THE1ST (report)

Personally, I went to the Back Yard Austria without expectations. It was strange to me because they tend to have quite high expectations that which does not serve this type of ideas. This time, after quite a long period of consolidation the group got to the point where the car was packed and we are ready to mentally get away from it all last week. It’s like doodling in a notebook and then suddenly after turning pages to realize that we could work on calligraphy.

The road from Zywiec to Hippach took us less than 10 hours. It went smoothly, calmly and cheerfully. We arrived just before dark. We were warmly greeted by Brian and Gustaw’a who is keeping an eye on all Back Yard. Beer and an invitation to the birthday Jürgen, our good buddy, snowboarding and head BY. The night was short.

The next day was preliminarily banner – organization. Reconnaissance of the area, lifts and options. Flags banners, plan the week and gossiped about a number of issues with Jurgen. In the evening, the first part of the team reunites, and late at night the rest. It began to snow which undoubtedly led to further conversations and search for the best possible off-route lines on maps and in the net.

Zillertal valley, unfortunately it was not snowy. That is the mountains role, they give us the possibility of riding on slopes intact but it is also up to decide when. Fortunately, the glacier was close, and that’s our plan B. We found that the more than 3000 meters above sea level we have a blue and still not “damaged” areas of snow. Despite the sizeable frost no perceptible reason euphoric, intersting places successively revealed by that someone apparently missed absently. The first day of the Hintertux was a pleasant surprise. Despite not going into the foot contact with the ridges, we were able to do some interesting meetings. I was surprised and at the same time I wondered if the first day was so good what next ..

The next day proved to be just more development. Jurgen, who is a mountain guide is sure to have contributed much additional progress. Horse of the premises is as everyone knows the best I can be. Guest knows the area, knows what in a given area is under snow, knows the alternative options, he knows when and where better not to pack. It must be remembered that this glacier, and countless crevices often only slightly dusted with snow. Sometimes you can not see something, does not mean it’s not there.

Riding with J gave us a better view of the topography and features often “easily” available but if the hidden lines. Sometimes 20 minutes gave unimaginable possibilities approach the exit. We wanted more. It seems to me, however, looking at the man staying in the mountains, with Jaśiek and Piotrek found a little humility so that I can now remember that time well. I remember one day we decided on a relatively simple approach snowy ridge. It seemed, max. 30min. The snow was provided but the visibility and contrast very good. We walked by the plan. On the one hand 45°, the sunny part of the strong. On the other side shaded slope in the direction of a large gully, the deeper the steeper the 45°-50° ok. The plan was to climb to the top of the ridge until all the snow under the rocks and drop in. After three quarters aisle approach snow began to lose stability, full blue sky and a full view of infinity. It was hard to look at the magnitude around to believe that the planet is something other than the ubiquitous, white and steel towering peaks. Our three companies complied with the increasingly stronger wind, which deprived us of balance at every step. We checked the snow. The sunny exposure – black ice. In ciniu that odkrojony as a kitchen knife from the sun, but the soft snow provided that the cut was not specifically maintain with the other layers. We decided not to enter into the shaded gully, from which there was no alternative to being driven away. Therefore we are going in the shade but on the verge of an icy slope, you have to be careful. The 15-meter distances, safe (and no secret that happy) we did hundred meter mark on the exit assuming the root untouched.

Approaches we have made within 5 days in the snow. Weather changed often and quickly. Sometimes the visibility dropped to a few meters. Temperatures did not pamper (-12°/-20°) and strong wind.

Height does his, but he is a top. Something for something. In another approach the rocky isthmus (actually the second time that day we walked on the sharp, icy rocks at the site), feed us to the start line, Kuba slipped and slid a good 15 meters on the almost vertical rocky slope. This is how it looked then, I ended up “only” break the ligaments and, unfortunately, the inability to continue driving.

Worst moment of visibility we used to train interested Avalanche course. Working with the detector is essential knowledge for anyone who wants to work out the route. Regardless of the difficulty and danger of avalanche terrain, each individual must be equipped with ABC, the probe, mini shovel and avalanche transceiver. The training came down as soon as possible to locate buried under the snow pack enabled to transmit detector, find by probe and dig. Double crew work together. Longest recorded female team, 15 minutes. The best time showed a mixed crew of time searching for 5min. and 30 sec. Informative note, the survival curve of avalanches buried after 15 min drastically decreases. Given the fierce debate around the fireplace that evening in TO, I know that we left a little awareness needed for activities in the mountains.

A few moments in untouched snow, a few mornings of power brakfast, a few calls and a few smiles interlocked. That’s a lot in a world where the sentiments long ceased to exist. That’s a lot for me and I think for all the fresh snow attracted there.