TR: 2 Weeks in St. Anton

Day #1: Welcome back to the Arlberg!

You know you are home in St. Anton when you see this...
http://www.biglines.com/photos/norma...ines_52270.jpg
Beer trucks the size of home fuel delivery trucks filling the taps at the Piccadilly:fm:

Day #2: First Day of Skiing

After almost a meter of snow 2 days prior, a day of sun to bake the old tracks and new snow falling, the skiing was varialble. At higher elevations it was good, but got a little trickier down low. We spent most of the morning taking some laps in Schongraben.

Some of my first turns
http://www.biglines.com/photos/norma...ines_52272.jpg
http://www.biglines.com/photos/norma...ines_52271.jpg

We bought my brother his first pair of fatties, B4's, for Christmas. I think he likes them...
http://www.biglines.com/photos/norma...ines_52274.jpg

My friend Stacey enjoying his first day in St. Anton
http://www.biglines.com/photos/norma...ines_52275.jpg

After lunch, we headed across the street to Rendl to find some nicer snow. On the way to Rossfall we found good snow littered with base scaring rocks. We headed up to the top of the Gampberg lift and picked our way around the avi barriers to ski the North Face down to town. The snow was very good on this aspect, the best of the day. It had gotten a lot of skier traffic however.

Markus making his way down through the trees
http://www.biglines.com/photos/norma...ines_52273.jpg

All in all, a good first day. Better was to come in the morning...

Part 1: The Morning Session

Woke up in the morning to about 6" of new snow down in the village. The forecast called for scattered snow with patches of sun all day.

We met up with my buddy and local guide Andy Vondrack and headed up for some morning powder.

Very nice snow in Maienwassen
http://www.biglines.com/photos/norma...ines_52288.jpg

Even better and deeper closer to the bushes and trees
http://www.biglines.com/photos/norma...ines_52289.jpg

Andy's Friend Regina from the Avalanche Commitee agreeing with the depth near the bushes
http://www.biglines.com/photos/norma...ines_52290.jpg

On the second run we cut through the trees over to the Maienplatt to look for fresher snow.

Me on the hunt for nickel
http://www.biglines.com/photos/norma...ines_52292.jpg

We found some and Herbie the Arab took it
http://www.biglines.com/photos/norma...ines_52291.jpg

For the third run, we Headed into Jungbrunntobel looking for more fresh. Andy was more concerned about some potential avalanche activity so we stuck to the top of a ridge line. Once we got down into the trees aways, Andy cut us loose on the shots down this short north facing slope.
http://www.biglines.com/photos/norma...ines_52293.jpg

It has been a long time since I have skied anything that good. All be it short, The shot I took was virgin and I had 10 - 12 turns, each one being white room. It felt awesome to get blinded between every turn as the snow billowed over my head, then popping up enough to get a quick glimpse on the next turn or two.:cool:

We stopped for lunch. When we headed back out Andy called someone and found out that they had finnally opened the Valluga around noon.

This was going to be good....

Continued tomorrow.

No, we want more tonight damn it :)

Nice, very jealous. No Arlberg for me this year so I have to live vacariously. Sweet to see you got some good pow (as usual)

Looks like good times were had Hans.
Sorry I couldn't hook up with you again, are you around another time this season?

nice pics! :biggrin:

i may have to head east soon if things dont change here in switz! :mad:

sweetness!

Bummed that my stay just missed yours.

Nice TR so far. Your brother got B4s huh? Cool.
Nice turns, I'll have to get there sometime.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by trainnvain

Nice TR so far. Your brother got B4s huh? Cool.
Nice turns, I'll have to get there sometime.

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Let me know when....

You'll be getting a visit from my Sugar Daddies and Monsters soon. Multiple core shots and one minor edge blow out. But it didn't bother me at all when the skiing is good. I consider it an offering to Ullr.

Hicks, I wish I was returning but I doubt it this season. I did make it over to Warth one day, but you'll have to wait to here the details.....

H-Man,

Nice pics. Shame I missed you. Powslut and I were wondering where you would go on the Jan 21-22 weekend.

Fuckin' Sweet. I need to get back to the place of my skiing birth.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Franz Klammer

H-Man,

Nice pics. Shame I missed you. Powslut and I were wondering where you would go on the Jan 21-22 weekend.

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When i get home tonight I'll show you guys the pics from Mattun from the afternoon. It was quite good.... but for now you will have to wait....

You had me at the beer truck.

This was the deepest skiing of the trip. We lapped the Valluga area three times. Since I am at work, I'll let the pictures do the talking.

Me right off the Valluga top station
http://www.biglines.com/photos/norma...ines_52410.jpg
Herbie the Arab
http://www.biglines.com/photos/norma...ines_52411.jpg
Herbie again, up close
http://www.biglines.com/photos/norma...ines_52409.jpg

We headed over to Mattun.

H-man flowing
http://www.biglines.com/photos/norma...ines_52414.jpg
http://www.biglines.com/photos/norma...ines_52412.jpg

Our whole group pretty much to our waists...
http://www.biglines.com/photos/norma...ines_52413.jpg

After Andy had a heated discussion with the lifties about where people were allowed to ski (they didn't want us to screw up their t-bar track:rolleyes: ) we lapped the Valluga lift in virgin powder.

H-man
http://www.biglines.com/photos/norma...ines_52417.jpg
http://www.biglines.com/photos/norma...ines_52415.jpg

Man I love fresh snow...
http://www.biglines.com/photos/norma...ines_52416.jpg

Down at Gribli for a bunch of beers, the smiles were many.

Andy & Ralph
http://www.biglines.com/photos/norma...ines_52418.jpg

A great fucking day. The skiing quality was much better than the photo quality, but you guys get the drift....:fmicon:

H-Man,

Did your mate get his luggage in the end? and what's the story behind the knickers in the shopwindow? They seemed to disappear at about the same time you arrived - is there something you want to tell us? ;) :biggrin:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DB

H-Man,

Did your mate get his luggage in the end? and what's the story behind the knickers in the shopwindow? They seemed to disappear at about the same time you arrived - is there something you want to tell us? ;) :biggrin:

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Steves stuff showed up that day while we were gorging on pow. In regards to the knickers...

No Comment.:wink:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by H-man

In regards to the knickers...

No Comment.:wink:

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say no more

:fm:

Bump to link to the next days adventure...

Bump for link to Day #5