Winter Wonderland Lenzerheide

Oh man, this was my first long weekend off in a VERY long time and I loved it. Most of you know my love for the Swiss mountains, but due to COVID, I wasn’t able to organize tours or train in Grison. Thus, this weekend back in Switzerland was very special to me and I fell in love with everything & everyone all over again. I really missed this and still have happy tears in my eyes. 🗻🇨🇭💗🥺

Some might argue how irresponsible of me, traveling to a high risk country. But seriously, I am fully vaccinated, regularly test myself and I was mostly outdoors. The risk of getting buried underneath an avalanche was so much higher than getting or transmitting any virus. So please, we all need to take a break for two or three days every once in a while and simply breathe.

Snowshoeing or Winter Hiking in Lenzerheide

I initially wanted to hike and climb up to the Rothorn. Well, that plan didn’t really work out. 🙈 On day one it was snowing like crazy. Even with snowshoes you would have sunk into deep snow, it was freezing cold and there were moments when you couldn’t see much. Hence, we decided to simply do a different tour and would try again the next day.

On Sunday the weather forecast was very promising: blue skies and lots of fresh powder. 😍 However, avalanche risk levels 3 and 4. Our initial route was closed, but we wanted to see how far we could go. So, we put on our three to four layers, packed our gear and went up to 7th heaven. Up to Scharmoin, everything was easygoing. Majestic views, gorgeous mountain ranges, inhaling fresh, cold mountain air. For me, this was pure wellness. 💗😌

But off-piste the avalanche risk was very high. Even the snowshoe panorama trail was closed.

Avalanche Risk Level 4

We already checked the avalanche report beforehand and I always use the app “White Risk” so that we knew that we might not be able to climb up to the top.

The under layers in the snow were weak and on top of that a lot of snow has fallen, often in combination with a lot of wind. This makes the chance of triggering avalanches very high. Also at a distance. We knew that if we were going off-piste, we needed to stay far away from slopes of 30° or steeper.

Staying on the open skiruns or trails was our best bet. But this also meant that we had to cross three slopes. Crossing them on a sunny Sunday was like crossing a German highway during rush hour. Not cool at all. Watch, sink into deep snow, get out of your snow hole and run as fast as you can to the other side of the slope.

Rothorn Lenzerheide

We would have needed to hike up another 400 m to reach the summit, going off-piste. But at around noon, dark clouds were rising, accompanied by a strong gusty wind. Even if we took the cable car at Motta, we wouldn’t have managed it. With avalanche risk level 4 we decided to be better safe than sorry.

So, no, we didn’t reach the mountain peak of the Parpaner Rothorn (2,899 m), but that is alright. We have no regrets and still enjoyed ourselves with these gorgeous views. That is the thing with Mother Nature: you need to go with the flow, always check the risk factors and put safety first.

Maybe next time. 🗻🇨🇭❄️😌

Total elevation gain: 1,237 m, 36,7 km.

Unwinding at the Zauberwald

In between our snow adventure, we visited the Zauberwald. It still is my favorite Christmas market.🌲 🎅🏽 And especially in crazy times like these I wanna support the locals and be grateful for moments like these, cherishing the little things in life. My heart goes out to all local farmers, wood workers, local mountain huts, craftsmen and any other local supplier. 🙏🏽💗

Check out this year’s impressions.

I hope you all get to rest over the holidays – at least for a few days. And remember: stay healthy & happy and always be kind to each other.

xoxo

Snow Day Trips Near Munich

One thing 2020 taught us is to you cherish the little things in life. Here I put together some of my favorite tours during the lockdown, exploring our home mountains near Munich 🏔

Sport Sessions at Lake Spitzingsee

Whether you take a little hike to the Obere Firstalm, go fatbiking or explore the cross-country trails, it is one of my favorite places for a short sports session.

Recovery Hike at Lake Tegernsee

After a tough workout I love to go for a little recovery hike at lake Tegernsee – especially the Hoehenweg from Gmund and to the Neureuth mountain hut.

Snowshoeing Kreuzwankl

For those who are fit, I recommend a snowshoeing tour in Garmisch. You start at the valley station of the Hausberg, take the hiking route up to the Kochelbergalm. There you check your mountaineering gear and put on your snowshoes hiking up to the Bayernhaus, then even further to the Kreuzwankl skiing slopes and to the Trögelhuette with majestic views of the Zugspitze.

During the lockdown all slopes and cable cars are closed so that you need to be fit enough to climb up in deep snow and also hike back down. Elevation gain with some very steep passages: 800 – 1,100 m, 17-21k.

Lake Eibsee

Once you are already in Garmisch and did a great snowshoeing tour, take a relaxing recovery walk along the lake Eibsee and just breathe: a nice 8k walk to refuel your energy.

Josefstal at Lake Schliersee

Another magic recovery tour is the hike from lake Schliersee to the Josefstal waterfalls. A calming route with beautiful views.

However, always make sure to check weather reports, bring the right equipment & safety gear, lots of fluids and always listen to your body. Only go on tours you can manage & remember that touring in snowy & icy conditions is more difficult & might take up more time as well. Stay safe and healthy!

Video

How To Survive an Avalanche

Each year in the Alps between 90 and 110 people are killed by avalanches. Most of these accidents occur in France, Switzerland, Italy and Austria. Suffocation is the number one cause of death. Trauma, or injuries suffered in the avalanche, is the second leading cause of death. (source: SLF)

I love to go off-piste, being out there all alone, mostly by myself. But over the years I have become more careful, no longer take unnecessary risks. From December 30th till January 5th I will be back in Davos, enjoying the great powder in the Swiss mountains always making sure to check the weather and snow conditions before going on my tours and at the same time taking along my avalanche safety kit as well as my BCA slope meter.

No matter how adventurous you are, safety comes first. Just check out the story by Travis Rice. He was darn lucky, but not all trips like this have a happy ending…. So please, make sure to take the necessary precautions before heading out to the backcountry.


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Buy and always wear an avalanche beacon, a small radio that will transmit your location to rescue crews. Never leave without it.

What to do when you see an avalanche

If you ever see an avalanche, make sure to follow these five steps:

  1. Never try to outrun it. Move to the side and if you can, grab something sturdy.
  2. Try to stay on top it. Some people say, you need to swim, but actually you need to fight light hell to stay on top, if you don’t have one of these airbags in your backpack.
  3. Keep one arm above your head as the avalanche tosses you around.
  4. Make sure to cover your mouth and nose with one hand to get a little space of air. As soon as you stop moving, quickly work to open a space in front of your face. Not only will this pocket give you room to breathe, it will give you space to spit. Note where gravity carries your spit, then dig in the opposite direction. This can save your life.
  5. BREATHE calmly. The natural instinct for anyone buried by an avalanche is to get pretty nervous, but if you can keep your head, you can stay alive. In most cases, victims have a 15-minute window in which they can carve out areas to breathe under the snow.

When chasing another adrenaline rush off-piste, always check the local weather and avalanche reports to know what to expect.

So, stay safe, everyone and enjoy this magical powder season.

xoxo

Holiday Season in Seefeld & Davos

Tis the season. Winter magic, hot punch, lots of powder action and simply taking it easy. It is my favorite season. Hence, it is also a bit more quiet around here. I just love to spend these magical times with my beloved ones, enjoying the holiday season in Seefeld & Davos.

Seefeld

Tyrol is just a short drive from Munich and one of my favorite winter sports destinations. I am not a huge après-ski fan and always try to avoid the crowds. Hence, I know exactly which routes to take in order to have some peaceful moments and high-quality alone time, appreciating nature and the great outdoors.

Davos

Well, it is no secret that I have lost my heart in Davos. For the first time, I will spend New Year’s in Grison and I am looking forward to trying out new things. Maybe I will go night sledding at the Rinerhorn on New Year’s Eve, try air boarding at Pischa or will go on a romantic horse-sleigh ride.

So, apologies that it is going to be a bit more quiet around here till the end of December. But I will definitely keep you posted afterwards, sharing my highlights and new training goals.

Till then, enjoy the holiday season with your loved ones and don’t get too stressed. Just relax and live a litte.

xoxo

photo credits: Munich Mountain Rebel

The Sertig waterfall is an insider’s tip for ice climbing & snowshoeing in Graubünden

This hot spot is nothing for the faint-hearted: the Sertig waterfall in the Sertig Valley in Davos. The ideal place for ice climbing and snowshoeing in Graubünden.

Ice Climbing

Climb a frozen waterfall with ice axe and crampons and explore your own limits: Ice climbing attracts more and more adventurous winter sports enthusiasts. If you want to try this extreme sport yourself, you will find ideal conditions at the waterfall in the Sertigtal valley all winter long.

Carabiners rattle, hooks clink, ice splinters trickle. With one hand you hit an ice axe into the wall and ram the crampon into the ice. A little break. Take a deep breath and carry on. Step by step you climb the cascades of the frozen waterfall, which shimmers in the light in different shades of blue. The last piece of freedom. That’s how an ice climbing adventure in the Sertig valley could feel like. Even if you want to put crampons under your shoes right now: Prepare yourself well first – and take your first steps in the ice together with a mountain guide.

Snowshoeing

For those of you who are not fit enough to climb the waterfall – just like me – explore this magical spot on a snowshoeing tour. You can simply start at the Bergführer Restaurant, enjoying the Sertig Valley, walking your way up to the waterfall.

Beware, the last bit to the Sertig waterfall is very steep. It is nothing for the faint-hearted and you need to be fit! Milos and our guide Beat went straight to the top, touching the ice while I did a little detour through deep powder. It was breathtakingly beautiful and simply magical.

However, this tour to the Sertig waterfall is not for beginners! If you are new to snowshoeing, simply stick to the easy valley tour and don’t go up all the way to the waterfall. For health and fitness benefits, snowshoeing is great for you. It provides a cardio workout while also building strength, agility, balance and endurance. The best part is, you get to do it all in the beautiful outdoors!

Mountain Guide

I can recommend the Bergführer Davos Klosters as well as the Schweizer Schneesportschule Davos. Whether you wanna do a snowshoeing tour, go skiing or try something adventurous, these folks put your safety first and can make almost anything possible. I especially liked their individually tailored tours that suit your personal interest and fitness level. Special thanks to our guide Beat, who ROCKED!

xoxo

photo credits: Munich Mountain Rebel, Davos Klosters (Marcel Giger)