Heute mit unserem Kanadischen ufwaerts-Neuzugang Patrick aufs Monsteiner Büelenhorn. Die Abfahrt zog sich infolge Fotoshootings spassig in die Länge. Und Patrick gibt hier gleich sein ufwaerts-Blogger-Debut:
(ps) A days notice to plan just about anything in Switzerland is not usually going to amount to much. Not this time! With conditions this good, even on a weekday we jumped on the chance to slash pow and hit natural kickers. With the last snow being a week and a half ago, it required a trip a bit further to find the goods.
Spring conditions are coming.
Pillows and a blanket over the Monsteinerbach.
I took the first train from Zürich which easily gets you in the mountains to start hiking early enough. Sascha must have been feeling the need to repent to Silenus as he chose to start the hike at the world’s highest altitude brewery, the „last beerstop before heaven.“
Apparently Friday afternoon the keg flows freely.
We were not the only souls touring to Büelenhorn. At the summit we met a couple in their mid 60’s. They kept a good pace and looked like seasoned ski tourers. I can only be thankful seeing this surprisingly often in Europe as it gives excitement for along life of adventure! Goes to show that you only get old when you stop playing.
Graubunden’s Toblerone in the distance.
After learning all the iconic roads to longboard down in Switzerland, now I’m getting the chance to relearn my mountain geography by foot, board or wing with adventurous people like Sascha guiding the way. This is quite the special opportunity! This memorable time spent at the peak always offers such whimsical thoughts and memories of past summit achievements and future goals. That and eating a healthy amount of chocolate!
Powder on the north face offered a good base, covering rocks and only a few tracked bumpy sections. Going the extra distance to a not so popular area was worth it for the ride! Something I have learned from snow touring and longboarding is to stop often during the ride and plan out your next moves to be safe, but also to get the most out of the ride. Adding the obvious ability to catch air and huck rotations (which I don’t get in longboarding) makes these powder fields an absolute dream! As the conditions were fairly safe we enjoyed as many features as possible.
In true Swiss fashion we rode up to town, unclipped then straight for an apres-ski cheers. I suggest the dark Monsteiner! Say hello to Thomas if you visit. He might be wearing a „CANADA“ jacket. If he gives you any flack, just remind him how shitty a hockey team the Toronto Maple Leafs are. GO HABS!
Shout out to the Swiss board brand KORUA Shapes for the spectacular smile inducing splitboard and Karakoram Bindings for keeping me locked in and climbing higher.
as usual, here come some more ufwaerts-Pics after reading…
Im Lärchenwald
Unteralp
Mäschenboden
Gipfelsturm
Bergüner Stöcke: Piz Ela, Tinzenhorn, Piz Mitgel
Piz Kesch
Ab gehts: Patrick im Gipfelhang
Nose Slide
Close Call
Mäschenboden
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