Oberstdorf New Year's Eve
29. 01. 2018
After two New Year's Eves in the Tatras, we decided to change it this year. On the second Christmas holiday we went to Mountain Hostel in Oberstdorf, Germany, which is on the border with Austria and offers plenty of sports enjoyment: ski slopes, cross-country skiing trails, skialp terrain, ice climbing, mixed climbing and, last but not least flying on a paraglider.
First we explored the skialp terrains and cross-country trails around the chalet. Because of the fog and the fallen avalanches we did not have many other possibilities, we could not set out in the mountain ridge in such weather.
The next day should be the best weather of the week, so we set out for a panoramic tour on the skis and snowshoes. Over the next few days a lot of new snow fell, so we didn't go to the avalanche terrain and walked along the tracks adapted by the snowplough. Never the less we enjoyed riding in the powder snow :).
Then they reported it would get warmer and there would be afternoon drizzle. In the morning after eight o'clock we explored the cross country trails with Standa Mayer. After riding a few circuits at the local stadium, we set out around Oberstdorf to the north and wanted to ride as many trails as possible. After about 15 km it started raining, so we turned around and after another 15 km we reached the chalet. It was a nice 30 kilometres on well-adapted trails.
The New Year's Eve looked very promising for flying conditions. We decided to climb a ridge from the village of Reichenbach through the valley of the Gaisalpbach brook and around the Gaisalpsee lakes. Unfortunately at the lower lake it was clear that we would not get on the mountain ridge because of the deep snow and early darkness. So we decided to looking for a starting point at the lower lake. But because of the above-mentioned deep snow and windless conditions, it seemed hopeless for a while. We began to reconcile ourselves to going down, but then one place was found a steep avalanche pathway, it was quite tough, which was what we needed. We could enjoy the last flying in the year 2017 with Alps and Oberstdorf panoramas.
Tomáš Matera / Kilpi Racing Team
