Allgäu

The Snow Safety Sessions organised by our long-standing partner Mammut have kicked off this season and we were there, live in the Allgäu! The event focussed on safety on the mountain - whether for ski touring or freeriding. Avalanche awareness is refreshed directly in the terrain! During a joint ski tour with state-certified mountain guides and Mammut safety experts, search scenarios are discussed, tried out and emergency equipment is tested.

Everything is different this season - especially if you don't currently have the pleasure of open cable cars due to where you live. In order to still be able to test equipment extensively, the motto this season really is: "Earn your turn". Luckily, Ullr took pity on us after the late start to winter and gifted us with heavy snowfall from the end of December. Perfect for testing the Scott Superguide Freetour, which Scott calls the "Holy Grail".

Ski resort expansions, new developments or gourmet restaurants at 3,000 meters: ski resorts have long since ceased to be wild, pristine nature. But what is it that really draws us out to ski? And why should we raise our voices not only for the latest equipment, but above all for the nature that remains?

The FJT starts the new season with up to 3000 young athletes who want to gain experience in contest freeriding. The young U-14 riders are now also taking part in some events. In addition, the participants will be divided into the U-16 and U-18 categories for the first time. New venues are on the agenda in Iceland and Japan and efforts are being made to make contest freeriding more popular in these locations too. The season finale returns to Verbier.

Large ski resorts have it all: Hundreds of kilometers of perfectly groomed slopes, numerous lifts, often almost endless off-piste options and snow from December to the beginning of May. And yet it is often the small resorts where you have the most fun.

The Schafalpen are located between the Kleines Walsertal and the Stillach and Rappenalptal valleys and offer all kinds of challenging tours. The Roßgundkopf, which is part of the Schafalpenköpfe group, offers secluded descents in an impressive landscape, especially in the early season when the snow conditions are already suitable and the Fellhornbahn is not yet open.

Lobbyists from the tourism industry are softening the Bavarian Alpine plan. A classic freeride and touring summit is severely restricted by the lift plans.

Friday evening, 7.30 p.m.: Handover of the report at the Bad Hindelang mountain rescue service. I'm now on standby for a week. That means being ready for action in case someone in our service area gets into mountain trouble. This means that I stay at home or in the vicinity of the mountain rescue depot for a week, except when I'm working.

It should be common knowledge that you can still go ski touring well into spring. However, if you are not traveling in the highest regions of the Alps, a mountain bike is often helpful for the snow-free approach, in addition to a good dose of motivation!

The WeatherBlog has various other commitments in addition to its weekly activity here on PG, in the course of which it occasionally engages in literature research on various topics.

Julia has done it! Now she stands at the finish line, satisfied and endorphin-laden, celebrating her three 2nd places. She has survived the 2832 meters of downhill.

What goes on in an expert's mind when skiers or snowboarders ski down 40-degree deep snow slopes at avalanche warning level four? Martin Engler: It leaves me breathless at first. Last week, I was out touring on the Riedbergerhorn and saw people with binoculars at Fellbühl, an area above Riezlern that is popular with freeriders. It wasn't just a few individuals, but many. And that at warning level four. The slope is over 40 degrees steep at the top. I am clearly against the demonization of deep snow skiing and against bans. But when I see something like this, I shudder.