There are times through the winter where the mountains speak of adventure. The wind blows warm from the south to announce the coming changes, the sun lingers a little longer but still the heavens in their gentle kindness gift these lands a fresh sprinkling of untouched powder. These are the sugar days.
Touring is a magical way to experience the full beauty of the alps. Catching the first gondel out of Wangs and hitting the snow 10 minutes later at Pizonhutte (2227m) gives us a few extra minutes to stop, breath in the fresh crisp morning air and saver those views back down the valley. For the next 2 hours or so the snowshoes will be plowing a slow ascent towards the peak of Pizol (2844m). Its not a very challenging tour, nor a very long one but as always the mountains have a special way of spreading their energy, of awaking the life within and speaking their silence. The Pizol area wastes no time in transitioning from groomed piste runs to knee deep powder and before long one is enveloped in sunlit whiteness.
The tour to Pizol is split in two parts. The first stage is a 300m climb to Wildseeluggen where one thinks they have reached the peak already however it’s only a viewing platform for what is to come. From here it drops 50m onto the frozen Wildsee before ascending again the final 400m passed the Pizolgletscher and onto the summit.
Its hard work walking in the snow. There is lots of sweet, fast heart beats, the occasional feeling of throwing in the towel. Each foot step is expertly placed in the oversized foot prints left by the trailblazer. It is a lot easier to follow once the snow has been compacted. There are some that prefer to cut the trail, to push their fitness but I am just happy to be out in this wilderness, feeling the nature on my face, taking my time, enjoying that I can have this experience that few undertake. I stop often to regain my breath, to control my heartbeat. Those giant foot prints aren’t disappearing anytime soon and I know my fitness will be tested no matter the speed I climb.
The final 100m push challenges my inner resolve and already a couple of my companions are standing on the ridge ahead. I just keep the head down and watch my steps. I somehow don’t want to spoil the surprise by looking around at the view. I want to reach the peak first, catch my breath, and like undoing a well anticipated birthday present where instead of ripping open the paper one slowly peels away the tape from each corner piece by piece and it is only then that the present will reveal itself just like a beautiful bouquet of mountains exposes itself to the one that awaits the surprise.
To me, putting in the hard work of walking up a mountain seems to heighten the senses of nature. Similar to hiking in summer where catching the gondel doesn’t seem to offer the same rewards as slogging ones way up the trails.
Meters before the peak the thin cold air is sucking into my lungs, the ice crystals play before my goggles reflecting their lights for just a second. The peak is just ahead. Ten more foot steps. Five more foot steps. I can see my companions smiles, there are handshakes and there is the wonderful 360 degree panorama that feels very special at that given moment.
There is no hurry now. The mountain lays its carpet of white out for us but this moment needs savoring. We can see some parties approaching but they are still half an hour away. They look tiny but we know we will be passing them in a minute once we tilt the boards down. There is great expectation for the fun that awaits but for the moment nobody wants to leave. We all feel the power of adventure deep within us and know that nature today has given us a beautiful present dusted with sugar.