Grialetsch Hutte to Susch

Taking snow conditions and public transport availability into account, we decided to ski down the valley from the Grialetsch hut to Susch, where we could catch a train back to Chur.

After what felt like the hundredth round of packing our bags, we set off—Barney and I managing to fall just meters from the hut! We skied tentatively down the Grialetsch Valley, trying to pick a route that wouldn’t leave us stranded without snow. There were a few flatter sections where we had to pole our way along, but we managed to keep skiing.

Then came the navigation mishap. I led us slightly off track, and we ended up on a small island in the middle of the river. Chris managed to cross a snow bridge onto a larger island, and I followed—accidentally destroying the bridge in the process. Barney and Hannah had to backtrack to find another crossing, while Elinor attempted to scramble up a snow-covered bank with her skis in her hands. El and I eventually put our skins back on and followed Chris across the frozen river. Once the three of us were together, we skinned up to the road, watching Hannah and Barney make their way along the far side of the river. They eventually found another bridge, reuniting the group.

From there, we skied down a beautiful forest track, which eventually spat us out onto a closed road. After lunch, we stripped our skins off, as the snow-covered road was still skiable. Flying down the hill, we eventually came across an avalanche debris field blocking the way, but we made it all the way down to Susch.

The train back to Chur marked the end of an unbelievable trip—the Graubünden route had been absolutely stunning, made even better by the amazing friends I got to share it with. Back in Chur, we visited the biggest and best outdoor shop I’d ever seen, stocked with an incredible range of merino base layers. I picked up some Devold baselayers for my upcoming Pakistan trip.

We rounded off the trip with Thai food for dinner, then packed for the train home. Chris, Barney, and I even squeezed in a quick beer before bed—one last cheers to an unforgettable adventure.