Hochtouren

It feels like we've only blinked once and the season is already over. But so much has happened and it's been great. The start in December was brilliant, hopes were high for an exceptional season - but the weather and winter had its own plans. From Christmas onwards, the Alps were hit by unusually mild temperatures, which continued throughout the winter. It was a season full of highs and lows - literally. Because while we were looking forward to the powder days, the snow cover retreated regrettably early to well over 1500 m altitude, and the touring options were massively restricted, especially at lower altitudes. But spring was kind to us, bringing back the winter for a good ten days in April and providing good conditions for the alpine touring season.

Dear readers, another season is drawing to a close, editorial content has already become scarcer in the last two weeks and the PowderGuide editorial team is slowly going into summer hibernation. And yet this year is different than usual! For the first time, our weather service is NOT taking a summer break! And of course neither is the development team...

A short while ago we were water-skiing or riding bikes, and now, at the end of April, we suddenly find ourselves in winter. How could this have happened? It's cold throughout the Alps and it's snowing quite a lot, especially on the northern slopes. If you really missed it, 2 PowderAlarms and rows of 4-star ConditionsReports should be enough proof. Powder skis should be the first choice up to and including the weekend!

Warm, dry winters, perfect grip on the rock: what sounds like a dream for sport climbers is a nightmare for enthusiastic freeriders and ski tourers. Yes, there used to be heatwaves and dry spells - in summer and winter alike. And yes, they still exist, the winter days with minus 20 degrees and fat powder, when you suddenly feel like you're in Hokkaido.

The editorial contributions have already slowly gone into summer hibernation over the last few weeks, and now the PG weather service is following suit. On May 20, we will switch off "the weather" for this season. Anyone who is still skiing can of course continue to post ConditionsReports! We are just as happy to receive alpine tour reports as we are summer snow sliding!

Two years ago, Lisa Hempfer was given the opportunity to take part in the training session (LEVEL 1) and the next level (LEVEL 2) thanks to the cooperation between PowderGuide and the risk'n'fun training programme. Last winter, Lisa also completed the Backcountry Pro (LEVEL 3) and ALPINE PROFESSIONALS (LEVEL 4). Lisa has once again taken the time to summarise her experience. After part 1 of level 3, we now continue with level 4:

French glacier eyewear specialists Julbo have long been known for the "classic" design of their aviator-style glasses with leather rims. At some point, a "sportier" style was added and the range was expanded into the cycling and lifestyle sector.

If you are traveling in glaciated areas, you will inevitably have to deal with the topic of crevasse rescue. The Mammut RescYou offers a complete solution that is quick to set up and easy to use. The RescYou is primarily aimed at freeriders and ski tourers who are not yet very familiar with crevasse rescue and are looking for a compact device for emergencies.

The Austrian Alpine Club combines the various facets of its training program under the umbrella term "Safe on the Mountain" (SAB). In addition to the SAB courses on various mountain sports disciplines for section members, there are the so-called SAB booklets, in which the relevant teaching content can be found. In addition to the already well-known booklets on ski touring, via ferrata, sport climbing and mountain biking, there is now Hochtouren - Sicher unterwegs im vergletscherten Hochgebirge.

A grand finale to an excellent winter. Hardly any other area in the Alps is as suitable for high-alpine ski tours as the Zermatt summit world of Monte Rosa and the peaks around the Saas Valley. Here in the heart of the Valais Alps, the four-thousand-meter peaks are closer together than anywhere else, and thanks to the strong glaciation, many peaks can be reached on skis. Just like last year, we are drawn to the brilliant mountain world of the Upper Valais at the end of the season; this time we opt for the third highest peak in the Mischabel group, the 4199 m high Rimpfischhorn.