Warming up through memory lane
Winter is not around the corner - it just arrived! While I couldn't make it to Silvretta Montafon for the opening last weekend, a walk down memory lane is just what is needed to keep the winter excitement rolling! That's why I have chosen 5 of my favorite shots from the last 7 winters - get you winter hype going by swiping through the pictures above and read the story behind underneath.
1) HOCHJOCH // APRIL 2015 // PHOTO: MADS MELDGAARD
The ridge towards Zamangspitze is a Silvretta Montafon classic, whether you want a few warm-up laps down to Grasjoch, or are aiming for the legendary 1.500 altitude meters ski route from the top all the way down to St. Gallenkirch. This April afternoon we spotted an untracked zone on the north face. A quick 20 minutes hike left me an empty canvas to draw the line on.
2) NOVA // APRIL 2015 // PHOTO: MADS MELDGAARD
Another great shot from a great week - this time in my all-time favorite zone of Silvretta Montafon, Garfresha. The picture describe how the perfect day between the woods should be - whiteout and deep! And this winter the forrest have gotten an upgrade as the 44 years old two-seated "Garfrescha-Bahn II" has been removed in favor of Vorarlberg's fastest chairlift, "Silvretta Bahn".
3) NOVA // DECEMBER 2012 // PHOTO: ANDREAS REHN
The Nova area is a freerider's playground on a bluebird day with new fallen snow. Hundreds of natural features awaits in all sizes. This early December, Austria was hit by a surprisingly massive snowfall creating small puffy pillows everywhere you looked. Unrealistically, it almost looks like I'm surfing on a cloud of snow.
4) HOCHJOCH // DECEMBER 2009 // PHOTO: ANDREAS REHN
This picture will always be special to me as it was captured during the opening weekend of my first season in Silvretta Montafon. Waking up in the valley seeing nothing but fog to be met by the sun gleaming in the cloud ocean, always creates an unique atmosphere. It's like you're left all alone.
5) NOVA // JANUARY 2012 // PHOTO: JENS PETER FREDERIKSEN
The winter 2011/12 was by many named "powder-season". The snow kept falling from Christmas until February turning avalanche fences into natural kickers of all sizes. Between all the good skiing we still got time to catch a few pictures, and I think this one pretty much shows the japanese-style conditions that month.