…or another plan B

I’m guessing, this winter stays in my memory as the enduring “plan B” winter. Despite the great conditions we had most of the time, suprisingly often we couldn’t ski what we wanted to ski in the first place. And that’s been for many reasons. Still most of this season’s plan B’s have been far better than many other winters’ plan A’s.

If you leave the house at 3:30 a.m. to catch up with your partner in time and then subsequently start your tour at 7:00 in the morning, it just has to be good.
Unfortunately the line we had in mind was sluffed out and too rocky in the beginning. The rope we brought was too short to make a safe entrance, so we opted for the classic Sonnblick N/NE descend instead (Hoher Sonnblick 3106m, Kolm-Saigurn). It is rated about

AD, 5.1, E2 (sect. 50°, 47°/280m + 38°/520m)

We made the 1500m ascend in 3 to 3.5 h which left enough margin to be back at the car at 12 o’clock (thight schedule later that day…).

Pictures of the descend

The ski line in early morning light