The Fischer Transalp 2020: plans are there to be changed
On 8 March, the tenth Fischer Transalp came to an end. Six selected participants from six nations set off to cross the Southern Alps in six days with mountain guides and the Fischer team. The route had been meticulously planned last autumn. What can’t be worked into any plan, though, is the weather...
In all, approximately 800 ski touring enthusiasts from all over the world applied to take part in this year’s Fischer Transalp. In the end, to ensure safety on the mountain, only six of them were selected. On Monday, 2 March the lucky six, Kaja Brodtkorb (NOR), Ulrich Sperling (GER), Pascal Waser (SUI), Franziska Kofler (ITA), Angelika Zeilinger (AUT) and Sergey Turikov (RUS), made their way to Fischer’s head offices in Ried im Innkreis. At the heart of Fischer’s ski manufacturing workshops the participants were able to subject the production of the ski touring equipment to thorough scrutiny before the crew set off for the starting point, Sella Nevea.
Up to 80 cm of new snow plus continuous falls of wet snow meant that the ascent to and descent from the Forcella Mosè planned for day 1 had to be abandoned for safety reasons. The day’s alternative destination was the Sompdogna (1,889 m) with its flat, wooded terrain. However, the crew only managed to climb 600 m before the enormous amounts of wet snow forced them to turn back. Wet through, but nevertheless in the best of spirits, the participants returned to base on the first day.
Day 2 also required a change of plan, the route ultimately leading from the Straniger Alm to the Straniger Kopf (1,843 m). After making tracks through knee-deep snow for about four hours, the crew reached their goal. There they were rewarded with sunshine and a stunning panorama, and the powder snow on the descent left nothing to be desired, either.
On day 3, the crew had to abandon the idea of crossing the Plöcken Pass and climbing up to the Hohe Warte/Coglians. However, choosing the region’s best day tour as an alternative proved to be the perfect decision. From Obergail the route took them to the Wasserköpfe (2,247 m). Conditions at the start were ideal: blue skies, sunshine, and for the first time the participants found an uphill trail that allowed them to make good time. After climbing around 1,100 metres they arrived just beneath the summit. A sheltered larch wood with untouched snow and plenty of room for powder turns made for a fantastic descent.
On day 4 it was once again a question of choosing a tour that could be managed despite avalanche warning level 3 and poor visibility. The start was St. Lorenzen in the Lesach valley, the destination the Samalm (1,966 m), followed by a descent to Tuffbad.
On the way to the summit the weather turned and the sun came out, staying with the crew as they skied down again. That evening, the participants were surprised by a very special guest: Simon Gietl, the mountaineer from South Tyrol, dropped by to give them a little talk about his expeditions.
If you were to describe the perfect Fischer Transalp stage, you would include sunshine, powder snow, perfect equipment and a team that is in the best of spirits. And day 5 ticked every single one of those boxes from sun-up onward. What's more, Simon Gietl accompanied the group that day, giving them a real additional boost.
For the first kilometres through the Porzetal the crew made good time. However, they were forced to give the day’s destination, the Wildkarlegg, a miss: wind slabs and the steep gradient made the ascent too dangerous. Instead, they took the route to the adjacent Filmorsattel. What happened then is hard to describe, but the words of our guide Reini Ranner give some idea of it: "Not even the Arlberg can match that." The participants enjoyed a descent on untouched white gold through roughly 800 metres of altitude down to Kartitsch.
There was every expectation that the tenth Fischer Transalp would end on a high note. The weather forecast predicted nothing but sunshine and it was likely that the northern slopes would still be covered in plenty of powder snow. The start was in Hollbruckertal. From there, the participants climbed 1,300 m up to the Hochgräntenjoch. To finish, the route led over a narrow ridge and, after a bit of easy rock-climbing, up to the Hollbrucker Spitze (2,573 m). Because snow conditions were poor on the southern slope towards Sexten, the new destination chosen instead of Cortina, the crew decided to use the perfect snow on the slope they had come up on for the descent as well.
Back down in the valley, and therefore at the end of the Fischer Transalp, the participants fell into each other’s arms in celebration and delight. They had had a fantastic week that had brought them good luck with the weather, a sensational atmosphere and unforgettable experiences.