Skitouren

Although the Roter Stein is somewhat hidden, it is still a much-visited classic. Understandable, as it starts quite steeply almost directly from the parking lot and offers interesting terrain almost all the way to the summit. Only the last few meters have to be covered on foot...

A single photo had taken over our minds. It was an aerial view of an island in the deep blue Sea of Japan. At its center stands a lonely mountain with snow-covered slopes. Deep furrows carve out gullies, form wide slopes and gently run out towards the forested coast. We had to go there - to find out if it really exists.

On ski tours (at least for me), the hardshell jacket spends almost the entire ascent either in or on my backpack. As I only wear it for the descent, I started looking around for a lightweight model without any frills and ended up with the Alpha FL from Arc'teryx. What was important to me was a robust, high-quality and relatively durable membrane, and the Alpha FL also uses Goretex Pro (in contrast to the Alpha SL, which is identical in terms of cut and details but slightly lighter, which uses Goretex Paclite), which promises long-lasting weather protection.

After only a short test last season, several PowderGuide testers are now out and about with the Marker Kingpin and have gained some experience with the binding. The impressions and opinions of various people have therefore been incorporated into this test report. The good overall picture of the binding remains.

In the ski mecca of Chamonix, the powder slopes in the off-piste area are extremely fast. It's a good idea to pack your skins. As soon as you have to walk up a bit, there are far fewer people on the slopes. However, this does not mean that you will be alone.

After Line launched a real all-rounder on the market with the Sick Day, this season sees the launch of a "slimmed-down" version in the truest sense of the word, the Sick Day Tourist. A lightweight, medium-width touring ski. I was able to see how the ski performs in practice over a longer period of time!

Blocking the front cheek is always a topic of discussion. Some may block rather carelessly, others think more about it - but the question still arises: when, why and how do you block "correctly"?

This ski tour is located in the north-west of Andorra, Pyrenees and is a classic among local ski tourers, as the summit is one of the highest in the region. The summit should only be attempted in safe conditions. Safe hairpin bends are a must, and crampons are recommended in icy conditions.

The tried-and-tested Link Group Communications radios from BCA (Backcountry Access) have been available since last season in a version tailored to Europe, which is adapted to local regulations in terms of frequency range (PRM) and transmission power. The Link devices are specially designed for skiers.

With the "Black Edition", Fritschi has brought out a revised version of the Vipec for this season, which, like its predecessor, combines maximum safety with high ease of use, light weight and great downhill performance. We have already tested the binding.

The tour to the Kammerlinghorn not only offers a sunny ascent and a racy northern descent, but is also a great panoramic mountain between Bavaria and Salzburg.

If you take the gondola to Gemsstock and look left in the direction of travel for potential outside the ski area, your eyes will inevitably be drawn to the NW and W flanks of the Rossbodenstock-Badus chain. While the steep western slopes between Rossbodenstock and Piz Badus in the Unteralp are off-limits in winter due to a wildlife sanctuary, the Rossbodenstock NW flank offers a multitude of "legal" lines, almost all of which are steep and interspersed with rocks. Thanks to Swiss engineering, the Rossbodenstock is also easier to reach than you would expect in Andermatt.