End-of-Season Bivouac

Like every year, we want to wrap up our Montafon winter with an end-of-season bivouac. With great enthusiasm, the Whatsapp group of the same name begins planning the trip, because Torsten's new pulka offers plenty of space not only for the equipment but also for liquid supplies. On a hot day in April, we start the operation "Pulka Train Silvrettastausee." After an easy start, the team soon faces the traverse of a steep slope. Not an easy task considering the additional 50 kilograms. But finally, we reach our base camp for the night. The panorama is beautiful, and we enjoy our first beer from the pulka. We let our season pass in review. As the sun sets, we decide to get on our skis once more to capture the mystical atmosphere on film.

It is the end of an extraordinary season in the Montafon. Weekend after weekend this winter season we met in the Montafon. Regular participants were David, Micha, Christi, Torsten, and, whenever possible, Christine, Angi, Lupo, Marita, and Dani came along. Now, at the end of the season, we still didn't get enough of touring and freeriding. Before wrapping it up with our traditional bivouac, we want to do repeat some of our favorites. Our first stop is Gargellen. Via the Gafierjoch, passing the Ionenfürkele on the way, we ascend to the Madrisajoch where we have a break with fascinating panoramic views overlooking the Rotbühlspitze, the mountains of Switzerland and the Rhine Valley with peaks like the Drei Türme, the Sulzfluh and the Schesaplana.

It's time to pull off the skins and enjoy the fantastic, untouched powder down to the Valzifenztal and back to Gargellen. For Micha, this means carving in a right angle down towards a 10 meter high block followed by long turns in hip-deep powder. A treat for our photographer. Another day, another favorite spot: Nova Valley. A true jewel; beautiful scenery with rocky towers and vast plateaus. Within minutes you are off the beaten track to enjoy untouched alpine terrain. From the summit station, we ski down into the valley. After a short hike to the Matschuner Joch, we continue to the Heimbühljoch, the starting point for countless long rides down into the Garnera or Vergalden Valleys.

Today's program: the slopes and gullies that take us back to the Novatal. Each of us chooses their own lines through the fluffy snow. Fresh powder, blue skies! Our aim is the Breitfielerkopf right above the village of Partenen, where the mountain road ends in winter. Luckily, there is the Vermunt cable car with the tunnel taxi. It's a popular spot with ski mountaineers and thus always busy if the conditions are right. No time for complaining, we have to get up early. After the short cable car ride, we skip the ski taxi and turn right facing the forest. We are the first. We track further up the hill through bushes and trees. After a few hundred yards, we are rewarded with panoramic views over the Montafon and the Rhine Valley.

The ascent becomes flatter, the valley views are fantastic, and riders and photographer have time to spot the best runs. Today, we don't go all the way up. Instead, we enjoy a snack on a little plateau below the summit. Soon, we shred the powder down to the summit station. We are all by ourselves. Another fabulous touring region is the area around the Klostertaler Umwelthütte. This time, we make use of the tunnel taxi from the Vermuntbahn summit station in Partenen to the Bielerhöhe on 2.030 meters. A comfortable altitude to start a ski tour. After the construction of a new pumped-storage power plant, the first few miles into the Klostertal no longer lead across the frozen Silvrettastausee, but along the right bank.

At the end of the lake, most people head through the Ochsental to the Wiesbadener Hütte to reach some of the most famous touring destinations: Piz Buin, Schneeglocke, Silvrettahorn, or Dreiländerspitze. We choose the more isolated route to the Klostertaler Umwelthütte. With our heavy backpacks, we appreciate the easy tour. The Klostertaler Umwelthütte – 2.366 meters – is a self-catering hut equipped with a cozy dining room, a bedroom, and a stove. It's open all year round. The key can be picked up at the Austrian Alpine Club division in Bludenz. The terrain around the hut is sensational; the routes into the Kromertal to the Saarbrücker Hütte, into the Ochsental to the Wiesbadener Hütte or across the mountain pass Rote Furka into Switzerland offer superb possibilities.

However, we choose to search for some lines in the Verhupftäli in the late afternoon, spend a cozy evening in the rustic hut, and explore new spots the next day. The hut has firewood storage, and it's a pure luxury to enjoy a warming fireplace, food, and drinks before climbing into your sleeping bags after a fabulous day in the mountains. To this point, we already had a great season in the Montafon. But our traditional end-of-season bivouac is still to come. Our destination, the Hennekopf in the Biel Valley, is – depending on the avalanche situation – a relatively safe summit and not very complicated to climb. On weekends during peak season, it can be quite crowded. We avoid the masses by starting our ascent in the afternoon.

Our pulka doesn't only fit a fair amount of film and photo equipment, but also plenty of cold drinks and food. Taking it up the relatively flat Klostertal is easy, but hauling it up the steep zigzag tracks to the summit of the Hennekopf is a different story. Two of us are pulling, two others are pushing, and one person almost dies laughing while taking pictures of the action. It somehow reminds us of Hannibal crossing the Alps. After all our photo and film sessions, it's finally time to end the season in a relaxed atmosphere with some beer and a sip from a mysterious, unlabeled bottle. During the photoshoot at night, about 300 meters from the camp, I have to look twice: Has a UFO just landed here or... No, everything's fine, the guys only have a little snow disco party with their headlamps to celebrate the end of a great season!