Selun snow shoes tour

This weekend all my ski touring "colleagues" are not available...and this is not good. At least I could get a full day of off piste skiing on Friday. There was some fresh snow (probably the last of the season) plus a lot of some...hence me and a friend thought to take a day off and go skiing. It was a really good way to practice my off piste technique! Anyway...back to Selun.

   Being alone I did not feel like going ski touring on my own. I'm still not exceptionally good off piste and in case something happens I would be on my own trying to get down the mountain. Therefore I decided to go with snow shoes. Not as much fun maybe but at least I can keep my legs trained and I can still enjoy a day in the snow and with possibly some sun. With public transport I get at the beginning of the climb at 8:35, which is a decent time to start in this season. Starting point is Starkenbach, which not more than a small camping place, a few houses and a restaurant. I'm surprised by the amount of people I see at the beginning, a lot also with snow shoes. 

   Setting off properly takes longer than expected. I have to stop every 5 minutes to take off layer after layer because it is rather warm. At the end my conclusion was that the baselayer I choose was too warm...dressing for going to the mountains is really an art! However, with only the base layer on, and no gloves the temperature was OK. 

   On the way up all the memories from the very first ski touring trip came up. I did the same route already in December as my very first ski tour...and that was almost a disaster since I did not manage to put two turns together without falling...but that's another story. Snow conditions at the beginning don't look that good, rather icy and hard. However, after a couple of hundred meters the snow becomes much better...to the point I start regretting not having taken my skis! The path winds up close to the (closed) cable car and quickly goes into the woods, where the track becomes rather narrow. Up to this point I tried to make my own tracks in order to avoid "ruining" the ski tourers ones. But in the forest this is not possible anymore and I have to walk on the same tracks. That's not so bad because the snow has been very well compacted and there is not much to sink anymore. 

   After a bit more than 1 hour I get out of the woods and reach a small hut with a big aerial close to it. Here  I stop for a break. Views are really nice even though the sky is not completely clear. I'm quite astonished of the amount of people I see skinning up already...they must have started at least 1 hour before me. I even see a person skiing down already!!! Either he did not go to the summit, or he started really early....or he is fitter than Kilian Jornet :).

One of the first view of the summit

   From here on the track goes rather flat(ish) through some spare trees up to the beginning of the last (long) slope. From here I get to see the effect of the wind of the previous days. On the left side (compared to my view point) of the summit slope there are massive snow cornices...that massive that they should probably be defined as terraces :). My plan for the day was to try and attempt (depending on conditions) another summit. This summit stands to the left of Selun and has a very steep part (up to 50°) close to the top. Therefore I had my ice axe and crampons with me. The sight of these massive cornices made me think that there could be some snow cumulated on the route up (there is a small couloir to climb where the wind would have blown in). Also, in the forest I saw the typical sun balls rolling down the hills on their own. Therefore I judged the avalanche risk too high for attempting alone a 40° to 50° steep slope....hence Selun becomes the target of the day.

To the right Selun and to the left (first on the left) the other route that I wanted to try

I finally reach the final (even though very long) summit slope. I manage to overtake some ski tourers but I quickly realize how much easier it would be to skin up with my skis rather that walking with snow shoes. At some point on the way up I even find very good powder...and then I totally regret not having my skis. 

Quite a good training ground for skiing

The sun comes out and I stop for a minute just to appreciate the wonderful feeling of the sun shining on my face. At the same time I realize I forgot to put the sun cream on...but that only means I will have a very stron suntan for the next few days. I also remark what a good decision it was to go to the mountains even if on my own and on a known route. It's a real pleasure to just be out here and appreciate the nature and there is no other place I'd like to be. 

   Since I left the woods I always made my own tracks in the snow...but now this starts becoming rather difficult as I start sinking and several times sliding back...but I don't want to give up. All of a sudden all the people I saw going up already an hour ago start to come down. Some really good skiers I have to say...and one of them is even having a dog following him! Step after step and turn after turn I finally stand on the summit, 1330 meters higher than where I started. The view from up here is really great...despite the clouds covering a good part of it. But it does not matter that much in the end. I just came up here today because I wanted to enjoy a day out, spend some time in the nature, away from the clutter of the city. Sitting on my rucksack on the summit, while eating some chocolate and dried mango gives me a sense of relaxation that lying at home on the sofa would have never given me.

View towards Chur, Walensee in the bottom

View towards North

View directly down on the South side...rather steep!

Another view towards North, from a bit further along the summit ridge

Another view towards South...highlighting the scenic ridge of summits above the Walensee

   After some food and some pictures I start heading back to the valley...knowing that this time it will take surely longer than usual because I don't have skis. And as soon as I start going down I realize how much easier it would have been with the skis. Snow shoes are sliding all over the place and finding a good foot hold is not always easy. It's not that steep, maybe 30° but I think that doing it with skis would have been so much easier...and faster. After a while I start remembering how to go down on snow shoes and the descent becomes much faster. One I get again in the forest it becomes a little bit boring because I have to follow the foot path and taking short cuts would be too steep. Skiers on the way down seem to fly on the foot path...and it takes me a good two hours to make it all the way down. But anyway, is probably better like this. I feel much safer on the snow shoes...since this is only my first season of ski touring I thought that going alone would have not been a great idea.