Sunday, February 05, 2012

Klosters/Davos: Deep freeze, sun and powder par excellence

Saturday, ready for the 1st day on the slopes -- it's a while since his last time on a snowboard. Taking the bus from Seewies Dorf to the RhB train station Grüsch to continue to Klosters Platz.

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Klosters/Davos ski area, easy mountain access via the Gotschnagrat Bahn with direct layover from Klosters train station! Easy little late start for day 1 and expecting the coldest day up here ever for Py with -25C (-13F) air temperature and a good wind on top of this. Well prepared for the conditions: More layers than usual, but he was perfectly fine with his snowboard pants plus full set of long base layers (odlo pants + body), plus cozy insulation long sleeved top, fleece jacket and a totally wind proof soft shell ski jacket with powder skirt. Best idea ever that I took my Assos Robo cap to put underneath my ski helmet to keep the ears protected! This outfit proofed to be perfect for all my days on the slopes these cold days, occasional he took off the fleece jacket in Arosa later, "the warmer days".

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After this convenient short train ride to Klosters and up to the Gotschnagrat he did a few warmup runs on this nice #45b trail and the Schwarzseealp chair up again -- not missing a few great off piste powder runs between 45a/b. This should have become his favorite start of every day up here on top of Klosters/Davos where he went a total of three days as tracked in detail below. (picture with -13C was on Thursday, at Gotschnagrat).


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After having played enough here he usually took the pretty nice traverse all the long way over to Schifer. Then depending on moods and time of time taking the Schiferbahn+Gipfelbahn all the way up to Weissfluhjoch and then his most favorite long run #1,17,21,22 "Kreuzweg" back to Schifer what is a 7km (strait line) run from 2870m to 1500m. Lunch always at his most favorite place Berghaus Schifer. Ordering "Schifer Roesti"... Following a few more "#1..." runs and a final "Talabfahrt #21" directly back into train station Klosters -- 14km from top, 2870m down to 1100m. Once in a while adding a few alternative moderate runs and modifications, many options...

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 But awesome conditions and nearly empty -- never seen it so empty with that great conditions!! Seeing one guy with a Motorcycle helmet... "need to improvise". Tearing eyes under glasses and goggles with that wind -- instant freezing of any condensations... -- little odd to get used to, but bearable. And always good to know, it's always short lasting and highly depends on speed what can be adjusted!


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Satuday -- Day 1

Sunday -- Day 2
pretty much the same, but adding a few more runs.

Last day on the big slopes Klosters/Davos -- Day 5
Finishing up easy, returning early. Not feeling as great, taking it easy, having a great lunch....

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