This year we were joined in the Bernese Oberland by Steve Kuross and his band of merry men: Bruce Derauf, Stephen Hunter, Andy Baertsch and John Bergstrom.

A short video, to show off some of the week's best skiing.

The Guys! On top of the Äbeni Flue. From left to right: Stephen, Andy, Bruce, John, Steve, and Mark.

Our journey begins in the station at Interlaken West, en route to the Jungfraujoch.

Beautiful morning sunshine in the Lauterbrunnen valley.

The weather was no longer so lovely as we reached the "Top of Europe", Jungfraujoch in white-out weather. Time to pull out the rope...

However the next day dawned beautiful and clear for our ascent of the Äbeni Flue. Looking out over the Aletsch Glacier as we start up...

Stephen stands on the summit ridge.

John makes good work of the lovely new snow.

Our descent drops us right back on top of the Hollandia hut, where we pause for lunch before continuing on our way to the Konkordia hut.

The Konkorida hut at dinner time.

From there, on day 3 we headed over the Grünhornlücke, shown here, to the Finsteraarhorn hut. In the background, the Lötschenlücke (the narrow pass), with the Hollandia hut on the right, too distant to make out in this photo.

We made a big day out of this one (nearly 2000 meters of climbing and skiing!) as the weather was fine so far but forecast to be awful on day 4. Here we near the summit of the Grosses Wannenhorn as the afternoon clouds begin to gather.

Negotiating the summit ridge of the Wannenhorn in the fog, what we can't see can't hurt us, right????

The following day really was as snowy as forecast. John and Bruce help the hut keepers clear the new snow off the deck of the Finsteraarhorn hut during a moment of late afternoon sunshine.

A rest day in the hut has its compensations!

Day 5 brought us to the Oberaarjoch hut, in another storm. Arriving at the base of the approach ladder at the col.

Steve and Kathy help hutkeeper Ruedi out with the dishes after dinner.

The next morning, our last, dawned beautiful. The full moon sets over the Grosses Wannenhorn.

Leaving the hut in the early morning.

Ruedi says goodbye!

Putting the skis on below the hut.

And we're off! More brand new snow to enjoy today.

The early morning sun casts our shadows from the ridge as we cross the narrow gap called the Galmilicke.

Roll over image to see the route on the Wannenhorn from a couple of days back.

We're rewarded with excellent skiing in the upper reaches of the Minstiger glacier.

Then some more climbing....

And another fun descent! Below 3000 meters at this point, the snow is getting heavier, but still skiable, for sure!

We hike back into springtime as we drop into Münster, and begin the train ride back to our starting point in Interlaken. Thanks for another great trip, guys!