Wintry landscapes in Schwarzwassertal.

Starting later than usual from Auenhütte (Ifen ski area), we are chased through Schwarzwassertal by a machine preparing the hiking road. We take refuge over the flat plain, somewhat suprised by this little section over a brook. It's solid enough, though.

Steinmandl has a smooth ridge coming down almost towards us (from top right) - a particularly good route choice in unfavourable avalanche conditions like today.

Markus has just passed Schwarzwasserhütte, and aims for the smooth ridge up to Steinmandl.

Yesterday there were storm winds in the mountains. Today we see the scars of the storm engraved in the snow.

A floe avalanche (Schneebrett) between Steinmandl and Grünhorn.

On the upper part of Steinmandl, the track leaves the ridge for a while and climbs the eastern slopes directly. With the high avalanche risk it would have been slightly better to follow the ridge all the way, but this part isn't very steep, so we choose to follow the direct track. Behind us is the ridge to Grünhorn.

Markus takes a moment to enjoy our 150th* ski tour on the summit of Steinmandl. The beautiful ridge to Kreuzmandl shines behind. (*Markus has just done 77 tours and Sandra 73, adding up to this common anniversary :-) )

The ridge to Grünhorn from Steinmandl.

Today the most avalanche dangerous exposition is east, after storm winds have been raging from the west for the past couple of days. We choose the safest way for descending Steinmandl, gliding along the ridge and skiing down further to the north, where the slopes aren't as steep.

The beautiful ridge from Steinmandl to Kreuzmandl.

Kaiserschmarrn & Russenmass

We are celebrating our 77+73=150th ski tour! And in the best way we can imagine - the great (in size as well as taste) Kaiserschmarrn plate at the Schwarzwasser hut.