The Stotzingen Firsten (2753m) stands on the left side of the valley of river Furka, in front of Realp in Switzerland. It is a safe ski-mountaineering from Realp to an excellent panoramic point in the heart of Central Switzerland. It offers to the visitors a large and comprehensive view over the Bernese as well the Vallis-Pennine and Lepontine Alps. Fiensteraarhorn, Lautheraarhorn and Shreckhorn, Galenstock and the Rhone Glacer, Basodino, Blinnenhorn to the Bernina Group far in the east.
All of this started about a week ago. Highly anticipated snowfall had arrived to Switzerland over night. And it was quite a massive one, unexpected one. At least one meter of new fresh snow in most of the Swiss Alps, mountains got covered by large white blanket. Winter finally arrived in the middle of March, later than usual. One would say a pure beauty. Well, with such lots of snow there comes the downside. The avalanche danger was almost as high as the level of snow. The SLF (Snow and Avalanche Research in Switzerland) announced the Avalanche Danger Level 4 that really means High – very dangerous conditions for the ski touring. No-go.
I agreed with Blackie to meet in Andermatt, take a gondola to Gemmstock and do some powder skiing instead. Why not. It seemed to be an epic day, partially sunny, lots of fresh powder, fun. Ski-tourers should be proficient off-piste riders anyway.
Meeting point – Gemmstock parking, meeting time – 08:00AM to catch the first gondola up. For sure ! Shortly before 8AM, Blackie and his friend with sneaky mustache had took up the garden chairs from car trunk and started assembling them on the parking lot to get comfortable seats while changing into the skiing gear, it looked like a picnic to be honest.
You can be sure that these chaps with sneaky mustaches usually hide something under the nose. Greg later jumped 4 meters to the powder. Wow, like olympics ! He is a great skier, but it was not because of that. The skiing conditions were quite tough, lots of wet snow with cloudy sky colors blend together and you literally see just white. We could call it an uncontrolled jump with lucky ending. And the other guy… Imagine you are slowly diving under the water. First, seeing the water level below your waist, inch by inch touching your belly, shoulders, chin, mouth, nose. Exchange the water for snow and then try to ski. This is how Blackie was describing the powder skiing that day, aka snow sinking. I guess he was referring to too much snow. Anyway, all respect for both of them. I only heard these stories from the talking during the lunch where we met. I was not skiing with them.
It was tough for me from early on. Shortly after the very first warm-up ski ride, I left the party. I had returned back to the car, took my skins and did a skitour from middle station in 2300 meters to the top (almost 3000 meters) little bit off the piste. And during the touring, the idea of ski-tour to Stotzingen came to myself once the conditions will be way much more reasonable and safer. That happened one week after.
Here we are – Stotzingen Firsten. Sunday, a week after the heavy snowfall. The weather is cloudy with solar flares till lunch time. The avalanche conditions are considerable. The skitour difficulty is PD – a little difficult. The ascending gradient is very much in favor for safe skitouring. Myself and my girlfriend decided to jump to the boots and do the skitour again !
The tour starts at the village called Realp. Tour is very delightful, terrain is not exposed, not steep and in most cases fine for comfortable ascending and descending. The area is pretty well known and there are visible snow paths to the top, just follow the existing tracks and you will not get lost. Definitely, you will not be alone on the mountain.
Since the skitour is a panoramic and offers awesome views, best is to plan it during sunny weather. Unfortunately, we were not so lucky in this case. While approaching the summit, clouds started covering the sky more and more and the visibility started to be questionable. The weather can quickly change in the high mountains. Being 100 meters below the summit seems to be very close to reach, however considering a decent and potential upcoming weather conditions, everyone should always decide wisely.
Off piste skiing is quite fun. The conditions, a week ago, were very tough for myself. Today, the snow was more packed and bit wet. There must have been many skiers before, no clean lines whatsoever.
As it always happens, the weather changed during the decent. From milky sky to the traces of sunbeams. Tuck a bit, absorb the bumps with the knees and enjoy.
Before parking ourselves into the train station in Realp for Finisher beer, posing pictures at the end of the tour boost the day even more. To actually call it an epic day.