On Monday we had a guided day at Hintertux. 15-20cm fresh. Not great visibility but wonderful untouched snow our guide found for us. Low avi risk on the day.
Snow up there on piste will be very nice tomorrow I would imagine and sunny but cold. Worth the trip.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
@Matrix, agreed. The freshen up at beginning of the week and staying so cold through the day is unexpected and welcome for April.
Didn't like how icy 47 was.
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?
Looking great on the web cams for the last few days. The slopes look empty, wish I was there. Is snowbombing going on this week?
@JimboS, I’m still tied between Mayrhofen as an early season destination or Ischgl
More accessible off piste as we said in Ischgl but Mayrhofen is a nicer town for sure (and no blokes peeing everywhere)
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
@VolklAttivaS5, I've only been to the Hof a few times pre Christmas, snow has generally been good. I remember the year the new Ahorn gondola was put in, there was no snow for the opening, so probably not as snow sure as Ischgl. Here is a video from 2006, fairly typical.
We only occasionally head out pre Christmas for a long weekend and book cheap flights early and accommodation late to chase the snow.
We then head out week 2 of January for a proper cold ski Holliday (although it's been more than 10 years since it's actually been cold that week). Pretty much everywhere is snow sure by then. Boys trip is a few weeks later at the end of Jan.
For the last 20 years+ or so we then head back out to the Hof at the end of March/early April, the snow is a lottery but the village is normally warm in the afternoon which we like. We often get powder but probably less of it available than Ischgl, but we take warm afternoon sun as a priority by that time of the year.
Other thoughts, on the whole we do generally like Ischgl, great snow and Kim liked a lot of the cafes we went into at the bottom of the home runs into the village. What we don't like is the price gouging compared to other resorts for food and drink, it seems to have got worse this season. Seems to be 30% to 50% higher pricing than the Hof in Jan.
We left the village by ~4pm most days so didn't get involved with the local apri much which can be fun depending on how drunk you are.
That was our 3rd trip to Ischgl and I'm sure we will go back, probably just not as regularly as our annual pilgrimage to the Hof.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
@JimboS, yes I think that video is typical for December conditions, I’ve been about 6-7 times just before Christmas or over Christmas in Mayrhofen or Zillertal Arena. One year there was no snow off piste at all, and man made snow on piste, the other times there was some fresh snow on and off. Have been to Ischgl twice just before Christmas/over Christmas and I think yes, there was more snow just from it being higher altitude overall. It can really dump a lot there. At the time I wasn’t hugely into skiing off piste especially as the people I was skiing with at the time ski on piste only, off piste is not a thing for them. I couldn’t really test the off piste possibilities properly until the other week when I was there without them. It was marvellous but then it was a bluebird powder day, it was probably marvellous everywhere.
I agree it’s cheaper for food and drink in Mayrhofen for sure, I think the town is nicer too. Easier to get to on public transport than Ischgl is (but that was still fine). I think Mayrhofen despite the reputation for the apres ski is more of a family place.
After all it is free
After all it is free
@NickyJ, tried 47 today, very icy! Waited until noon and it still hadn’t softened up much.
@JimboS, Pistes are still excellent t and it might snow tomorrow.
Snowbombing flags went up today. I think it starts Monday. Noticed a few more young punks in town but no rowdiness. Good vibes. I imagine it gets v.busy tomorrow as it’s a public holiday.
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.
Oh…it’s still super quiet. I don’t think I have seen it this quiet before at this time. Very few uk families and not many kids. No lift queues
Last edited by You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net. on Thu 6-04-23 20:46; edited 1 time in total
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
@Matrix, I did warn you
(Ref run 47). Though it is probably notable purely because how good runs are tbh.
Last day skiing tomorrow for us. Lovely day again today.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
I'm in the van tonight in the car park at Hintertux ahead of a day's skiing tomorrow before driving back over to Switzerland. Surprised how chilly it is, but it's definitely welcome
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.
@swskier, can you park a motorhome at Hintertux then overnight without any problems? Is there electric hook up or not?
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
@VolklAttivaS5, no electric hook up, but there's a bunch of vans up here.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
@swskier, cool. Good to know.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Went over to Zell and Gerlos today. Pistes on Zell side very good condition, really nice snow up top. Gerlos side in much worse condition (altitude?). It started to snow heavily and wind picked up so headed back over the pass after lunch. Krimmer Xpress must be the coldest lift in the valley!
First snowbombers starting to arrive, plenty of tracksuits and white sneakers on show
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
@Matrix, first time i've decided to pack it in for the day was after sitting on the Krimmer Xpress back in mid January, thought my big toes were going to fall off. New gondola going in should make things a lot better!
Had a fun day up at Hintertux yesterday, albeit visibility was really bad, but snow was great.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
@Matrix, @swskier, oh yes that Krimml Xpress chair is bleak! I remember one of the first times I went to Zillertal Arena and it was windy and snowing as the afternoon went on.
You wouldn’t want to be stuck on there for very long if it stopped.
Great idea to put the gondola in, will make it much nicer and quicker.
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?
when is the Gondala going in - the chair was out of action on Wednesday when we where there, which was a blessing in disguise I think
Nearly 50cm tomorrow and then more the rest of the week
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
@Matrix, lovely
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.
@VolklAttivaS5, have you considered Obertauern in December?
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
@Mother hucker, yeah been to Obertauern before but not in December.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
@Mother hucker, I had a long weekend in Obertauern about 20 years ago in December. Conditions were a bit hard and bleak. The village was strung out along the main through road and was a bit ugly. I wouldn't go back. The main highlight was meeting Shaun Palmer in our hotel.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
@JimboS, very small too, just over 100km of pistes so Mayrhofen on its own is bigger plus the rest of the Zillertal nearby.
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
how much of the Zillertal will be in play mid December? how much of the Hof in play compared to say Ischgl?
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
It's snowing in the valley this morning
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?
@VolklAttivaS5, it is small but if you time it right, and get lucky with fresh snow, it doesn't feel too small. The pistes and the in between pistes all seem to merge into one with multiple lines from the lifts.
how much of the Zillertal will be in play mid December? how much of the Hof in play compared to say Ischgl?
Been to both in mid December at least twice and there’s been plenty of snow, normally everything open pretty much, there are some lifts that open later in December in the Zillertal but in Ischgl as it opens late November I think the whole area has been open from memory, if anything has been closed it’s been due to wind.
So both Ischgl and Mayrhofen/Zillertal have more terrain available in mid Dec than Obertauern does because Obertauern is pretty small by comparison to Ischgl and the Zillertal.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
@Jagerbull, true, but having been there (Obertauern) once I prefer Mayrhofen/the Zillertal and Ischgl given the choice so it would be between them for mid December/Christmas week.
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
