High up in the Clouds
Drusenfluh Winter Ascent

High up in the Clouds

Drusenfluh Winter Ascent

This image was selected for the 9 TOP Photographs for March 14, 2012 by PhotoExtract.com.
This image was also part of my Fine-Art-Exhibition at photo13, the largest Photography Exhibition of Switzerland.

Daniel Arndt and me went to the austrian side of the mystical, towerish mountain peaks of Drusenfluh, Raetikon. This little mountain region belongs to the most unique and impressive rock formations I know of. The peaks are almost towers, not hills or pyramids. Nevertheless it’s possible to ascend them by ski through the huge “Sporatobel” (= couloir) in it’s SE-flank. The couloir takes a right-turn curve in the upper section, which is invisible from the valley. It’s a 6 hrs ascend with approx. 1’850m altitude difference – good enough for a perfect day.

This photo shows +Daniel Arndt, ascending the last steep meters up to the summit of the big Drusa tower (Grosser Drusenturm). I totally love the curved shape of the couloir, promising a fantastic ride down in knee-deep powder snow. Hope you like it!

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This Post Has 85 Comments

  3. Francis Gagnon

    14 Mar 2012

    WOW ! Such an incredible shot ! It&39;s almost like I was there !

  5. Jerry Johnson

    14 Mar 2012

    Every color, shadow and texture is perfect Wilfried Haferland! Your top of the world photo does such a wonderful job of demonstrating the rugged beauty of these mountain towers!

    *If you don&39;t mind me asking, my friend, what is the small object on the mountain peak which is located on the left side of your photo?

  7. Sumit Sen

    14 Mar 2012

    Wow! Spectacular shot my friend! I always like that you give me a sense of scale with your images. Thank you.

  10. Ada M

    14 Mar 2012

    This planet has so many beauties and takes real artists to show them to the world! I thank you for another dream place and dream picture! I love this, but I guess you already knew that! 🙂

  12. Alan Majchrowicz

    14 Mar 2012

    Great photo! I love how you created that Sea Of Peaks effect. Must&39;ve been some marvelous skiing, I&39;m envious ;))

  13. Lucille Galleli

    14 Mar 2012

    Absolutely gorgeous Wilfried Haferland … love the sense of scale you convey through this image.
    Thanks for contributing to WideWednesdayPanorama!

  15. Melinda Koncz

    15 Mar 2012

    It seems the story is complete now, reading your detailed description of the region, seeing the Austrian version and then the Swiss one – we have something similar around my town, called Cock&39;s Peak. The couloir is quite impressing, at the end with the "big gap" that Daniel Arndt posted. Thanks for the spectacular visual trip!

  19. Peter de Rooij

    15 Mar 2012

    beautiful. great landscape. and nice how the curve in the clouds matches (supports, echoes, whatever) that in the landscape.

  26. Mykal Hall

    19 Mar 2012

    What a beautiful day for a hike. Stunning image mate and the person gives it sense of adventure on a grand scale. Well done Wilfried Haferland and congrats on the Photo Extract feature.

  31. Wilfried Haferland

    20 Mar 2012

    Jerry Johnson – Jerry, thank you so much! Sorry for the delay and thanks to Melinda Koncz, she&39;s right, it is a summit cross. If you could zoom in 100%, you would see two more summit crosses, but I didn&39;t post original resolution. Thank you for your detailed comment, my friend Jerry!

  35. Wilfried Haferland

    20 Mar 2012

    Johan Peijnenburg – Thanks a lot my friend! I considered some facts from our last photo critique conversation. Obviously, I did right 😉 Thank you!

  36. Wilfried Haferland

    20 Mar 2012

    Ada M – I hoped for that! And I thank you very much for your always generous comments! Thank you my friend!

  38. Wilfried Haferland

    20 Mar 2012

    Alan Majchrowicz – Thank you very much, your words mean a lot to me. Maybe we can take a mountain tour togehter somewhen in the future… Would be great!

  41. Wilfried Haferland

    20 Mar 2012

    Melinda Koncz – Thank you very much, Melinda! I&39;m happy that we could post two photos of two photographers from the same trip this time. Guess we should continue that… I just read about Cock&39;s Peak. Is it Creasta Cocoşului? Very interesting!

  51. Wilfried Haferland

    20 Mar 2012

    Mykal Hall – Thank you very much, mate! It was definitely a great advantage to wear full size pants that day 😉

  54. Mykal Hall

    20 Mar 2012

    My wife said she definitely wants to go here Wilfried Haferland. When I told her how high the mountain is she said she would be happy just looking at your images….lol.

  57. Mykal Hall

    20 Mar 2012

    She is telling me what to type "She is pretty snazzy on the Camera iPhone app….." NOT!!!!!

  58. Melinda Koncz

    20 Mar 2012

    Indeed the place I&39;ve mentioned is called "Creasta Cocosului", is a good place for the climbers to train. The name is given by the shape of the peak and it seamed to me it looks like the Swiss side of the peak you posted, on your collection alpinestock.com. For sure, at least for me, having "both sides of the story", yours and your friend&39;s, Daniel Arndt &39;s, makes the journey complete, everytime. Waiting for the next posts!

  59. Wilfried Haferland

    20 Mar 2012

    Melinda Koncz – Thank you very much for the extra information, you&39;re definitely right about the mountain shapes. Thank you very much!

  61. Wilfried Haferland

    20 Mar 2012

    Johan Peijnenburg – Thanks, Johan. It was a very good starting point as well for a powder ride down at 1&39;100m difference of altitude… 😉

  64. Candace Bartlett

    22 Mar 2012

    Wow…this is such an incredible shot! I really love the sky and composition.

  66. Athena Carey

    23 Mar 2012

    How did I miss this beauty – and I come back to find out it even went to PlusExtract! Congratulations Wilfried Haferland mostly for creating such a beautiful photo, but also for the PlusExtract. 🙂

  81. Anna Rimovska

    18 Jan 2014

    wonderful capture , beautiful panorama!

  84. Jean-Michel Taconné

    21 Jan 2014

    Wonderful landcape Wilfried ! Best wishes for 2014  with a great success for your photos   🙂

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