Rocky Mountains

A subjective selection of current studies in the field of snow and avalanches, this time with a focus on the connection between avalanche frequency and climate change. For those who want to read further, the scientific publications are linked in the text.

Seems like the first skiers are already secretly hiding in their favorite couloirs during these days with less snow. At least that's what the successful YT search for this special terrain suggests! Presented here: steep descents from the Pyrenees, the Rockies, Scandinavia and, of course, the Alps! We learn how to ski couloirs without using poles or hand straps!

We continued on to Jasper. On the way we took several short tours, which always offered beautiful scenery. If you want to photograph animals in southern Canada, you don't have to search for long – you simply join the regular queue of car parks at the side of the road, get out, briefly assess whether you have already photographed the animal in question (whether bear, wapiti, caribou or other) and drive on after a successful photo hunt.

After two weeks in northern Canada and Alaska (see Part I of our report), we traveled south to the Canadian Rocky Mountains. If it weren't for the endless solitude and the huge glaciers, you'd think you were somewhere in the Karwendel or Brenta mountains. The scenery is often reminiscent of the local Alps, but without the typical forest aisles, lifts, settlements and tourists, so that you can still experience the mountains here in their natural pristine state.

A snowstorm greeted us when we arrived in Calgary on Saturday evening. Without any local knowledge, we were glad that a Banff Airport cab pulled out of the airport exit directly in front of us, so we simply followed it in good faith. And as we all know, trust is rewarded, we left the city limits with less than 10 meters of visibility and took Highway 1 west. Shortly before the Rocky Mountains, the snowstorm fortunately cleared, so that we reached the Kicking Horse River Lodge in the small town of Golden shortly before midnight, our accommodation for the next two days.