 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi all - and a big thank you to @tatmanstours for the absolutely excellent information you sent over. Very kind!
We have booked a week for half term (I know) in Hinterglemm. The rest of the family are very confident but I am a timid improving beginner. Does anyone have a steer on the easiest blues in Hinterglemm?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Soozm, The U-Bahn/Westgipfel side of the valley is quite steep at the bottom (above the nursery slopes) and it can get a bit sketchy in the afternoons; similarly the Zwolferkogel. The easier side is opposite and there are some nice, wide and even pitches to explore. They are also South facing on that side and will soften earlier. The Bernkogel, towards Saalbach, is a great run for beginners and intermediates and it is easy to cut across towards Leogang on that side of the valley.
The other way of getting to the lovely blues at Leogang is to go straight up the Westgipfelbahn and down the long blue to the Shonleitenbahn. You can then potter back in the afternoon, either heading back down to the bottom of the Reiterkogel in Hinterglemm, or taking the lift up the Schattberg and coming home from the Westgipfel (if you are feeling more adventurous), or simply getting the bus back!
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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?
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Thank you! That's really helpful. We are staying very close to the Reiterkogelbahn so sounds as though there are options close by.
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| Quote: |
Does anyone have a steer on the easiest blues in Hinterglemm?
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If you want easy-peasy, stick to the area around the Unterschwarzachbahn and Bergfriedlift at the foot of Schattberg (pistes 10-15). The rest of the blue runs on the Reiterkogel, the Zwölferkogel, and Hochalm are much of a muchness. Some have steepish bits, but the occasional challenge is obviously good for progression.
The easiest, higher pistes on the northern side of the valley are probably 50, 56, 57, 58.
On the Zwölferkogel, pistes 31,30 and 38 (in that order) are the easiest way down, although you can download at the mid-station of the Zwölferkogelbahn gondola, if you’ve had enough or don’t fancy the lower section (piste 38 ), which you can weigh up from the gondola on the way up. Certainly the upper pistes (31,30) make for a very enjoyable, long, relatively easy cruise as far as the mid-station.
The most highly recommended, long, relatively easy blues in the area are mostly at the other end of the valley - pistes 146 (Bernkogel), 4 (Schattberg), 156/166/152 (Kohlmais), 152a (Kohlmais), 163 and 169 (Schönleiten), 168 (Viehhofen - most people’s favourite), 206/205/203/207 and 212/211 (Leogang), and 105 and 102 at Fieberbrunn.
105 is a red run, but it’s easier than most blues in the area.
It’s possible to pick and choose which runs you want to do all the way to and from Fieberbrunn, as there are gondolas available to take inexperienced or less confident skiers down past the more challenging runs.
The long blue from Schattberg to the Schönleitenbahn (piste 2/2a) is quite challenging for an early intermediate skier. It may however be okay in the morning. Piste 2a has earned the reputation of being blue in the morning, red by midday, and black in the afternoon. It can get very chopped up and mogully.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@tatmanstours, Thanks. Excellent information. Hopefully, going to press the button tonight on my first trip to Saalbach. Just need to make a final decision on which hotel.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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| radar wrote: |
Just had the Salzburg Airport news letter in and the winter schedule, ignore the BA Gatwick one as they aren't going to restart operations from there until the end of next summer.
https://ypsilon.net/flightplan/salzburg/szg.pdf
Not sure if I fancy the Ryanair flight from Stanstead at 06.35! |
We're meant to be in Kaprun 8-15 January (via Crystal, flights with BA). Does this mean that our flights won't go ahead? 
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@sparklingspringwater, no, if you were due to fly with BA from Gatwick you will be rebooked onto Heathrow
Crystal should advise you of any change
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Ah that's a bit of a pain, but thank you for letting me know @radar. I am in Sussex so the Gatwick option was very attractive, as was the midday flight timing. Still, as long as Covid-19 restrictions don't stop us I'll be happy.
Can I also ask if anyone knows a bit about Kaprun? We are two skiers, one intermediate and one advanced, and have purchased the "Kitzbüheler Alpen AllStar" pass. I've looked at the wider area map and it seems that we can really make the most of the three interconnected resorts (snow etc... permitting). Does anyone have any recommendations as to what to do lift-combination-wise with the desire to return to Kaprun each evening? We went with Kaprun as we wanted the tour operator refund guarantee in case of further Covid restrictions.
Lastly if anybody else is in the area that week it could be nice to meet up. My friend is a good skier but has already said he will not want to ski continuously all week for health reasons and may take a day off. I on the other hand am a first lift to last lift skier, enjoy black runs, and like to see how many kilometres I can cover in a day 
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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.
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@sparklingspringwater, I haven't done it my self @tatmanstours, has skied Kaprun, from what I know it's a bus to Zell(Schuttdorf) then you can ski over to Saalbach (having gone up and down a couple of times )and connect into the ski circus, where you need to hop on another bus. Tatmantours is the expert
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Thanks radar, look forward to it. Sounds like a fun adventure in and of itself. Our trip is 2.5months away and I am just daydreaming all day about getting on the piste.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| sparklingspringwater wrote: |
Ah that's a bit of a pain, but thank you for letting me know @radar. I am in Sussex so the Gatwick option was very attractive, as was the midday flight timing. Still, as long as Covid-19 restrictions don't stop us I'll be happy.
Can I also ask if anyone knows a bit about Kaprun? We are two skiers, one intermediate and one advanced, and have purchased the "Kitzbüheler Alpen AllStar" pass. I've looked at the wider area map and it seems that we can really make the most of the three interconnected resorts (snow etc... permitting). Does anyone have any recommendations as to what to do lift-combination-wise with the desire to return to Kaprun each evening? We went with Kaprun as we wanted the tour operator refund guarantee in case of further Covid restrictions.
Lastly if anybody else is in the area that week it could be nice to meet up. My friend is a good skier but has already said he will not want to ski continuously all week for health reasons and may take a day off. I on the other hand am a first lift to last lift skier, enjoy black runs, and like to see how many kilometres I can cover in a day |
Did you really mean the Kitzbuheler pass, which covers the Kitzbhuhel area, or the Ski Alpin pass that covers Kaprun, Zell and Saalbach/Hinterglemm?
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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.
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@Austrian Seagull, Ooops I missed that one 
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@Austrian Seagull, my invoice says "Regional lift pass - Kitzbüheler Alpen AllStar". From the website (https://www.kitzbueheler-alpen.com/en/kam/wi/ski/superskicard.html I think?) it seems that lots of areas are covered but I may be mistaken on this.
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You know it makes sense.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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| sparklingspringwater wrote: |
| radar wrote: |
Just had the Salzburg Airport news letter in and the winter schedule, ignore the BA Gatwick one as they aren't going to restart operations from there until the end of next summer.
https://ypsilon.net/flightplan/salzburg/szg.pdf
Not sure if I fancy the Ryanair flight from Stanstead at 06.35! |
We're meant to be in Kaprun 8-15 January (via Crystal, flights with BA). Does this mean that our flights won't go ahead? |
Just out of curiosity I have done a 'practice' book for Kaprun on the 8th of Jan - the flights available are with TUI/EASYJET (Gatwick to Salzburg) :: I imagine Crystal will just put you on their TUI flight..
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Poster: A snowHead
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@sparklingspringwater, with a suitable mode of transport, you could easily access the areas at Kitzbuhel (via Hollersbach/Mittersill), Gasteins, Wagrain and Hochkonig (Maria Alm); as well as the Zell/Saalbach areas. The buses from Kaprun to Schuttdorf are regular and covered on the lift pass and it is a pretty good skiing connection across Zell am See. On the way back, you need to allow time to catch the Kettingbahn back up to the top of the Schmittenhohe to access the piste back to Schuttdorf. Failing that, I'm pretty sure you can get I direct bus from the Postplatz in Zell. Completely failing (ie. over-zealous apres in Saalbach) the Postbus will still come to your rescue but it might take some additional planning.
I think that the Allstar Pass has been amalgamated with the Superski Pass (https://www.superskicard.com/en/). Which will get you in everywhere.
I'll be in Maria Alm with a bunch of "mixed ability" friends that week and you are more than welcome to join us. One of the group will be all twitchy by Tuesday if the others are a bit slow and will need to be exercised.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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?
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@sparklingspringwater, it's a bit of a trek to get from Kaprun to Saalbach, and if it goes wrong you'll become intimately acquainted with the postbus timetable.
From the centre of Kaprun, you can get a bus towards Zell. It will stop at the Areitbahn lift, which is a 3-stage gondola to get you near to the top, but not high enough to reach the link to Saalbach. Instead, you can either ski down a long (and fun) black run to the Schmittenhöhebahn to get back to the top of the mountain, or there's a blue run which snakes down to the same place if you can navigate well. Once at the top, you ski down the crest for some way to get to the run down to Viehhofen. At the bottom, you wait for a bus to take you towards Saalbach, and can then either get off at the Scholeitenbahn for access to Saalbach and Leogang, or in the centre of Saalbach for access to Schattberg, or you could stay on to Hinterglemm for the far end of the valley.
To get back, either drop into the valley at a major lift and take the bus back to Viehhofen, or get yourself to the top of Schattberg and ski down the long run back to Schonleitenbahn and either take a bus from there, or go up the other side and then navigate towards Leogang to the top of the Polten lift and then follow the skiroute 168 down to the Hecherhutte and thence to Viehoffen. But do check that the run is open, as it's 5km long and walking down through green fields in ski boots is not fun.
From the bottom of the Areitbahn to Viehoffen is about an hour and a half. From Viehoffen to the bottom of the Areitbahn on the way back is about 45 minutes. If you were on the first gondola at the Areitbahn and you were both fast and keen, you just might manage to get across to Leogang, return via the centre of Saalbach onto the Bernkogelbahn, get to the end of the ski area at Hinterglemm down the Hochalmbahn and cross over to Zwolferkogel, then return via Westgipfel and Schattberg to the bottom of the Schonleitenbahn and get a bus back to Viehoffen in time to make the last lift up so that you could ski down to Zell. But stops would by necessity be very limited, and lunch might have to be a sandwich on a lift, plus if you missed a lift you'd need a bus into Zell and then a different bus out to Kaprun.
If you want to experience the Glemmtal, it would be better to take an early bus or drive around to the Schonleitenbahn and then start from there.
Depending on your needs, Kaprun plus Zell is enough to keep most intermediates busy for a week. Zell in particular has some nice runs and can offer some challenge, where Kaprun can be limited and also the glacier is not a great place to be on a bad weather day. On a clear day and especially when conditions are poor elsewhere the glacier is the place to be, and it can be very good, but under those conditions a lot of people from Zell will be there too and the lifts and slopes will be very busy. The Maiskogel area in Kaprun can be fun for an hour or two, but really not a lot more. Zell is scenic, and the town is nice, but it also suffers from more slush and moguls than the Glemmtal when conditions are anything less than perfect, especially in a few bottleneck areas and on the Sonnkogel which is south facing. The run down the ridge below the Areitbahn can be glorious, but it can also be very busy and slushy, and at the end of the day it is usually carnage at the bottom.
For your trip on 8-15 Jan the conditions are likely to be as good as you'll get them all season, typically cold and crisp and likely with fresh snow.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I knew that a details man would soon be along!
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@ousekjarr, thank you this wonderful. I shall be printing this out, laminating it, and sticking it in my ski jacket for ease of reference on the first couple of days. Much appreciated!!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Klamm Franzer wrote: |
| One of the group will be all twitchy by Tuesday if the others are a bit slow and will need to be exercised. |
Wonder who that might be...
@sparklingspringwater, don't let him lead you down any "shortcuts"...
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| sparklingspringwater wrote: |
| @ousekjarr, thank you this wonderful. I shall be printing this out, laminating it, and sticking it in my ski jacket for ease of reference on the first couple of days. Much appreciated!! |
Great advice from @ousekjarr. I’d also recommend not trying to combine Zell and Saalbach in a single day, or skiing across Zell to Saalbach, especially starting from Kaprun. There’s a good day’s skiing on Zell. Skiing all of Saalbach in a day is a considerable challenge. I’d suggest a minimum of two days to do justice to Saalbach/Hinterglemm/Fieberbrunn and Leogang. Still leaves you plenty of time to go further afield. You’ll love the area.
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Impossible to ski Saalbach in a day. Unless you are saying just Saalbach and not including Hinterglemm, Leogang and Fiberbrunn. 270km of slopes. Impossible in 2 days. Zell in one possibly, 77km (though seems less from memory)
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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.
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That’s barely a quarter of it… starting in Zell and managing a loop of the Glemm valley. Wondering if that’s possible. In Zell in February (suspect lift queues would prevent it…). May try. Hotel right next to gondola…
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I've done it starting from Saalbach and heading up the Bernkogel. Get Fieberbrunn out of the way early then cross the valley to the Zwolferkogel. Pretzel and a Weissen at the Ellmaualm then down to Hinterglemm, up the Westgipfel down the black into Saalbach and straight back up again. Lunch was at the Limbergalm (adaquate but self service and an alarming array of dead things, stuffed and skeletal, everywhere. The family that own it are very 'alpine' but they grill a tasty banger). Down to the Schonleitenbahn and off to Legoland, by which point it was cloudy and slushy/lumpy due to being the middle of march. Got back over in time to get to the bottom of the Reiterkogel, print the days excursion and collect the cherished tin mug. Then back up the Reiterkogelbahn and off to the Burglaralarm for strudel and happy hour. 
Cracking day out
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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.
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^ are all these with the new link lift?
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That’s starting in Saalbach so not using the lift from Zell. Doubt it’s possible to do all that starting in Zell - maybe possible just looping the Glemm valley ignoring Leogang and Fienerbrunn.
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You know it makes sense.
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Allow about four hours to do the circuit of the main valley, and add an hour and a half each for Leogang and Fieberbrunn.
Last edited by You know it makes sense. on Sat 23-10-21 10:15; edited 1 time in total
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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| summerseat wrote: |
| @TomBH, For rentals you have quite a choice. Nothing wrong with Snow and fun, a 5 min walk up the main street. There is also Gumpold sports just across the road from the Glemmtalerhof ( Gumpold also have a bigger shop on the outskirts of the village). This is really convenient for you, and you also get a discount if staying at the Glemmtalerhof. Loads of others , Hervis and Intersport also in the village |
Thanks, good to know always keen ok for a discount! I'm trying to remember where we used in 2020 but failing.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Just a reminder for anyone staying in Saalbach that Hansi (“Hansi’s Best-Price”, next door but one to Bobby’s Pub at the bottom end of the main village street) will give an additional discount to anyone who mentions that I recommended him.
His equipment and service is all good, his English is fluent, and his welcome schnapps will get you off to a flying start.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| tatmanstours wrote: |
| Allow about four hours to do the circuit of the main valley, and add an hour and a half each for Leogang and Fieberbrunn. |
I will be trying the main valley circuit from the bottom of the town centre gondola in Zell in February. I hope...
Possible assuming first lift from Zell.
Which way round? I guess either way there's not a very nice run to finish off; 2a gets horribly mogulled at the bottom and 68 may not even be open (as I assume there is no snow making on your favourite run as yet?)
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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?
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Stick to plan A and go anti clockwise. 2A can easily be traversed of it is sketchy. Snow cover on the 68 should be ok in Feb and you can check it out when downloading on the bottom section of the Zell express. On the way back, you can reach the bottom of the city express from the Zell express. Shouldn't be too pressed for time.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| Klamm Franzer wrote: |
| Stick to plan A and go anti clockwise. 2A can easily be traversed of it is sketchy. Snow cover on the 68 should be ok in Feb and you can check it out when downloading on the bottom section of the Zell express. On the way back, you can reach the bottom of the city express from the Zell express. Shouldn't be too pressed for time. |
Thanks. Just the queues at the Schonleitenbahn.
In Zell I assume you mean red 20 and blue 7 to get me back to the bottom of city express from the Zell express.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Yep. And the Sonnalm has an amazing fire to sit by with a warming drink on the way home!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Klamm Franzer wrote: |
| Yep. And the Sonnalm has an amazing fire to sit by with a warming drink on the way home! |
Thanks. The reds on that side in the sun at Zell are my favourites...until they get slushy. Quieter than elsewhere in Zell.
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@buchanan101, I agree that the anti-clockwise route is the way to go. Coming down 2a in the afternoon will be good practice  , and if there’s time you could go up the Schönleitenbahn again and then down 168 (assuming it’s open), rather than take the ski bus to Viehhofen.
In fact it might be worth aiming for a late lunch at the Hecherhuette halfway down 168. It’s our favourite mountain restaurant.
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We did the Ski Circus challenge on Christmas Eve a few years ago. The pistes and lifts were dead quiet. The pistes were hard and flat all day so it was easy to ski fast. We started from Hinterglemm with the first major lift being the Westgipfelbahn. We then didn’t stop for lunch until we’d cleared Fieberbrunn (just in case) and not far from home.
We got round so quickly that we then just did loads of laps of the Westgipfel to try to clock up 100km. We failed with 98.2km.
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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.
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@hammerite, that sounds pretty much like a perfect day!
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@tatmanstours, probably one of my favourite days on skis and most of it was on man made snow!
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