Ski crossing RESCHEN – TOBLACH "by fair means"

There's something peculiar about adventure: everyone loves it, everyone talks about it, but those in the midst of it all just want to get back to a warm fire. Adventures are exciting before they start and great once they've finished, but when in the middle of them and having to meet their challenges, they can be close to the edge and above all, uncertain! There is no certainty in adventure.

How thrilling an adventure is deemed to be on a personal and emotional level rarely depends on the dangers of the venture, but more on the levels of uncertainty, anxiety, joy and happiness. However, we do not have to travel to the forgotten parts of our planet for this, as the biggest adventures start in our minds and stay there, waiting to be realised.

There are six of us stripped down to the basics, ready for adventure right on our doorstep. In winter, crossing on skis "by fair means" from the customs station on the Resia to the GLOBO ALPIN office in Dobbiaco, is what the plan was. Over 9 consecutive tour days, from the western border of South Tyrol to the east. On foot, no technical aids (car, bus, lifts, etc.), solely dependent on our own resources, each carrying their own backpack, the evenings however, in the valley, in a shelter with good food.

The route guide would tell us the weather and also the avalanche danger, the self-imposed "by fair means" rules would be the true driving force, the incentive to adventure, the rest would remain in the mists of the unknown. A start point, an end goal and in between a major stage, the playground of hopes, doubts, fatigue and happiness. Unspoilt, snow-white mountain landscape from A to Z.

About a 235 km route, 17,000 metres in altitude and 80 hours walking time, divided into 9 consecutive tour days. Sunshine and powdery snow accompanied us on the way, as well as catastrophic hard, frozen snow, heavy fog and snowdrifts. We dug deep tracks and were often on the road for 12 hours a day, but we also ate well, spent time in the sauna and drank fine wine. All 6 of us finished together, just how we started, we cheated once, taking the ski bus for 17 km from Vent to Sahnestüberl on the Timmelsjoch road. We forgot our touring shoes, repaired broken avalanche transceivers, lost skis, stuck on skins, bashed our feet but somehow just kept going. We almost lost the race against the darkness in the fog, which made the shining lights from the bottom of the valley even more beautiful. The first beer at the bar was priceless, even more so the countless tips from mountain guide colleagues and tour lovers every evening. Unusual skating sallies along the cross-country trails and baffled smiles at the inevitable walking along tarred roads, next to train tracks and under motorways.

But all these experiences, facts, and numbers are so minor compared to the sea of memories that has formed in each of our hearts and minds. Memories that will stand the test of time, because the uncertainty of adventure was transformed into a real-life experience.