After the ski expedition to Chumpe and my visit to Manu National Park, I went to a place I have become quite familiar with in the last couple of years: Huaraz. Conditions were supposedly very good for skiing this year…
I have been coming to Bansko for several years now and thought it would be nice to spend 5 weeks to get my legs going while skiing with friends and enjoy the local culture at the same time. Over the…
In the last decade I have visited the Écrins on multiple occasions. In 2014 I skied couloir Est de breche Cordier in perfect conditions, probably the best run of my life. I have visited la Grave a few times, some…
In December 2013 I skied Cotopaxi, undoubtedly the most famous volcano of Ecuador. This 5.897 meters high mountain is not the only volcano that can be skied around the equator though. With Cayambe, Antisana and Chimborazo this small country has…
During my first ski trip to Peru I got a nice taste of what the Cordillera Blanca has to offer in terms of skiing. I also quickly realised how challenging the conditions can be. As is the case on many…
In 2013 I had visited the South of Peru. The Inca trail with a beautiful finish in Machu Picchu and the city of Arequipa were the highlights during that trip. Huaraz, the base for trekking – and climbing expeditions in…
The last weeks I have been traveling around Central Asia. Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have all showed me some amazing culture and landscapes. The landscapes showed me the potential for ski mountaineering. After all the sightseeing, a trip with my skis into the high mountains of Kyrgyzstan seemed like a great adventure!
For the last decade I have been skiing all over the globe and the objectives and goals within the sport of skiing are getting more and more specific. In the end, steep and remote skiing is what it all comes down to for me. Only few places offer this combination and Alaska is definitely one of them. The Chugach mountain range is known for having great and stable snow conditions on a huge variety of slopes. Valdez is supposed to be one of the best places to experience the Chugach to the max. This spring I simply had to check it out!
When it comes to skiing in a different culture not too far away from home, the Balkan region offers plenty of opportunities. A wealth of culture and history can be found in the many countries that form the region, making a trip to this part of the world very interesting. However, snow coverage, the weather, finding reliable ski partners, language barriers and tough logistics can make a ski mountaineering trip difficult. So, while facing many challenges, was I able to make something happen?
Most of my favourite skiruns make it to the list because they are steep descents, preferably couloirs. The excitement of skiing a slope where complete focus is needed, is simply something special. However, there are more reasons why a descent can stick to my memory. The Northern part of our planet, above the Arctic circle, offers spectacular scenery to make your turns in. When the sun comes out you can often ski almost all the way to the ocean. Combine that with some excellent allround ski mountaineering and Geitgallien on the Lofoten is the place to be!
