Further Unplugged heads to Austria
Updated: July 11, 2012, 5:55 PM ET
By Seth Lightcap | ESPN Action SportsChapter nine of Jeremy Jones and Teton Gravity Research's Further Unplugged series shares a glimpse at a unique splitboard expedition to the Karwendel Range of Austria. For this frigid cold February mission Jones is joined by 2011 Freeride World Tour Champion Mitch Tölderer and female freerider Bibi Pekarek. The crew braves a record cold snap to bag multiple first descents in the spine-filled playground of one of the largest wilderness areas in the Eastern Alps.
The Karwendel Range looms large on the skyline above Pekarek and Tölderer's hometown of Innsbruck, Austria. Despite it's proximity to a major metropolis this slice of the Northern Limestone Alps sees virtually zero traffic in the winter. Something about the unforgiving and avy prone slopes keeps backcountry skiers away, says Tölderer.
"The Karwendel is not very inviting for most people in the winter," Tölderer remarked. "The limestone slopes are steep, rough and exposed. You also need very solid snow conditions not to get trapped by avalanches in the deep valleys."
But of course, Jones is not most people. The primordial alpine landscape of the Karwendel proved to be yet another perfect canvas for the freerider to paint first descents.
The long approach into the heart of the range meant the Further crew had to tow in sleds loaded with their gear. A little extra huffing and puffing up slope treated the team well however. Moving and shaking helped them battle off the double digit below zero temperatures.
"You could pour water in your water bottle and then watch it freeze in front of your eyes," said Jones. "It was unrelenting cold."
Such brutal temps were also a challenge to Pekarek.
"Camping out at minus 20 degrees Celsius made me switch more towards survival mode than ride mode," said Pekarek. "Hats off to the camera crew who were setting up time lapses when it was so cold. I didn't even consider taking off one of the three pairs of gloves I was wearing. It took a couple months before I could feel my toes again after that trip."
Pekarek's feet must not have been too frozen for freeriding. Her work ethic and talent for riding a spine line scored her the first female part in one of Jones' films.
"I wasn't hellbent on finding a female rider, just to have a female rider," said Jones. "Bibi was a natural addition because she belonged in the film. She's super fit and a huge asset in the mountains. She helped put in as many skin tracks and boot packs as I did and delivered 'A' grade action shots. I'm really excited to have her in the film."
The hometown opportunity to become an international female ambassador of the backcountry snowboarding ethic is thrilling for the Austrian freerider.
"It's an honor to represent the female splitboarding community as a part of the movie," said Pekarek. "I know a lot of girls who are into hiking and exploring so it's good to show the audience that women love the quietness of nature and being away from the hassle of busy resorts too. I hope this will encourage more girls to hike 'deeper' and 'further'."
