safety reports

Participant report: risk'n'fun Next Level Kitzsteinhorn

Next Level on the Kitzsteinhorn - get out of your comfort zone

by Melanie Herrmann • 03/01/2017

Next Level Camp Kitzsteinhorn

Heli Düringer

It's already been a while since the session in Sölden and winter has been a little slow so far. Nevertheless, given the tricky situation we had in many areas in January, I still had a few opportunities to put what I had learned into practice. Above all, the aspect of "perception", which is one of the three pillars of the risk'n'fun concept, is now much more pronounced for me than before. And now the "Next Level" on the Kitzsteinhorn. The focus here is on independent tour planning - I'm particularly looking forward to that. I hope that after a few days I'll finally be able to read maps properly!

And now the "Next Level" on the Kitzsteinhorn. The focus here is on independent tour planning - I'm particularly looking forward to that. I hope that after a few days I'll finally be able to read maps properly!

Textbook danger signs

I drive along the A8 towards Munich at 7 degrees and rain and regularly pray to myself: "Rain here - snow there." As it's still raining in Zell am See, I just hope that it's a bit cooler up at the Federal Sports and Leisure Center on the Kitzsteinhorn - after all, the accommodation is at around 2500 m. Once at the top, I am greeted by a fine swirl of snow - in a gale-force wind. Oh well! Let's see what the weather and avalanche situation will be like over the next few days.

After a quick get-together at lunchtime and a refresher on what we've learned in the training session, we head out into the storm for a short avalanche transceiver exercise.

The second day presents us with sunshine and untouched fresh snow slopes. Skiing together on the slopes shows that we are a very homogeneous group that gets along well. So off we go to one of the numerous variants offered by the ski area and enjoy the fresh snow! Thanks to the snowfall and wind of the previous night, we can study 3 of the 5 typical danger signs in almost textbook fashion: Wind flags are on all the peaks, drift snow packs are hanging in the hollows and gullies and we can see a few avalanches - the result of the ski resort's blasting work.

Map? Digital is the way to go!

After our first map-reading exercise in the afternoon, the evening program consists of tour planning for the coming day. Both groups have been given the same summit destination and plan the respective ascent route independently. At some point I have to smile: the good old paper map has obviously had its day or is only used for rough orientation. The digital maps with slope inclination display are reviewed on smartphones, tablets and computers and tour reports are googled.

As the avalanche situation is not forecast to ease for the coming day, we choose a conservative tour - better to walk a few meters longer than choose a tour that is too steep. After all, there is still a triple. It's fun to say that we need a maximum of 10 hairpin bends with our flat route choice...

Day 3 welcomes us with a pleasant 0 degrees and very little wind. So pack some sun cream and off we go! Our guides, Heli and Jörg, take more and more of a back seat and the group takes the lead independently. Obviously we had planned quite well - 3 hours later we actually reach our destination. And when we counted up, there weren't even 10 hairpin bends

safety reports

presented by

A little more risk, a little more fun

On arrival at the top, it's time to make a ski depot and walk the last few meters to the summit. Uh - summit? Did I mention that I'm not really free from giddiness? My knees are getting a bit weak, but the helicopter and Jörg don't care. Oh well, I warned them. Once at the top, I'm very impressed - what a panorama! The entire main Alpine ridge all the way to the Dachstein. Only on the summit photo do I seem to be clinging to the summit cross.

With knees still weak, we then enjoy the descent - and now also study the fourth danger sign - the drenching. And unfortunately, I get to experience it for myself. As I enter the last slope, I suddenly slip and wonder why I've lost my footing. A few meters later, I see that the slope has slid with me. Even though it wasn't steep, it was still enough to trigger a small avalanche of wet snow. I struggled the last few meters with even softer knees and in the plough to the meeting point. That was actually enough adventure for one day and I urgently need something to eat.

The bike drink meets with general approval and we spend our lunch break relaxing in the sun, all feeling pleasantly exhausted. So we agree to the suggestion of taking the funicular up to the Kitzsteinhorn after all. Little did we know that instead of walking to the exit, our guide would throw his skis over the railing, scramble over the railing and jump 2 meters onto the lower plateau before entering the gully below the lift. Wow... that's a bit Chamonix style.

On arrival at the bottom, I'm grateful for the day outside my comfort zone. But maybe that's what it's all about. A little more risk. A little more fun.

The decision is up to the group

The fourth day starts differently than it would end: Kind of cloudy. It's windy and visibility is poor. So we practise an emergency scenario with several people buried. The exercise is similar to the one from the session - but next level: with much greater burial depth. At the end of the exercise, we all agree: you can't practise this often enough. During the simulated avalanche burial, we try to extract as much knowledge as possible from our mountain guide.

As the concept of r'n'f is based on the group deciding your points together, there are two topics to choose from at lunchtime: digging a snow profile and slide test, or a little skiing - despite poor visibility. After all, there is some fresh snow. The argument "you can only learn to ski really well if you can't see much," convinces us and we take the lift up ... and enjoy another absolutely gigantic powder afternoon. Instead of being gloomy, the day ends with a big grin and heavy legs.

The last untracked slope is ours!

We spend the last evening planning the morning ahead. The first plan is quickly drawn up - after all, we've had enough time over the last few days to scout out the terrain and choose the right lines. The later the evening gets, the more plans and alternatives are developed, so that the next morning no one knows what we actually want to do with the day.

Due to the snowfall last night, we decide on a few first lines from the lifts. However, after the slopes close to the piste are groomed in no time at all, we go for another hike and work our way down a fantastic powder run. After the end of the official program, the whole group decides to go on one of the tours planned for the evening before - and ascends one of the last untracked slopes together. A dream!

In conclusion, we certainly made the most of the five days. The weather offered us everything from storms, fresh snow, sun, fog, heat and cold and we made the most of the conditions. Many thanks to the whole risk'n'fun team for the great organization and the great atmosphere. And thanks also to the "Buddies" from the Franconian and mixed teams. It was an amazing week with you! I am already looking forward to the Chill Out in Fieberbrunn in March!

Photo gallery

This article has been automatically translated by DeepL with subsequent editing. If you notice any spelling or grammatical errors or if the translation has lost its meaning, please write an e-mail to the editors.

Show original (German)

Participant report: risk'n'fun training session in Sölden

Melanie Herrmann • 12/22/2016

On Sunday in the week before the camp in Sölden, I receive an email from Dani from risk'n'fun asking if I am spontaneous? The winner of today's competition had had to cancel at short notice and I was in second place. Oops - that's really spontaneous, but of course I'm in. I frantically start to gather my ski equipment. The winter season hasn't really started yet and I'm still sitting on my bike more than I know where my gloves, ski helmet and goggles are. And do the skis still need waxing?
risk'n'fun chill out Fieberbrunn

risk'n'fun • 03/26/2016

Numerous freeriders from all over the German-speaking world and the risk'n'fun team gathered in Fieberbrunn last weekend for the Chill Out, the traditional final session of the r'n'f season. The conditions couldn't have been better: Glorious sunshine, north-facing powder runs and casual firn, hikes and tours, barbecues in deckchairs... In the evening, Lea from the PowderGuide editorial team provided input on weather issues and there were great beats in the Riverhouse.
Report: risk'n'fun Next Level

Max Loidl • 02/11/2016

Together with risk'n'fun, we raffled off participation in a three-stage r&f freeride training course. This year's winner Max Loidl already completed the first camp (Level 1, training session) in Sölden a few weeks ago and is now reporting on his experiences at the Next Level Camp on the Kitzsteinhorn.