Frühlingsskifahren

It's been no secret through our reports of 'wet dreams' the spring skiing around here has been very premeditated. Whether visible from the safety of the lodge, or the exposure of a steep switchback, there has been one line tugging at the mind more than others. Significantly more. And not surprisingly so.

Continuing with the theme of objectives not immediately in view from the window, the Northeast Couloir of Shakushidake entices the ambitious when viewed from popular resorts to the north of the valley. However dreamy this line seems from afar, it requires an early start just to get to. And like most things in Hakuba, the weather windows are few and far between. It requires much tenacity to get this line in good snow.

On Honshu, the transition from winter to spring can be painful. In March, temperatures rise, but the mountain weather remains as wild as ever. The result is rapid and violent transitions from heat and sun to rain, cold, snow and heavy doses of wind.

It's safe to say there's been no shortage of media coming from Japan this winter. Unless you've been living under a rock, someone, somewhere has told you just how good it is in the land of the rising sun. Frankly, I'm sick of it. I enjoy skiing deep powder in the trees, but it doesn't get me as excited as adventures in bigger mountains.

The difference in altitude of around 850 m and the last two thirds of the tour, which are steep or extremely steep throughout, give it a "very good" rating. Due to the north-facing exposure and the altitude with the starting point at the Hahntennjoch Pass at 1894 m, this tour can be undertaken late into spring.

After changeable carnival days with mini-northern congestion, high-pressure weather increasingly prevails and provides plenty of sunshine and mild temperatures for spring fever.

In the final part of Zach's winter extension in Norway, we go from the icy cold waves to the early summer glacier snow in the ski resort of Stryn for a summer ski finale.

It seems like worlds have passed since my last visit to the Kitzbühel Alps a few weeks ago and the weekend just gone. From the depths of winter straight into midsummer. To my great surprise, I discovered one thing: the conditions between Hahnenkamm and Pass Thurn are still perfect. No powder, but "perfect spring snow".

When the days get longer and warmer, but we still don't want to put our skis in the cellar, it's usually about finding a ski resort that offers runs in as many exposures as possible. And one of the areas that offers ideal terrain for this is Lech-Zürs on the Arlberg. Reason enough for us to head to the Arlberg in mid-April for a firn session, which at times even turned into a powder session.