Thanks for the amazing response as always - you're a star!!
Yep - you're right, top of the funicular, bottom of the cable car.
We're coming out for my stag, hopefully about the 10th of March for 3 or 4 nights.
Sounds like in town would be a better base for us - a mix of skiers and non-skiers.
We've found a couple of other places situated:
Salurnerstraße
or
Innstr. 1
Are these fairly central?
BTW - would be cool if you fancied joining us for a ski or a beer or 12!!
Cheers again,
Matthew
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
@jellemr, sorry for the slow reply, I've been busy skiing
Yeah I definitely think in town would be better! Either of those should work well.
Salurnerstraße runs from the Hauptbahnhof to the Triumphforte, which is at the top of Maria-Theresienstraße - the 'main square/street' in the city centre. Depending exactly where you are on it, you'd be a 1-5 min walk from from either the Hauptbahnhof (busses to loads of ski areas) or a bunch of bars.
Innstraße runs parallel to the river Inn, on the other side to the city centre. No 1 looks to be right on the corner of the road up to Hötting and the Nordkette ski area, and right by the bridge over the river to the centre. You'd have a couple of bars right next to you, and 2 minute walk over the bridge to the Altstadt and more bars (and the brilliantly named [] Aftershave http://www.club-aftershave.at). 5-10 mins to Maria-Theresienstraße and the other bars there; 15 minute walk to the Hauptbahnhof (though easy to get a bus too).
And then the 'Bögen' has a bunch of small bars and clubs ranging from awful to brilliant, all in arches under the train tracks. On the map it's called Ingenieur-Etzelstraße, and you'll find places like PMK (http://www.pmk.or.at) there.
Would be great to meet for a ski or beer, but can't promise anything - I'm usually only in Innsbruck at weekends at the moment, so usually spend time with my girlfriend. I'll see what I can do though!
Last edited by Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person on Wed 20-01-16 20:52; edited 2 times in total
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
@jellemr, have had a few fun evenings in Limerick Bills. Also Elfer Haus, but it's bit more of a restaurant and can be a bit touristy, but good food for soaking up beer.
Zillertal for me this weekend, Innsbruck the following one (I reckon Stubai). Recent snowfalls have helped but I reckon anything outside pistes remain complicated due to the thin base.
My 2-day trip to Zillertal (extended to 4) was a blast! Snowfalls were above expectations (maybe 50-60cm in Hochfugen between Friday night and Monday morning) and, bearing in mind the avalanche risk, there was some great offpiste/side-piste to be had. I still managed to get a massive scratch on my snowboard as fluffy powder does not mean its safe to jump over every bumps on sight!
Interestingly, I found the snowfalls stronger and the weather more "friendly" in the Hochfugen side as opposed to the Kaltenbach side.
I also skied the Spieljoch area for the first time. The new gondola/pistes clearly improve the area and with the ski bus at the bottom of the new piste, it is relatively easy to then connect to Hochfugen and ski both areas on the same day.
This weekend, potentially a light snowfall for Tirol. I wonder if going back to Hochfugen could be a good call given the "micro-climate" observed last week.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
@jellemr, @TheJelley, no worries!
@Cedrick, cool, glad to hear! I've never skied in Zillertal, so can't offer much information there.
Had some ridiculously good and deep skiing at Nordkette Saturday (40cms of fluff, only me, my mate and a few other people on the mountain, so untracked all day long), Sunday (another ~50-70cms over night, crazy deep and lots of faceshots, a lot busier but super fun rallying around with 5 mates) and Monday (skies cleared, super deep, super busy, the top couloirs opened for the the first time season and were pretty epic!). Speaking of microclimates, Nordkette definitely gets some extra magic too - got WAY more snow than anywhere else nearby over the weekend. As well as being to the north of the city so getting a lot of goods from a nordstau, the ski area is south-facing, so benefits from the wind blowing even more snow into the bowls and trees.
Tuesday we went touring at the closed ski area in Pettneu am Arlberg, looking for low stress fresh tracks without any avi danger. We found them, but unfortunately had to turn around early when we found the last wolf in the Arlberg - we met another group skiing down who had lost a husky, so when we found him it seemed best to coax him down with dried sausages rather than risk taking him up and down again.
Last edited by Then you can post your own questions or snow reports... on Thu 21-01-16 21:28; edited 1 time in total
After all it is free
After all it is free
@clarky999, ha! Good to have been able to guide him down!
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
@nozawaonsen, haha yeah, totally put me off owning a husky though! Just too independent.
Interesting! I'll keep an eye out next time I'm in the area - I could really use some gold right now haha!
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
wow those photos look amazing!!]
@clarky999, for the gang of us out on the stag, all being piste skiers, what areas do you recommend for us for 2 decent days skiing within easy reach of the middle of Innsbruck?
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
@jellemr, will you be buying the Olympia Pass, or day passes?
Your best bets for piste skiing are Axamer Lizum, Kuhtai, Stubai Glacier and Schlick2000 (Axamer is the closest, Stubai/Kühtai further away (Stubai is probably further but easier to get to, ~1h on the bus), and Schlick is halfway to Stubai. You should be able to get the free ski bus to all of them from the Hauptbahnhof.
If you're buying day passes, then a lot more areas come into play. For example, 1 hour on the train (easy direct journey, no changes) and you'll be a 5 minute walk from the nearest lift in St Anton. Kitzbühel should be roughly similar too. The trains go regularly and run 'til pretty late - I've done several day trips to St Anton on the train, and you can easily be there before the lifts open, and have several hours of apres after last lift before the last train (just don't fall asleep on it and wake up in Salzburg..!).
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
I had camera and GoPro problems over the weekend, but my buddy Kris's (unusual to find a French guy living in Austria!) gf got a few of him at Nordkette on Monday:
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
@clarky999, igloo party looks a great laugh. Amazing views over Innsbruck from Nordkette.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Staying in innsbruck centre for the week, heard a lot of rain falling last night, so heading up to stubai gletscher today to be safe.
@clarky999, any tips on where's good this coming week? Worth getting an Olympic pass or just stick to stubai gletscher this week, looks pretty bare in the valley.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
@Windskisurf, difficult one! Generally, looking at the forecast snow this week (particularly Wed), I'd say it's worth getting the Olympia Pass. Obviously there's no trees at Stubai, so it's hard to see much in a storm! Schlick2000, Patscherköfel and Axamer Lizum have a fair amount of tree-lined runs, and are much nicer in a storm.
Stubai was closed yesterday (Sunday) due to the high winds; I went to Schlick as it's pretty protected from the winds, but gave up after two hours as it was just rammed with everyone who travelled down from Stubai.
The pistes are in good condition at Schlick, and were really good at Axamer Lizum last weekend; I'd imagine Kuhtai should also have good conditions. Everywhere should be getting a reasonable top up this week though.
What sort of skiing are you after though? Be careful if going offpiste at Stubai - those more southerly areas have the worst of the current 'old snow' problem mentioned in the avalanche reports. There was just about enough base to safely ski offpiste in the trees at Schlick. Less so at Axamer, but if enough snow comes int he week it may be possible. If it snows to the valley (which looks possible) the Nordkette also isn't a bad shout for offpiste in a storm, but it depends what you're looking for. The top couloirs are normally ok visibility wise, but can take a while to open with a lot of new snow. The valley runs are mostly either winding cat tracks or steep cuts, but there's lots of fun skiing between them too if you're happy exploring.
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Thanks for the info. Looking for powder, soft, fluffy and deep
Went for the Olympia pass up to inc Friday, same price as just stubai and cheaper than stubai super so no brainer. Stubai pistes are on top condition and found some soft stuff far right of number 7 and got first tracks off far right tbar when they opened it in the afternoon. But all round I can see there's not as much base as usual I can see rocks where usually I'm used to seeing powder, like under the fast chair up to number 7. I know stubai and schlick really well, been going since I was 7, but not skied the other areas much, will probably do stubai again today, on the way bus stops at schlick too. Then probably next 3 days schlick, try khutai and axamer lizum.
@clarky999 are you planning any skiing this week? If you want to meet would be cool.
Never had any problems re avalanche on stubai, except maybe areas around wilde gruben, which areas exactly are risky?
Am heading on to St anton on Saturday for a couple of weeks, if not longer, or back to innsbruck, play it by ear.
Blue sky with thin cloud over valley but looks like thick cloud up over stubai gletscher.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
@Windskisurf, I'm working in Montafon all week, heading to Innsbruck for the weekend on Friday night. I guess you'll be on the way to St Anton then?
The warnings are for the Stubai Alps in general rather than just Stubai (so including Schlick too), and probably most applicable to the touring areas. I haven't been to Stubai since before Christmas now, so I'm not fully up to date on where slabs have been forming, but generally think carefully if you ski anything over 30° much over 2000m. Some of the chutes under the Rotadl lift need care, as does the backside of the Wildspitz lift. Probably the Wilde Grubn is ok - it's mainly threatened by wet slides in spring. But only ski it if it's open!
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
They shut down the gondolas on stubai gletscher early afternoon yesterday it got so windy. Been snowing in town a lot this morning. Up schlick and looks like quite a bit of new snow, should be good.
About 10cms fresh snow in the village here in Schruns today, probably 20-30 on the mountain. Getting sunny and warm already though.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
From the Tirol Avalanche Commission:
Quote:
The fresh fallen snow and strong winds from west to northwest have caused avalanche danger to rise. It is now considerable widespread above 2200m even high in some regions (lower range of that danger level). The major peril stems from freshly formed and older snowdrift accumulations which are poorly bonded with the old snowpack surface, brittle and, thus, prone to triggering. Even the weight of one single skier can trigger a slab avalanche. Avalanches can also fracture down to more deeply embedded, weak layers inside the snowpack and thereby grow to dangerously large size. Avalanche prone locations are found on steep slopes in all aspects above 1800m. In isolated cases, avalanches can trigger spontaneously and even remotely. Backcountry touring possibilities are severely limited and require much experience and restraint.
Play safe everyone. This isn't a winter to take risks and ski big lines. Stay below 30°, pay attention to the slopes (and people) above you, and ideally try and find some trees with a base.
The snow layering and avalanche problems have been the same for a good while now, and aren't likely to change any time soon.
Snowing again in Schruns... very lightly, but every little helps!
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Yesterday was great on the schlick lots of soft stuff between the pistes at the top chairs to start, then lots of tree skiing from the top direct to right, tagged along with a couple of locals and we pushed far right from the top which involved a bit of a walk over shrubs then around some avi barriers in the chute but then nice tree powder down to under the chair and join the unmarked ski route, have to take care there still in the chutes between the trees. By afternoon was getting warm and skied out.
Blue sky glorious sunshine day today so heading to stubai gletscher see if they got anything left over from yesterday else it will be sunshine cruising
On way out Nordkette looked like it still had a lot of snow could make out tracks at the very top so was probably really good yesterday maybe still is...
After all it is free
After all it is free
@Windskisurf, nice one!
Be careful at Stubai. These two slides were both caused by bombs, but (despite the convexity) the slopes really aren't that steep - I'm surprised how big they went!
Neil Williman found some nice snow in the tres in Axamer Lizum yesterday - looks like there's finally enough base to ski them now!
Meanwhile in Montafon it didn't seem like it snowed enough to warrant buying a day pass to use before work (could only afford one season ticket this season, so bought the Innsbruck Freizeitticket!), however my flatmate reported bottomless powder and lots of faceshots in the right spots - aka where the wind deposits the snow.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
Another friend also found some great snow in Ötztal this morning!
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Yes I took some photos of those slides, I've never seen one as chunky big as that up here before, I skied that section many times in the past but not this time.
Nordkette this morning
There's been some nice powder under rotald but rest is crusty wind blown and v thick so hard going. Gonna see about slope above panorama and down between runs to middle station.
Axamer lizum looks like it got more snow than schlick by that photo.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
@Windskisurf, nice shots!
Nordkette looking luuuuuverly! Still lots more bushes poking through than normal though!
I suspect that photo from Lizum is rather milked... But yeah, it does tend to get a bit more than Schlick.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
Skied some nice fresh (but tracked) snow at Kuhtai. Pretty bad visibility, but snow was nice! It's still very low tide up there though, and there was a LOT of evidence of fresh avalanche activity.
Same day a group of French ski tourers triggered a huge slide in Schmirntal (but all ok):
Had a fun day today in Axamer Lizum - forgot to charge my GoPro though. There's obviously been a fair bit of new snow lately, it was snowing lightly as I left, and there was a fairly chunky storm rippling over Nordkette on the other side of Innsbruck too.
I skinned up into the Kalkkögel for a look around - I don't trust the snowpack anywhere near enough to ski the couloirs atm.
Dug a quick snowpit out of curiosity, forgot the time, and ended up skiing down almost in the dark (oops - at the same time as realising it was getting dark, I also remembered I hadn't put my head torch back in pack after I last used it). Really nice snow on the way down - 15cms of smooth fresh powder - but lots of bush weaving due to the lack of snow.
Was quite a bit darker than it looks here:
10-12cms of super dense styrofoam-style windslab (with a bit of powder on top), sitting on 5-6cms shitty sugary crystals, sitting on top of about 10cms of wind slab that's pretty well bonded to the 15cm windslab below, which is directly on top of 10-12cm of horribly loose sugary crystals with no strength or cohesion whatsoever... On top of 5cms of super hard ice right at the base.
Nasty:
Last edited by And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports. on Mon 15-02-16 15:58; edited 2 times in total
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
Coming down nicely at Kuhtai now it seems.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
@clarky999 That looks like some good exploring.
I skied a axamer lizum on Friday, mostly skied out above but in the trees I'm sure still good, didn't know the area though so hard to find the good tree bits on my own, scoped it all out though for the day.
Then Saturday went skiing with some local friends from innsbruck and their friends 8 of us total on stubai gletscher and conditions were way better than expected. The glacier must have got more snow on thursday/Friday as we had some fresh pow backside of the park and under rotadl and far right chair. And sunny in the morning, during launch it switched completely and clouds wind moved in so quit early afternoon.
Got the train to St anton Saturday night, I'll be back in innsbruck Friday night may ski locally on Saturday or back to St anton.
@clarky999 will you ski the arlberg the coming weeks the skiing has been pretty good the last few days.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Sorry to slightly off topic, but where would you guys in the know recommend myself and my wife head to based on "best snow", hotel close to the slopes and within 2hr 30mins drive from Munich airport (flights already booked). Both good skiers, ideal would be a place with some challenging runs wether that be bumps, itineraries etc. Probably won't be taking all our off piste gear.
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
As ever forecast woefully inaccurate for here in Kuhtai - we must have had all of a couple of cms overnight
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
@Weathercam, hahaha!
Quite extraordinary. Given that's all you were predicted...
Forecast from yesterday for overnight.
Have fun ski testing!
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
@nozawaonsen, local forecasts here were for 10cm Monday night into Tuesday morning and many yesterday were marginally excited at that prospect, but what do they know?
And then there is the actual condition of the snow pack
Did four climbs / laps today on touring kit and what with flat light and shite snow was hard work - but one ski did shine out!
More tomorrow, and snow is falling as we walked back to the hotel
... snow is falling as we walked back to the hotel
Bah. You're on tour and snow is falling. Life's good. What's Kühtai like? Never been there.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Decent snow in Montafon today, deep down in the valley! Looks like the week in general should be pretty good, and maybe a bit of a break in the weather to look at some more interesting terrain...
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
] Aftershave 
.
