Verbier to Engelberg Ski Safari

45 cm of fresh snow had fallen as we left to Engelberg to start another fantastic ski safari Monday, February 28. The forecast called for the clouds to clear more slowly in the north. So looking at the blue bird day brightening through the wind screen, we deiced to make a quick stop on the Trient plateau before leaving the valley. As it turned out, last minute changes were the order of the week, as our plans continuously changed day to day, minute by minute. Even right up to the last and third heli drop above the Loetschental when the pilot informed me that he didn’t have enough fuel to go to my planned drop. Flexibility took on a whole new meaning as I hoped out of the heli and began to lead my 4 young chamois down the heavily crevassed glaciers below the Jungfrau. Skinning, flying in helicopters, walking ridge lines, roping up through crevasse fields and skiing down remote and virgin powder fields is what this type of tour is all about. I’m looking forward to the next one already!

This entry was posted in Freeride, Heliskiing, Ski Mountaineering on by .

About Hans Solmssen

I am a professional mountain guide living in Verbier, Switzerland. I grew up on the Big Island of Hawaii after my father moved to Hawaii to teach at Hawaii Preparatory Academy. He created a horse program at this high school, located in the middle of the largest, privately owned cattle ranch in the US. Horses were a major part of my life, even playing polo for a few years. I moved to northern Vermont to go to school, and discovered skiing. Little did I know, this would become my life's passion: guiding friends and clients over the mountains around the world on skis and foot. I moved to Verbier, Switzerland in 1982, and entered the Swiss guide's program in '88. I received my UIAGM "pin" 3 years later in 1991. I have two kids, Anya and Kevin.

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