Apologies, know there's a bunch of Austrian resort conditions threads, but I have a bit of a bespoke question.
I'm flying in and out of Budapest with an open itinerary Feb. 5 and flying out Feb. 15. I intentionally flew myself somewhere I could get a cheap flight from the States and was close enough to the Alps I could snowboard, but close enough to other things I wanted to see if snow didn't work out.
How far West would I need to go to get to decent steeps and ok coverage? I hit St. Anton last year which was GREAT, but I'd have to travel the width of Austria to get there. I'd be willing to do night trains to make it work, but if I can stay further east (ideally somewhere between Innsbruck and Salzburg), that'd be ideal.
My understanding is it's been a bit of a down season so far throughout the Alps and I don't see snow in the forecast, so I might push snow to the end of my trip or skip it altogether. Thoughts?
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Squaw Valley? Pretty steep and epic snow at the moment - it is to the west of Austria
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?
Dave of the Marmottes wrote:
Squaw Valley? Pretty steep and epic snow at the moment - it is to the west of Austria
Haha. Every year I buy an Epic Pass as a hedge against a bad snow year... But man i really wish I could had a Squaw pass this year. Least I have Kirkwood.
@anarski: EXACTLY what I need. I'll be studying this. Thanks!
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
@kimchijajonshim, Krippenstein = Offpiste Mecca - 90 Mins South East of Salzburg also served by a Train Station at Obertraun.
Basically a whole mountain of lift served off piste - two pistes. http://www.bergfex.com/krippenstein/panorama/
One of the many YT Vid's from the area (excuse the music) -
Alternatively, and still 90 mins south of Salzburg go to Fieberbrunn/Saalbach, there is also a train station at Fieberbrunn. Fieberbrunn is a stop on the Freeride World Cup and has garnered a huge reputation for steeps and being the snowiest area of the Salzburgerland. See this replay from the event to give you an idea -
Last edited by Then you can post your own questions or snow reports... on Tue 24-01-17 21:00; edited 1 time in total
After all it is free
After all it is free
If you're traveling that far, you need to go somewhere good.
St Anton is the best station in Austria. The only way from there is down.
Go to Verbier, in Switzerland. Takes about 15hrs by train.
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AthersT wrote:
@kimchijajonshim, Krippenstein = Offpiste Mecca - 90 Mins South East of Salzburg.
Basically a whole mountain of lift served off piste - two pistes. http://www.bergfex.com/krippenstein/panorama/
One of the many YT Vid's from the area (excuse the music) -
Alternatively, and still 90 mins south of Salzburg - go to Fieberbrunn/Saalbach. Fieberbrunn is a stop on the Freeride World Cup and has garnered a huge reputation for steeps and being the snowiest area of the Salzburgerland. See this replay from the event to give you an idea -
Oh man, thanks for this. This would be pretty ideal as I was hoping to check out Salzburg anyway. Any idea if I can catch trains/buses from Salzburg, or do I need to hire a car?
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Ski the Net with snowHeads
@kimchijajonshim, I've edited my post now - there are stations at both and can be reached from Salzburg.
Use https://tickets.oebb.at/en/ticket to book tickets.
If you're traveling that far, you need to go somewhere good.
St Anton is the best station in Austria. The only way from there is down.
Go to Verbier, in Switzerland. Takes about 15hrs by train.
Yea. St. Anton was great. The spots @AthersT mention look really promising, but I'd rather not even bother making the detour if the terrain isn't world-class. At that point would rather add Prague to my City itinerary and forget the snow.
Thanks for the Verbier suggestion. Bit too far, plus the US dollar goes a hell of a lot further in the Euro zone than in CH right now. I do need to make a point of hitting French/Italian/Swiss resorts, but really wanted to explore Eastern Europe this trip.
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.
@kimchijajonshim, Ok cool - though whilst I don't disagree with @Whitegold, on St Anton being probably the best off piste available in Austria, I wouldn't not go somewhere just because he says so. There are plenty of "World Class" OP opportunities elsewhere in Austria and I've just named a couple. I'm sure others inc @Clarky999, will be along shortly to help you. Perhaps go to a few as you have time. Ski for a couple of days then get the train elsewhere for a couple and so on.
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
@AthersT: Definitely, just looking to solicit opinions. I really have very little sense of the European resort scene outside of personal experience at St. Anton and a few by reputation (Chamonix, Verbier, etc.). The resorts you shared look right up my alley, in vibe (for shredding hard, maybe not best apres scene), terrain, and fitting into my itinerary (after a few days I'll probably be headed back East, perhaps to Prague or Bratislava before ending in Budapest). Need to do a bit of research. Certainly appreciate your input.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
@kimchijajonshim, If you were to stay at Saalbach which is linked to Fieberbrunn, you would encounter some of the best Apres that the world, let alone the alps has to offer.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Yep was gonna suggest Saalbach/Fieberbrunn, a quick look on www.oebb.at gives a trip of 7h40m with either one or two changes. There's a few well known places arguably nearer (eg Schladming) but you couldnt really describe them as epic! Travelling by train in Austria is an absolute joy and its a great journey south of Salzburg with amazing scenery. Ive not been to Saalbach/Fieberbrunn but its always been regarded as a freeride hotspot, i think it ticks all your boxes!
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Really warm weather is forecast for East Austria this weekend (inc Krippenstein)
http://www.bergfex.at/krippenstein/wetter/berg/
Krippenstein is a lot smaller than St Anton and you really need a guide as it's not that easy (or safe) to pick your way through the terrain.
To get the best out of St Anton you also need to have a good knowledge of the tearrain or take a guide. From experience it's not that easy to join a guided group in Krippenstein. (you need to book as a group). Take an over night train to St Anton (one change at Innnsbruck), further than Krippenstein but less hassle plus you save on accomodation the nights you sleep on night train.
Departure 20:40 Budapest Keleti Sunday 5 Feb
Change at Innsbruck 4:23 Monday 6 Feb
Arrive St Anton just after 6am
Approx €90 one way
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Honestly...
Yes overall the Arlberg is the best resort in Austria IMO, and the masses of great freeride terrain it has are pretty much unmatched. It has lots of SERIOUSLY awesome terrain. However it's also a victim of its own success: if you don't know the area intimately or have a guide you'll be skiing sloppy tracked-out seconds all day. This is one of the reasons it's (at least the main linked part of the area) one of my last choices for a powder day (certainly a bluebird pow day) - there are just too many good skiers competing for everything. As conditions stand now you'll be able to ski lots of great steep slopes, but unless you're hiking a long way or to real secret spots they'll probably be mogul fields.
Further east and around Oberösterreich has had more snow than the west this season, with deep snow in the valleys since before Christmas. The resorts are mostly small family places - i.e. EXACTLY where you want to be on a pow day if deep untracked snow is your thing. I don't know the resorts (I only know about the conditions as my gf comes from there and I hear from her cousins) but you certainly won't need to hike as far as the Arlberg to find untracked snow even now, which personally is more important than bigger terrain.
However, they too now haven't had meaningful snow for a couple of weeks and it's getting warmer, so the chances of finding powder are dropping daily - but that's the same EVERYWHERE atm.
Other options that have rad gnar terrain further east than the Arlberg include: Fieberbrunn (real snow hole and FWT stop), Krippenstein (snow probably isn't good enough right now), Dachstein, Obertauern.
Bare in mind that the avalanche conditions are pretty treacherous atm due to the old snow at the base of the snowpack. Interesting/steep terrain on north faces/shady slopes above ~1900m should be considered suspect - above ~2800m it's better due to the influence the wind had on the old snow (less faceted crystals just sitting around).
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?
Dave of the Marmottes wrote:
Squaw Valley? Pretty steep and epic snow at the moment - it is to the west of Austria
Thanks for the laugh this morning. That's hysterical.
I posted this link to a video of the snow at Lake Tahoe in another thread. I may be a bit weird in that I love watching these giant snowblower's operate. I guess it just means massive amounts of snow to ski in!
Not as big as the high as the Alps but I wouldn't discount the possibility of getting some bonus skiing done when visiting Prague or Bratislava. Plenty or small resorts scattered all over the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
kimchijajonshim wrote:
Whitegold wrote:
If you're traveling that far, you need to go somewhere good.
St Anton is the best station in Austria. The only way from there is down.
Go to Verbier, in Switzerland. Takes about 15hrs by train.
Yea. St. Anton was great. The spots @AthersT mention look really promising, but I'd rather not even bother making the detour if the terrain isn't world-class. At that point would rather add Prague to my City itinerary and forget the snow.
Thanks for the Verbier suggestion. Bit too far, plus the US dollar goes a hell of a lot further in the Euro zone than in CH right now. I do need to make a point of hitting French/Italian/Swiss resorts, but really wanted to explore Eastern Europe this trip.
There are only about 5 resorts in all of Europe better than St Anton. And none of them are in Austria or Eastern Europe...
Verbier is more than worth the trek. It has the best lift-served terrain on Earth.
Prague is just a bunch of clocks and stripclubs.
Dig out another credit card... get on a choochoo or rent a car... and go to Verbier
Seriously though, name 5 resorts in Europe with better OP (now) than St Anton.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
clarky999 wrote:
Honestly...
Yes overall the Arlberg is the best resort in Austria IMO, and the masses of great freeride terrain it has are pretty much unmatched. It has lots of SERIOUSLY awesome terrain. However it's also a victim of its own success: if you don't know the area intimately or have a guide you'll be skiing sloppy tracked-out seconds all day. This is one of the reasons it's (at least the main linked part of the area) one of my last choices for a powder day (certainly a bluebird pow day) - there are just too many good skiers competing for everything. As conditions stand now you'll be able to ski lots of great steep slopes, but unless you're hiking a long way or to real secret spots they'll probably be mogul fields.
Further east and around Oberösterreich has had more snow than the west this season, with deep snow in the valleys since before Christmas. The resorts are mostly small family places - i.e. EXACTLY where you want to be on a pow day if deep untracked snow is your thing. I don't know the resorts (I only know about the conditions as my gf comes from there and I hear from her cousins) but you certainly won't need to hike as far as the Arlberg to find untracked snow even now, which personally is more important than bigger terrain.
However, they too now haven't had meaningful snow for a couple of weeks and it's getting warmer, so the chances of finding powder are dropping daily - but that's the same EVERYWHERE atm.
Other options that have rad gnar terrain further east than the Arlberg include: Fieberbrunn (real snow hole and FWT stop), Krippenstein (snow probably isn't good enough right now), Dachstein, Obertauern.
Bare in mind that the avalanche conditions are pretty treacherous atm due to the old snow at the base of the snowpack. Interesting/steep terrain on north faces/shady slopes above ~1900m should be considered suspect - above ~2800m it's better due to the influence the wind had on the old snow (less faceted crystals just sitting around).
This.
After all it is free
After all it is free
I quite liked this...
Off piste Snowdays in Ski Amadé January 2017 from ben turner
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.
clarky999 wrote:
Honestly...
Yes overall the Arlberg is the best resort in Austria IMO, and the masses of great freeride terrain it has are pretty much unmatched. It has lots of SERIOUSLY awesome terrain. However it's also a victim of its own success: if you don't know the area intimately or have a guide you'll be skiing sloppy tracked-out seconds all day. This is one of the reasons it's (at least the main linked part of the area) one of my last choices for a powder day (certainly a bluebird pow day) - there are just too many good skiers competing for everything. As conditions stand now you'll be able to ski lots of great steep slopes, but unless you're hiking a long way or to real secret spots they'll probably be mogul fields.
Further east and around Oberösterreich has had more snow than the west this season, with deep snow in the valleys since before Christmas. The resorts are mostly small family places - i.e. EXACTLY where you want to be on a pow day if deep untracked snow is your thing. I don't know the resorts (I only know about the conditions as my gf comes from there and I hear from her cousins) but you certainly won't need to hike as far as the Arlberg to find untracked snow even now, which personally is more important than bigger terrain.
However, they too now haven't had meaningful snow for a couple of weeks and it's getting warmer, so the chances of finding powder are dropping daily - but that's the same EVERYWHERE atm.
Other options that have rad gnar terrain further east than the Arlberg include: Fieberbrunn (real snow hole and FWT stop), Krippenstein (snow probably isn't good enough right now), Dachstein, Obertauern.
Bare in mind that the avalanche conditions are pretty treacherous atm due to the old snow at the base of the snowpack. Interesting/steep terrain on north faces/shady slopes above ~1900m should be considered suspect - above ~2800m it's better due to the influence the wind had on the old snow (less faceted crystals just sitting around).
I'm going to agree and disagree with this.
If you have local knowledge or can hook up with someone who does then the small resorts can be better than St Anton without a guide.
However as an international tourist you will probably need a guide for good off-piste. Either it hasn't snowed for a while and you need a guide to find what's left or it has snowed and you need a guide to keep you safe in the deep. Although St Anton offers many times the amount of offpiste terrain than the small resorts the lift tickets, accomodation and guides do not cost over double.
A better solution might be to get over to a major city in Austria (e.g. Vienna, Salzburg or Innsbruck) and make a short term decision based on the weather.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ended up at St. Anton and did 3 days. Knew the guide scene, knew the city, and the train schedules worked out the most conveniently. Got one epic day (Tuesday), one pretty good day (Monday), and one rather rubbish day (Wednesday). In all, had a ton of fun. I was pretty amazed the snow was as good as it was for 3 weeks since major snowfall.
I'm in Salzburg at the moment, anyone have any idea whether Krippenstein is worth a day trip given the snow situation? I'm intrigued.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Doubt it, Krippenstein isn't reporting powder conditions nor did it have a recent sigificant snowfall.
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