 Poster: A snowHead
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So, I'm finally going to St. Anton... which means I'm finally going to give powder skiing a real go, conditions allowing.
I intend to go with Piste to Powder for a day. (Not the full 5-day course, because of price and prior arrangements.) After that I hope to enjoy the ski routes. Am I right in assuming that the ski routes are fairly safe, as they're supposed to be avalanche-controlled? I don't want to do anything stupid, as I have dependants.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| SkiingDad wrote: |
| Am I right in assuming that the ski routes are fairly safe, as they're supposed to be avalanche-controlled? |
It depends entirely on the conditions (!) and where you are skiing. The ski routes which feed down into Happy Valley are south facing and avalanche prone (and not, as far as I know, "controlled"). When I skied there at New Year it was possible to see where slabs had slipped and to pick one's route accordingly. After the heavy snow which has been/is falling the tell-tales might be harder to spot.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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To quote the description on the piste map:-
"Ski Routes are marked and although measures are taken to prevent avalanches, these trails are neither groomed nor inspected"
However you will find that some of them are groomed eg. 32 & 33 in Zurs at the start of the Weisse Ring and 18 down to Alpe Rauz. They may take a little longer to groom these runs after a heavy snowfall.
I'm not sure if travel insurance companies classify these runs as on or off piste.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| welshflyer wrote: |
To quote the description on the piste map:-
"Ski Routes are marked and although measures are taken to prevent avalanches, these trails are neither groomed nor inspected". |
I was skiing with a guide from the Arlberg ski school two weeks ago and that statement more or less concurs with what he said. He said that the routes are avalanche protected, but only within twenty metres either side of the ski route markers, which is something to be aware of, because with a route such as Mattun for example you could easily explore much further afield than that.
I am also sure that he said that the routes were patrolled at the end of the day.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| welshflyer wrote: |
However you will find that some of them are groomed eg. ... 18 down to Alpe Rauz. They may take a little longer to groom these runs after a heavy snowfall.
I'm not sure if travel insurance companies classify these runs as on or off piste. |
Apart from the top bit, which follows a track, 18 was definitely not being groomed at New Year.
Insurers generally do not view itineraries as being on piste, and most winter sports policies exclude off-piste skiing without a guide.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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SkiingDad, are you skiing solo?
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| welshflyer wrote: |
| I'm not sure if travel insurance companies classify these runs as on or off piste. |
That's a good point. I have decided to be on the safe side and have the off piste coverage, since I'm doing the training anyway.
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| DT68 wrote: |
| It depends entirely on the conditions (!) and where you are skiing. The ski routes which feed down into Happy Valley are south facing and avalanche prone (and not, as far as I know, "controlled"). When I skied there at New Year it was possible to see where slabs had slipped and to pick one's route accordingly. After the heavy snow which has been/is falling the tell-tales might be harder to spot. |
Well, that's just it. I do not have the experience, and I don't expect to achieve it in one day either. So, I'll have to rely on whatever is safe to assume and what the current alert level is.
| Layne wrote: |
| SkiingDad, are you skiing solo? |
I'm going with friends and one of them might be interested to join. However, I think he knows even less than I do.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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It's sounds like you are going to have any ava gear, or be practiced in the use of it. Also, I may be doing you a disservice but it sounds like you wouldn't be overly sure of what is safe and what isn't. However, don't despair, the reality is, many of us start that way. In every ski resort I've been there has been safe (even to the untrained eye an accessible off piste). It may not be untracked or particularly tranquil but it will get you into powder of a description. Naturally keep an eye on the weather and the alert level and be ultra careful if required.
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If they're open (you can check the boards at most lift stations), they ski routes will be considered safe from avalanches - for which they are controlled. If you fall and hurt yourself though, there are no guarantees that there will be a patrol coming who may find you, though in reality many people will be skiing these routes so that should nto be a problem.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Layne, Not sure what you mean by doing me a disservice, but you describe the situation quite well. I want to enjoy some powder, but not do anything stupid. So, if I can be fairly safe just using common sense, following the signs and taking the alert levels seriously, then I'm happy with that. Untracked is of little importance.
clarky999, Those are about the kind of rules I'm prepared to accept.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| DT68 wrote: |
| most winter sports policies exclude off-piste skiing without a guide. |
Don't want to get into some off topic rant about insurance... But there are plenty of policies that DO cover off piste without a guide. Check the small print, but it's not hard to find sensible policies out there.
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You know it makes sense.
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| clarky999 wrote: |
| If they're open (you can check the boards at most lift stations), they ski routes will be considered safe from avalanches - for which they are controlled. If you fall and hurt yourself though, there are no guarantees that there will be a patrol coming who may find you, though in reality many people will be skiing these routes so that should nto be a problem. |
Yeah, the chance of being alone on a ski route in St Anton ... if only.
If the worst should happen the ski patrol will come for you, just carry a mobile to call for help because they don't sweep the runs.
As others have said if the run is open it is safe to ski from the point of view of avalanches. Other hazards may exist, such as rocks just below the surface  Runs are safe around the markers (I'd heard 10m either side, a previous post said 20m), but some of the runs, such as Mattun are in very wide bowls and plenty of people ski a long way from the markers. That's fine, just bear in mind that this really is off piste and you should take precautions accordingly.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Poster: A snowHead
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One other point to remember if you are not used to ski routes, is that the markers are not as prominent as normal piste markers and are often quite far apart. You therefore need to make sure you take a good look for the next marker as you follow a ski route and I would be very careful indeed in anything other than good visibility.
Taking the example of Mattun again, it has a number of variations with some tricky bits near the bottom, so it is a lot easier if you follow the markers rather than just finding your own way out.
When I first when to St Anton many years ago Mattun was marked on the map as a red piste and Schindlekar as a black piste, although they were never actually pisted as such.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Quote: |
When I first when to St Anton many years ago Mattun was marked on the map as a red piste and Schindlekar as a black piste, although they were never actually pisted as such.
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Ah, the good old days. That was pretty much the rule for the entire resort. They occasionally groomed Osthang I think 
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| sah wrote: |
| They occasionally groomed Osthang I think |
Yes about once a week.
If you were lucky. (Monty Python Yorkshire accent)
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Layne,
Yup, my outlook may change quite a bit in the future, which is actually what I hope. 
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