Fresh powder and sunshine: Choice Splitboard Zillertal Camp 2020 Recap

Choice Splitboard Camp Zillertal – 04.-09. February 2020 – Diggl Freeride Farm

As every year, the Choice Adventure Company organised a splitboard camp for long-term customers and friends in 2020. The cosy Diggl Freeride Farm and mountain guide Gerhard Hoerhager´s former family home, was considered a worthy base for an advanced level splitboarding experience into Zillertal´s remote alpine world. And all those, willing to walk the extra mile, would always find some untouched powder faces in the Zillertal mountains.

Winter had taken over the valley and the crew was happy to apply snow chains to arrive safely at the mountain hut in the back of Ginzling´s winter wonderland on February 4th, 2020. After a yummy welcome dinner by chief cook Eva Lynn Haberl, the sauna got fired up for a first relaxing round. It kept snowing all night and the mountain cabin got completely covered in white gold. The storm did not even calm the next day and all resorts were closed due to strong winds, heavy snowfalls and poor visibility. Considering the high avalanche risk, the group decided to stay home and do a proper avalanche and safety training behind the house. In the afternoon, the boys hiked the hill behind the cabin to score some powder turns. No doubt, the Diggl Freeride Farm is the perfect hide-away on stormy days like these.

For Thursday, the forecast predicted bluebird. So the Choice friends took first lifts and shredded all powder runs around Mayrhofen and Finkenberg. With a big smile, everyone happily returned to the Diggl in the afternoon. And after the daily sauna session and celebratory meal, the splitboards were prepared for new adventures. It seemed like the clerk of weather was on the Choice friends side, forecasting sunshine and wintery conditions for the upcoming three days.

Mountain guide Marco Hilpert took the snow-hungry mountaineers on a splitboarding mission to Haslspitz on Friday. They took the gondola to Rastkogel mountain station, did a a few warm-up runs on the slopes and changed to hiking mode right at the bottom of the tobaggan track to start touring. Passing the gouge, the group advanced into steeper terrain, enjoying spring temperatures and a perfect view while splitboarding. When the splitboarders approached the summit (2.547 m) it started to get windy and sharky. The group decided to stop on the ridge south of Haslspitz. Quickly changed to riding mode and the riders were ready to drop into a versatile face filled with fresh powder and many little side hits, while the sun started setting. Back at the cabin, the first photos were sighted with joy and everybody was off to bed early.

A longer splitboard tour to Hobarjoch was on the schedule for Saturday. This time, without lifttickets. The cars were parked at 1.600 metres on the small mountain road close to the „Geislhoefe“ in Vorderlanersbach. From there, the group started touring up the little alpine track, that was heading west towards the back of the valley. After Hobalm and at 1.950 hm, they turned right, heading for the ridge between Almkogel and Hobarjoch. On their way to Hobarjoch peak, the splitboarders walked past beautiful mountain faces while they were sweating under the midday sun. When they reached the summit, everyone was blown away by the amazing panoramic view over the Alps.

After a short lunch break, the boards were changed to riding mode and the group was excited to drop into the following 912 hm downhill run. The first drop into steep chutes was followed by wide powder fields and the run ended on the forest road, that lead them back to the starting point. At the end of another amazing day, the splitboarders had tracked more than 10-kilometres of finest splitboard touring and everyone was happy to return to Diggl for another sauna session and dinner.

Sunday was the last touring day. The cars were packed up in the morning for everyone to head to Gerlosstein and straight home afterwards. After a single gondola ascent to Gerlosstein mountain station (1.600 m) the splitboarders took the t-bar to arrive at the entrance of the valley east from the impressive „Gerlossteinwand.“ From there, the group started splitboarding south bound towards Heimjoechl. Having the massive rock face to their right, they were passing open woodland and entered a beautiful winter wonderland on their way towards Hochfeld on 2.350 metres. Just below the ridge, the riders decided to stop, change back and go for a first powder run. Great choice! Even on the third day, they still got rewarded with fresh and fluffy powder. At the bottom of the versatile face, the splitboards were quickly changed back to hiking mode and everyone was frothing to tour up again. This time, they headed in the direction of Geiskopf (2.277 m).

The weather was about to change, winds had been freshing up. So they decided to stop on the lee side below the summit and prepare for the last run of the day. The afternoon sun performed its magic on the wide Hochfeld face,that transformed into a sparkling and dreamy playground. Riding down, everyone picked their own line, enjoying earned turns in fresh powder. Another short, little boot-packing hike back to Heimjoechl and then all the way was downhill: the riders were passing wide meadows, rode through beautiful chutes and cruised into an open forest, until everybody arrived back on the slope safely. To end the day, they took it with a 6-km valley run and finished the camp with tired legs and hapoy faces on the parking!

What a week! From storm, whiteout and heavy snow falls, to perfect freeriding days and up to beautiful splitboard touring with bluebird and fresh powder. „It´s been a great experience that needs to be repeated,“ the Choice friends agreed. The date for next season´s Choice Friends Camp at the Diggl Freeride Farm is confirmed: 11.-14. February 2021! Save the date and don´t miss out on the action!

A special thanks goes out to Gerhard Hoerhager for his hospitality at the lovely Diggl Freeride Farm. Big up to Marco Hilpert for professional guiding and a great shout out to all partners for supporting the Choice Splitboard Camps in 2020: Jones Snowboards, Never Summer Snowboards, Karakoram, Spark R&D, Deeluxe Boots, Ortovox, Penguin Clothing, Smith Optics, SN Supernatural Merinowear, Protect our Winters Austria, Dana Beanies, Kohla Tirol.

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