J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Dave Mac

Thanks for the research, folks. All the responses are now cut and pasted, and I have until Friday night to stitch them together, before presenting them to one of the all time great lyricists, (in my mind, anyway!) for demolition!

Dunno, Bandit, not sure if 43 years qualifies as "experienced". Might have to wait another 10 years!
I certainly would not want to have a couple of the qualified ski instructors I have skied with looking after my off-piste welfare!

Back to Direct Travel, where there was a requirement to stay within local authority rulings. The Wildschoenau TB sent me on a wild goose chase towards national Avalanche codes.
I have just discovered the info on the Bergbahn site.

Under "Off Piste Areas" ~ "Off piste areas away from marked routes with danger of avalanches, snow slides and other dangers require a lot of alpine experience and should therefore only be skied together with a qualified instructor. Areas frequently used for leaving pisted slopes are signposted with a warning „HERE YOU ARE LEAVING THE MARKED AND SAFE SKI AREA-ALPINE DANGER". A flashing light on the panorama board, under the sign „ACUTE AVALANCHE DANGER", warns you about the current situation on particular pistes. The signpost with a large white hand saying „STOP - DANGER OF AVALANCHES" is situated at the beginning of very steep slopes and areas which are known for avalanches. They are erected as a constant warning and are there throughout the season!" All standard stuff.

Under "Danger and First Aid/Mountain Rescue" ~ "A mountain rescue costs 120 Euros for rescue within the ski area. Helicopter and ambulance must be paid separately."

Under "Pistes & Routes" conflictingly, ~ "Ski routes are marked by an orange diamond shaped board with ski route written on it. These routes are not prepared nor controlled by the piste patrol. They should only be used by experienced skiers or when accompanied by a qualified ski instructor."

Will be there, but heading off on the 30th.
It is due to snow again on Monday, after a few warm days. Snow-making will normally start by mid-November. Auffach opens on the 8 Dec, and Niederau on the 18th Dec.

Seefeld snow history, last 4 years, lower/upper slopes:
20cm / 44cm
17cm / 70cm
111cm / 169cm
30cm / 75cm
All entirely skiable, may be soft spring snow, but that is true for almost all of the Alps.

Taking a car, I would take guitar, banjo, oil paints ~ you can't take these on a flight, so hence the restriction to watercolours....I digress. Loads of tools. French grammar/tuition books, even if you are fairly fluent. Loads of good music.

With apologies to the long term J2skiers, who have heard my stories before,....all true.....

In my first season, heading south in my old Transit van, en-route to Niederau. I gradually picked up my 5 co-passengers, none of whom I had met before. We called in at the cash and carry, easy, 6 people, 100 nights, 600 meals.
Thats 200 tins of Irish Stew, 200 tins of cooked chicken, 200 tins of Spam. 300 packets of Smash powdered potato, 300 packets of Rice. A few 5 kgm cans of powdered soup, oxtail was the favourite, it had some taste.
On day 2 of our arrival, it was discoveredI had bought packets of Rice Pudding instead of Patna rice. We had no spare money, and it had to be eaten.....

bandit wrote:

snowb4ndit wrote:Dam! Bandit, Why didn't you and I think of that idea? :roll:

I know, I know :lol: Mind you I don't think my ancient bum should be seen in a thong :oops:

Errm, might we be the judge of that?

AlistairS wrote:Oh, your being serious :oops: I expect it is great if you know the mountain and its a full moon and you don't have too many vino's :wink:

Oh, I know the mountain! I don't normally drink and ski. In a situation like this, or the last day of the season, I will do 3 beers, but then act like a nanny on the ski down, will put my son or my wife in the lead, and bring up the rear myself. Also, impress on everyone, this is a SLOW run down.
On a few occasions have previously skied down this mountain, solo, in the dark, once on one ski, carrying the other!
It's the touring ski uphill, after 80/90km of day skiing that occupies my thoughts!
Oh, I do apologise, Alistair, I hate being serious!