Engadin March 1-5 2002

Bundner Teller, Bier and Pulverschnee !

At the last minute I realized that I could join Rainer's Engadin trip. Thanx to ARRI for giving me some spare time !

We met at Zernez at the Post Hotel. With the brothers Jan and Phillip Hause, plus a great guide, we were in for a good time ! I was very lucky to room with our guide Rainer Boelsch and learned a great deal about ski touring and route finding. Rainer used to live in the Engadin and really knows where to go. He also has climbed many impressive peaks and has a great deal of experience.

Our first day started slow. The weather was not good so made an easy tour and headed to Mt Buffalora. We met 3 others from Sud Tirol at the peak and shared their prosecto ! The snow was yukky for the most part. But, the next day we awoke to 55cm new snow and Rainer already knew a high pressure was coming in . It was going to to be a very good day.

One problem though was avalanche danger. So Rainer kept us on the safer slopes and we turned back before reaching the peak of Piz Belvair. The clouds and fresh snow made for some great photos. One of my all time favorites is of Rainer all alone breaking trail amoungest the clouds. The sking down was great and I did a hugh yard sale fall. Good thing I didn't hit any rocks. Yes, I was 90 percent sure I was going to crash ! I'll be more careful next time.

The next two days we skied two beautiful peaks . Both tours provided fantastic 360 degree views, clear skys, excellent powder skiing and ended ofcourse with the Bundner teller plate and beer ! The tour on Piz Daint was unforgetable !

For Phillip this was his first go at ski touring . Geez what a way to start !

I'm lucky to have met Rainer before I head back to the States. I'm sure I'll be following his tracks someday again. Lets hope the brothers can come too, it was a great group !

click on photo to view larger image

Rainer leads the way to Piz Belvair (2822m) (15,267 bytes)Day 2 , 55cm new ! (10,516 bytes)Piz Kash, Rainer has climbed this one too ! (20,867 bytes)Unknown group below us as we head toward Piz Nair (35,162 bytes)The peak of Piz Daint (26,469 bytes)
heading up Piz Nair (11,583 bytes)Peak of Piz Daint and big bird (38,489 bytes)Heading down Piz Daint (11,380 bytes)Rainer lookin' good ! (8,725 bytes)Lunch Break !!! (28,091 bytes)
Rainer all alone (9,723 bytes)Nice powder but with unfriendly rocks (18,991 bytes)Piz Kash , impressive peak. (16,518 bytes)Engadin Valley in background (19,136 bytes)Avalanched slopes (11,819 bytes)
Jan rips ! (11,897 bytes)tracks off Piz Daint (12,833 bytes)Rainer's block test near Piz Nair (21,792 bytes)Rainer leads the bros (26,378 bytes)Swiss guide leading large group up to Piz Vallatschau (15,810 bytes)
Piz Daint (29,088 bytes)part Piz Daint route (29,050 bytes)near summit of Piz Vallatscha (32,616 bytes)Rainer boots up Piz Vallatschau (3021m) (19,228 bytes)Route to top of Piz Daint (27,396 bytes)
Nearing summit of Piz Vallatschau (18,350 bytes)Summit ridge of Piz Valllatschau (33,426 bytes)My skis on the top of Piz Vallatschau, yes I was there too ! (32,336 bytes)somewhere sometime , dreamer photo (17,146 bytes)Our tracks off Piz Vallatschau ! (14,663 bytes)
Heading down valley from Vallatschau (19,605 bytes)Avalanched slopes near Mt Buffalora (26,040 bytes)route to Daint (12,496 bytes)Natural slides and big time wind loading example (14,089 bytes)THE BUNDNER TELLER PLATE ! (50,876 bytes)
Jan Hause , Phillip Hause , Rainer Boslch and Goofy Guy ! (43,780 bytes)Heading toward Piz Daint (20,073 bytes)DSCN0064.jpg (27,040 bytes)the final steps !!! (19,699 bytes)Hey Phillip what happened ????/ (13,772 bytes)
whoa, nice turns Jan ! (22,177 bytes)