths of winter straight into midsummer. To my great surprise, I discovered one thing: the conditions between the Hahnenkamm and Pass Thurn are still perfect. No powder, but "perfect spring snow".
We set off for Kitzbühel on Sunday morning without any great expectations. Our plan was to ski for a few hours and relax in the sun at lunchtime. Logically, we were already on the Fleckalmbahn at a quarter to nine. After all, we want to make good use of the morning.
Timing, timing and timing
The snow outside the slopes is still frozen from the cold night. So we turn left onto the piste at Sonnenbühel and do a few warm-up turns there. Timing is everything on days like this. Half an hour too early or too late and you miss the right time for a run. Now, in the morning, the south-eastern exposures are the order of the day.
We head into the backside of the Steinbergkogel at speed. A thin layer on the surface is already beginning to soften. Smoothly, we keep to the right and turn down to the Kasereck lift. At the top of the Pengelstein we continue straight away. Past the 3S lift station and left into the slope below the gondola. It's unbelievable how much snow there still is here.
Now there's no stopping us. We cross over to the Hochsaukaser as quickly as possible, ski up and set our sights on the Schwarzkogel. The north-east flank looks great, as always, but is likely to be tough as nails. Walking up, no thanks, we'd lose too much time. We'd rather traverse the north-east flank, cross the ridge and climb the slope to the Neuhüttenalm on the side facing the sun and let ourselves drift out of the valley through the Saukasergraben.
What luck. A cab is waiting for us at the exit of the trench and takes us quickly to the Jochberger Wagstättlift without any waiting time. We still have one morning run to go: from the mountain station of the Trattenbach lift into the Aubachgraben via the Gauxalmen.
"Creamy powder"
"Creamy powder!" I cheer. That's what guides from Silverton Colorado would call this snow. Of course, fresh powder is my ever-present dream, but on a day like this, even a fine layer of firn makes my freeriding heart leap for joy.
Lunch break - no. Let's continue. We fortify ourselves with a few chocolate bars in the 3S lift. Now it's time for the western slopes, i.e. Hieslegg and Pengelstein. Apart from us, there are hardly any other skiers on the slopes. Like us, most freeriders had probably not expected such good conditions.
On the backside of the Silberstuben lift, we still find untracked gullies. Time for a few photos. Otherwise no one would believe us. Perfect spring skiing after three weeks of midsummer in the Kitzbühel Alps.
