Free Your Journey: New paths in the snow

Winter is changing - especially in the mountains. Months that used to be snow-sure have become a peak time for summer sports such as hiking or cycling.

Sustainable in the mountains

Conversely, it is still snowing today at the start of spring. Anyone who enjoys the mountains adapts their behavior to the new conditions. Whether mountain sports brands such as Salewa, ambitious alpinists or passionate skiers - they are all finding new approaches to exploring the mountains.  

With sustainability in mind, more and more ski tourers in particular are combining their tour with other mountain sports or alternative means of transportation: They travel to the mountain by bus and reach the starting point of the ski tour by hiking or mountain bike. They are rewarded not only with a descent in fresh powder snow, but also with an even more intense experience. With the new Free your Journey campaign, the South Tyrolean mountain sports brand Salewa is picking up on this change in winter sports and wants to motivate people to find new and more sustainable ways into the mountains.

Three steps to a more sustainable ski touring & freeride adventure

But how do you actually plan such an adventure? A ski touring trip requires a lot of preparation. The combination of a sustainable journey and other mountain sports comes with additional requirements. It helps to mentally divide and plan the tour into three steps:

Step 1:

The first stage is the journey to and from the foot of the mountain by bus, streetcar or train. Public transport not only has the advantage of getting us from A to B in a sustainable way. They also offer the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful mountain landscape more intensively as a passenger and enable round trips.

Step 2:

The second step is the ascent to the starting point of the tour. Here you are free to decide which option you prefer and what the local conditions allow. “I love the combination of ski touring with hiking or (e-)biking so much! It's not only sustainable, but also simply pure joy to do several sports in one day,” explains Salewa athlete and freeskier Yannick Boissenot. In both cases, it is important that you have a practical way of transporting your ski equipment. “Especially when cycling, it's important that your skis and all your equipment are safely stowed away. I also like to ride with my ski touring boots so that I have less luggage,” adds Yannick.

Step 3:

The third and final step is the ski touring tour through untouched nature to the summit, crowned by a descent in powder snow.

Dividing the adventure into three stages can help you to put together the ideal route and prepare yourself. When planning your tour, work out the exact route and equipment required for each stage. Safety should always come first! “Whether you're a beginner or an experienced skier, you shouldn't do the whole thing on your own, but with experts or get experts to help you, such as mountain guides or ski guides. This way you can get a good understanding of how to use the equipment and the necessary skills, such as skiing, descending, hiking on the ridge or riding a trail on a bike,” recommends Nina Gigele, Austrian entrepreneur and professional skier and ski guide.
 

More Information:

You can find more information on this at www.salewa.com