Monday, February 13, 2006

Powder Weekend



Last weekend was full of ski-touring (.. backcountry-skiing -- what's the proper term?). Saturday afternoon it was a quick trip to Laseberg (1910m) close to St. Stephan/Simmental.

On Sunday I decided to follow Christophe & Antonella's suggestion of skiing Gemmenalphorn. Initially, when reaching the Northern shore of Lake Thun, I regretted this decision very much: The warm micro-climate around Beatenbucht means that there wasn't a single flake of snow, but instead spring-like temperatures and palm trees growing happily. Getting off the bus I felt a little inadequate with anorak and ski equipment.

What a surprise then to find 20 cm powder on the top of Niederhorn (1950m) shortly after, accompanied by magificent views across Lake Thun. I made the first tracks down towards Unterburgfeld, then climbed up 500m to Burgfeldstand (2063m) for a final ski run to the little village of Habkern from where a postal service runs to Interlaken.