MTR 1-Lauterbrunnen Day 1

I just got back from MTR 1 in Lauterbrunnen Switzerland and despite the weather (fog and rain) we had a great time learning and even got a few powder turns in! Here is a little overview of how the trip went.

We headed out of Garmisch on the April 12 at 11:30 after getting something for dads camera and grabbing a subway sandwich for the road with a little rain coming down in the valley around Garmsch but a nice day nonetheless. After driving for a little over four hours we finally pulled into the hostel parking lot. Walking into the bar we found out we were only the fifth to arrive at the hostel even though we got a pretty late start. After a few beers almost the whole group had arrived except for two who had driven into two staus along the way making their trip especially long. 

After devouring pizzas  we get some bad new: the hut was too buried for us to dig it out. the guide Daniel had heard from other that the snow level was above the third story window, the highest he had ever seen it if this was true. After giving us the bad new we got some good news: we would still fly out to the hutte in the morning if weather permitted so at least check out the hut and get a very long ski down into the valley. After getting the plans we all had a few more beers and called it an early night.

The next morning we woke up to partly cloudy skies up the valley in the direction of the hut but we decided to have an optimistic attitude and head up the road to the Air-Glacier headquarters. As we walked the clouds started to lighten a bit but it was still looking pretty thick. 

When we arrived the helicopters were wheeled outside and it started to look more and more like we were going to fly. Ten minutes later we were throwing our skis into the heli and taking off up the valley. My family and I were in the second helicopter and as the first was searching for a landing zone we had enough time for our pilot to take us around the valley checking out different ridges and valleys along the way. After 10 minutes of searching for a landing zone we were finally allowed to land right next to the hut.

When he came in for the landing all we did was jump out and get down as Daniel got all of our skis and backpacks out. It was a great flight and it was amazing to see how fast you can gain a lot of elevation in a small amount of time. The most amazing thing for me was how fast it got quite after the heli dropped us of and took of down the valley for the next group. It took seconds for it to go from loud as it can get without you wanting earphones to dead silent.

After getting a quick drink and watching the next helicopter land and drop off the last group we put our harnesses on and took some pictures of the hut which as reported was COVERED in snow. The snow was above the third story window and allowed us to walk directly onto the roof from the backside. After getting a group picture of all of us on top of the hut we clicked into the skis and took off down the valley. The first turns leaving the hut gave us a sample of the snow that we were going to be skiing for the next couple hundred feet. It was deep and light and was exactly what we had dreamed of. Daniel guides at a helicopter ski operation for much of winter in BC and he said that this was about as good as it gets in Switzerland. I guess we hit it on a good day!! 

Making our way down wide open slopes the snow was unbelievable. The snow was dry above the boot top as we made turn after effortless turn. After ever slope we would traverse for 100 or 200 meters and be on top of another nice wide open 30 degree slope. The views in all directions were great as well with peaks showing their heads through the clouds as we made our way passed them. After traversing skiers left a large mountain we made our way along a creek bed eventually crossing it and heading around a large cliff band. At this point we had lost enough elevation that the snow had gotten heavy and people were getting tired so we took a small break before heading on down the valley. 

After taking the break we skied alongside another stream and over a bridge used for hiking in the summer. We passed through a thicker forest before making our way out onto a slope covered in snow due to a large avalanche that had swept through earlier in the season. From the avalanche path we were able to ski all the way to another creek crossing that we eventually had to take our skis off to hike up the opposing bank. Upon arriving on opposite banks high side we took off the skis and enjoyed a small break before walking the two kilometers into the town of Stechelberg, furthest town into the dead end Lauterbrunnen Valley. Once we had all made it into the town we went to a restaurant with great food called the Alpenhof....I think. 

Overall this was the best ski day of the year (by far) and cannot believe that it is the first day of the trip. Could it get any better?
-Owen