News 2020-22

5 freeriders followed our "Last Call for Powder" and experienced another 4 powder days in Bakhmaro. 5 freeriders in the entire area! 5 freeriders from 5 countries, fresh powder, snowstorm and blue sky, non-stop untracked slopes. That was a worthy final!

A very good season comes to an end with a perfect (shortened) week. Best freeride weather from December to the end of March, only in the second half of February there wasn't that much snow.

...and the booking period for 2022/23 starts at the beginning of April...

...we're looking forward to welcome Freeriders again next winter!

Due to the very good snow conditions, we are extending our season until the end of March. We have a good snow base and expect more snowfall over the next two weeks. The temperatures also remain low. This leads to safe and good conditions until the end of March.

The Ukraine war is dramatic and very tragic for the people living there. We deeply regret that. However, the war has had no impact on our operation. International flights continue without delay. Georgia is far from the war zone.

So nothing stands in the way of a booking. There are short-term booking options:

• 12/03-19/03/2022
• 19/03-26/03/2023

With the first snowfall that will last, we start the weekly newsletter with information on the weather, snow situation and freeride conditions. There is also information on the current Corona situation in Georgia.

The newsletter is only sent to freeriders who have booked this season and are intended to increase anticipation, but also to facilitate preparation with information. We will discontinue the newsletter in the middle of March.

In addition, we introduce a team member every week, because none of this would be possible here without our drivers, cooks, mechanics, housekeepers and snowmobilers. This winter we will have up to 30 local employees.

We took advantage of the good weather and drove the converted bivouac bus into the mountains. There we let the bus snow in and with the first decent snowfall we will come back and test the bivouac.

We have stored some groceries; in addition, firewood, candles and whatever you need for a night in the middle of the mountains. Bring winter sleeping bags! We built a simple toilet block outside the bus. There is no shower ... just snow.

The bus is half a day's tour from Bakhmaro in a high valley. To be on the safe side, we provide tourers with a satellite phone.

First snow in September and October is normal in Bakhmaro. End of November we had the first decent snowfall. As there is no base underneath, it is not yet enough to ride.

After the next decent snowfall we will go for the first ski-tour...

Wizz did some major changes of the flight schedule for the upcoming winter.

Now there are newly restored connecctions from Barcelona.

In the second half of August freeriders are coming out of the summer holidays and start thinking about the powder season. It is the time when inquiries are going up again and the remaining availability is beeing booked.

That is not different this year. We hope the Corona Crisis will be over next winter and we can go freeriding again. Today we checked the flight schedule of Wizz - there are again a lot of connections available.

We opend The PIONEERS! We could not finish everything, but the main services work. We have also opened the cafe with a terrace including a great view over Bakhmaro. In the cafe we offer coffee and cake and a small menu of Georgian dishes and drinks.

For now we operate 6 rooms. All rooms have privat bathrooms and a balcony. For now we stop working on the house to give our guests and our neighbours a nice summer. In September we will start again to finish the house.

By the start of the winter season we will have all 10 rooms available.

We have successfully started the bookings for the coming 2021/22 season. The first dates are already fully booked or only available on a waiting list.

We will keep our early payment offer up to 30/06/2021 and give everyone who transfers the entire amount immediately a 10% discount on the remaining payment (without deposit of 20%). The early payments enable us to better prepare for the season and to make purchases for the season early. That saves us costs.

In Bakhmaro and Adjara we are in the follow-up work on the season (which did not take place). We drive all snow vehicles down into the village, clean up and clear the houses. We have to hand over the rented house to the landlord next month and we need to visit our alp hut regularly to check that everything is right, shovel the solar panels and check the water supply.

The season was practically a total failure. We could only greet a single real group and a few individual freeriders.

Today we end this season with one last, untracked run at Japanese in the best snow conditions. The weather forecast is still so good that freeriding would certainly be possible until the end of March this year.

Since February 1st, entry into Georgia has been possible again without any major problems. All that is required is an online registration and a negative PCR test. A second test is required on the third day. We'll organise it for you and bring a doctor to Bakhmaro.

Furthermore, the flight connections are very limited. That's why we're picking up in Tbilisi this winter - at any time of the day. We can obtain a special permit for night transfers.

The peak of the second wave was in early December. Since then, the number of infections has been falling.

The government is discussing how the positive trend can be sustained during the holiday season, which is about to begin. Between New Year, Christmas and the "Old New Year" on January 15th, Georgia is vacation time with many family visits, etc.

The corona pandemic is only being taken in Georgia - we too are taking the situation very seriously. Everyone is committed to a safe environment for locals but also for international visitors.

The Georgian government plans to lift all restrictions on international air travel from February 2021. This also increases the chances of a more gratifying second half of the season.

Extension of our “work from the hut” program into January.

We can offer a flexible and safe stay to freeriders who want to escape the lockdown in Europe and who want to work and freeride for several weeks (at least 3) in our house in the Lesser Caucasus. The basic price is 2'300,-€ for 7 nights and 6 catski days (2'100,-€ if you arrive in December). Each additional night costs 50,-€ (single room 75,-€) and each additional catski day by arrangement costs 150,-€. Individual ski tours are possible every day. A simple room and full board are included.

For example, Wizzair flies from Dortmund: 18/12, 25/12, 01/01/2021 and 08/01. Germans and French need only an online registration and a current PCR test to enter the country. We have internet (4G), electricity (35kw generator) and can set up desks. AND we are 3 hours ahead of Central European Time! - A 9 to 5 job is a 12 to 8 job for us! Until the offices open at noon, we have already skied Maximundo for 3 hours ...

Corona-update:
The situation in Georgia has not improved in the past few weeks. We are not affected by the second lockdown for the time being and have applied for driving permits. In the lonely hut we are completely isolated from the outside world, the risk of infection is minimal.

At the end of November we have enough snow to start the season. In the week 04/12 - 11/12/2020 we still have some places available (€ 2,100 per person). We pick you up from Tbilisi with a private transfer matching the Lufthansa flight from Munich.

It will be a small group. Our Corona concept with significantly reduced capacity and separate groups is in place.

Corona-update:
The situation has worsened in the past few weeks - a second lockdown has been in effect since yesterday. However, we do not believe we will be affected by the lockdown and have applied for driving permits. In the remote hut we are completely isolated from the outside world.

Traveling is currently associated with considerable risks and restrictions. On the other hand, the possibility of freeriding will be severely restricted this winter and associated with considerable uncertainty. Are lifts running? Are there strict time windows? Are borders closed? Are overnight bans threatened? Is the next lockdown coming?
With the turnover that is currently made with ski touring equipment, it is also to be expected that the Alps will be stormed in good weather - even by many inexperienced!
We in the Caucasus already have snow and our huts are so lonely that social distancing is guaranteed. But freedom is also guaranteed!
That is why we are offering flexible long-term stays in the Caucasus in December - our projectFLEX. Flexible stays for freeriders and ski tourers who want to spend 2, 3 or more weeks in the safe solitude of the Caucasus. The number of guided catski days can be discussed individually and adjusted at short notice, depending on the weather. Every day there is the opportunity for individual ski tours. Tours of several days to our alpine hut in Adjara are also possible (but there are bunk beds there!). The number is limited, but we also need at least 6 freeriders so that we can cover the costs. So please share this post ...
For freeriders with a stay of more than 14 days, we provide simple single rooms. Bathrooms are shared, but are constantly cleaned by our team. A work area with tables and chairs is available for every 2 rooms. The internet connection (4G) is usually stable enough for online meetings. Printers & scanners are available. A 35 kw generator is available as a back-up.
The basic package with 7 nights (and full board), 6 catski days (with local guide) and airport transfer costs 2'100,-€. Each additional night with full board costs 50,- € and each additional catski day 150,- €. For example, 3 weeks with 10 catskiing days come to 3'400,-€.
Spend the lockdown or the restrictions at home on the sofa or in the powder ...
We look forward to the FirstLines!

We got the first snow at the weekend. The night temperatures are now regularly below zero degrees (in Bakhmaro). In our catski area in Adjara we have already a base of approx. 40 cm.

That is of course not enough for a descent, but with the next snowfall we can start our first ski-tour and we are optimistic that we will have enough snow to start operations at the beginning of December.

Corona-Update

As expected, the situation has worsened over the past few weeks - in fact, it is significantly worse than had been feared.

We expect the situation to improve from mid-November.