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A big day today covering a lot of ground. Up at 6 and off at 7 saying goodbye to a very comfortable hut.
There is a strong wind blowing but plenty of blue sky as we ski down to the dam and lake. The 'aspirant guides' are ahead of us heading back to the Ofenhorn. At the lake we don skins and head for a ridge on the right which we climb towards the pass.
We pass the Claudio e Bruno hut at 2700m (right) and head up to the pass in strong winds, blown snow and icy ridges (astrugi). We resist climbing the peak and ski down the Griesglacier in fresh powder. We traverse the Griessee then climb the Passo del Corno crossing an icy windblown moonscape. Then down the Val Corno in good powder to the road and a pole to All' Acqua.
At All' Acqua we warm up in the cafe and plan our options. Weather forecast for tomorrow looks poor so the Rotundo hut is unlikely. We still decide to climb to the Piansecco hut to keep our options open. This is a tough climb through the woods for one hour.
We arrive at a clean, modern and cold hut. 2 Swiss guys are there and have got the stove going. We put on more wood and get water and soup cooking. Enrica, the warden, who has raced up the hill leaves us spag bol and pancetta for pudd washed down with red wine. The drawback is the hike to the loo - a tin shack down the hill in fresh powder snow.
Next morning there is more fresh powder and avalanche warnings so we ski down to All' Acqua then head down the valley to Bedretto where a taxi takes us to Airolo. We have a great day skiing fresh powder in this resort on the south of the St Gotthard pass before returning to Andermatt and civilisation.
