I went on a ski tour with my son and my daughter’s partner on January 2 this year. It was cold, between –14 and –24°C, but there was no wind and plenty of sunshine, so the weather conditions were good. It had been snowing in the area for a week, leaving 30–50 cm of powder snow on the leeward slopes, so the snow conditions were also excellent. It’s not often that you have good weather, great snow conditions, and time off work at the same time, so we really appreciated it.
However, there was an element of tension. Exactly one year ago, we had a trip in the same area under similar conditions. About 300 meters below the summit, my 16-year-old son dislocated his kneecap. It is extremely painful and leaves you completely unable to move. We were left helpless high up in the mountains, the temperature was –20°C, and the sun was setting. That trip ended with him being airlifted down by helicopter. I was extremely grateful and relieved to receive help that day.
During the summer, he underwent knee surgery, and the surgeons believe that this should not happen again. He was not frightened by the experience and wanted to try ski touring again when conditions were right. This time, we were better prepared, with safety equipment and a satellite communication device, allowing us to send emergency messages even without mobile coverage. Because of this, the trip became something special and a very successful mountain experience.
All photos Z8 + 24-120 f/4S, which is a perfect combination for trips like this.
