Page 15 - 2007 AMA Summer

By Hans Felder
ast year was an excellent Lwinter season down here in Bavaria, due to most
of the weather arriving from
the north east, ensuring most
of the northern Alps received
good dumps of snow. Before
being posted here as an
instructor, I was totally
unaware of how much
Bavaria had to offer in terms
of downhill skiing and espe­
cially ski touring. We started
touring locally in the beginto­uring symposium this year
Phil Maddox on ridge line.
ning of Dec 06 just before the lift lines opened. Piles of deep unconsolidated snow with no base, humps, ditches and shrubbery equals skis stay where they are and flying lessons. The season contin­ ued as it has over the last couple of years with better conditions as it went on. I believe ski touring is the way ahead as it achieves the aims of AT, it gets you away from the crowds, opens up more challenging technical routes improving your all round mountaineering. More impor­ tantly touring reveals, on occasions, waist deep virgin powder, which, there is no better feeling. With the above in mind, Bavaria is a bit of a hidden gem.
At ATC the winter alpine courses start they run for blocks of 10 days with a weekend in between to enjoy the cultural delights on offer locally. We offer the 5 day advanced proficiency alpine (APA) followed by the 5 day tour leader training (TLT) course which is required before attending the Ski Instructors course. You need to be of a good parallel stan­ dard before attending the above. We also had a ski
which allows students to gain more quality log book days and qualifications, speaking of which the provisional Ski Mountain leader training and assessments are also run in April.
There are also 3 military multi activity lodges in the Allgau which offer the basic ski pro­ ficiency (BSA) and ski tour proficiency (STP) awards for exercising troops. Determine what your plan is and check the availability with the level 2 booking clerk. Equipment, messing, transport and a cer­ tain amount of instructors are available at no cost.
More information and book­ ing can be obtained from the Courses Clerk, HQ ATG, tel no Mil (94879) ext 2918 civ (0049) 5254982918, or on the army net or civilian web under Adventurous Training.
Slide or Glide is a civilian lodge that is fully conversant with military exercises, any information required can obtained direct. The lodge is accepted on the JSATFA application, contact John May at slideorglide.net or t e l e ­ phone (0049) 16097754252 for more information.
Steepcoulouirabseil.
ARMYMOUNTAINEER 13