 Poster: A snowHead
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@Gored, What forecast site/app are you using? We're heading to Saalbach Jan 21st - So i'm hoping for a decent covering by then 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Mountain forecasts for the next 24-48 hours are pretty accurate on the whole. Up to 7 days out, they're now surprisingly good, and we can have some confidence that the 15cm forecast in the next 7 days will be somewhere between 10 and 20cm but may not entirely map out to the days they stated.
Between 7 and 14 days is more of a general feel of what might happen. As we get closer, that gets refined and some of the wilder options get pruned out.
Between 14 and 21 days it gets pretty funky - you can see a forecast which says there may be 50cm of snow, and then it vanishes with the next day's forecast. At best, you can say that there is a chance of snow. Don't pin your hopes on a weather forecast today that says there will be a huge dump on the 20th...
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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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I remember one year when the first really huge dump of the season was in mid-February. Heavy snowfall lasting several days.
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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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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Today’s forecast at village level, looks snow, however this can all change, for those interested I’m using Bergfex
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Arrived in Hinterglemm at lunchtime today thanks to a 6am flight from Glasgow. Got on the slopes at 3pm and found the skiing much harder work than I was anticipating. Lower down was very similar to the snow at Braehead indoor slope, higher up seemed to alternate between fairly hard and scrapy or lots of big soft moguls. Anyone know which side of the valley will be best first thing in the morning? Looking for a gentle start for Mrs V.
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@Gored, I'm sitting in my apartment having just popped to Mpreis and it feels cold and the pavements are icy, temperatures are going down, will post pictures if it snows 
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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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@Valkyrie, when heading up to Hinterglemm we like to warm up on the blues of the Spieleck 6, which you take after the Hochalm lift, first thing these should be OK, later they will have had the sun , when we do land up there in warm afternoon conditions we tend to take the Hochalm lift back down.
Another run we like is 30/31 on to 31a of the Zwolferkogel (12er KOGEL), it's a bit higher up.
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@DHardman, we are out on 21st aswell, whilst as usual like an plank I look daily at the webcams and get a little disappointed that everywhere isn’t under 10 foot of snow and dumping it down, the reality is wait until about Wednesday of the week we are going, the forecasts whilst not guaranteed will be more reliable of what we can expect on arrival and so on as the week goes on
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Failing to plan, is planning to fail, more commonly used in business, but it also applies to getting tables at the chicken man.
Sunday and Wednesday booked for our visit at the end of the month!
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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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I'm arriving to Saalbach a week from today, skiing solo since my partner is reluctant to even try her first lesson.
I am confident this week will make it even better.
If anyone is looking for company, PM me.
And a stupid question: regarding the 7 days winter hiker pass (for her), it says 2 rides per day. Is it an ascent and a descent, or 2 ups and their returns? She plans winterwegs and to meet at a recommended Apres for late lunch
Last edited by And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports. on Sat 7-01-23 18:26; edited 1 time in total
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@ribblevalleyblue, I am intrigued, who is the chicken man? 
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You know it makes sense.
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| Quote: |
my partner is reluctant to even try her first lesson.
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that's a great shame; you must be disappointed. Is that a private lesson with a recommended instructor? the best possible start.
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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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@ribblevalleyblue, thanks for the prompt! I have been instructed by my daughter that its a must and that I cannot fail in my mission to secure a table ! 
@drporat, https://www.hendl-fischerei.at/en/ known on snowheads as the chicken man
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Poster: A snowHead
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@drporat, over in Leogang area at the top , the restaurant is called Hendl Fischerei, very upmarket now, but originally was a man selling just spit roast half chicken and ribs and you sat on tables out in the open there was no restaurant, if it was snowing bad weather he didn’t open
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@drporat, the half roast chicken and ribs remain, simply served but fantastic, now at least 3 if not 4 times what they used to cost, but the views, chilled music and ambience in my view cannot be beaten in the whole area
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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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@pam w, thanks but she is afraid of falling. She enjoys morning walks on the mountain and meeting there for a late lunch and I am more than OK with shorter days when she comes along 
@radar, @ribblevalleyblue, many thanks. Looks awesome but I don't see it's accesible from Saalbach for non skiers.
Any other recommendations that might be relevant in our case?
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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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Those "simple" chickens-on-a-spit have become super expensive in France, too, especially if they have pretensions to being "poulets fermiers". Sounds a good lunch though, especially with the music.
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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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@drporat, chicken man for non skiers is doable.
Two of our group have their 3 year old daughter with them this year, previous visits childless.
But the love of the Hendl Fischerei means she will get the bus from Saalbach to Zell em See with their daughter on Wednesday and then catch the train to Leogang.
Up the gondola and the chicken man is next to the exit.
Husband has taken one for the team and will ski over !
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@ribblevalleyblue, bus to zell and then train to Leogang... And return, of course!
All that effort can't be dissed. Respect.
Now I am darn curious, we'll have to do it.
Thanks mate.
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@ribblevalleyblue, Are you flying from Manchester on the 21st? I'm guessing Ribble Valley - Lancs? We're on the early Ryanair flight @6.15am haha.
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@drporat, Any other recommendations that might be relevant in our case?
If you like the look of and not too uncomfortable with the prices at Hendl Fischerei, then try https://montana-royal.at/
Kohlmaisbahn, lift out of the centre of Saalbach (and home of some of the best apres ) non skiers can access, it is at the exit of the gondola. My wife and then 4 year old son, did that in 2020.
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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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For après-ski for non-skiers I would recommend the Hinterhag Alm (go up on the short Turm chair lift, at the cost of a few euros - 2 or 3 last time I took a non-skier up there), and he Soul House (no lift required). The banging, monotonous house music at the Montana Royal Alpin Club has been known to drive me out within ten minutes. One man’s meat…
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@DHardman, Are you flying from Manchester on the 21st? I'm guessing Ribble Valley - Lancs? We're on the early Ryanair flight @6.15am Eh oh! haha.
Now live in the sowth, the ribblevalley is where my heart still is!
2 of our group are flying from Manchester on 0845 flight with jet2, I’m on the 0715 out of London city and waiting for the 2 northerners for an hour or so and then we have private taxi/van booked. Hoping to get on slopes at 3pm for a free ski (pass for the following day gives you free skiing from 3pm day before) bit of warm up with a few runs up the Kohlmais and then a bar crawl down the mountain from the Montana Royal, ending up in the wonderful Burgi’s.
Rest of group are with Crystal from Luton/Gatwick and an ETA of 7/8pm, that’s why I’m a DIY’er!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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For ease i’ll refer it as the chicken man also …… can you just pop in for a drink? Is there no chance of a table for food without pre booking?
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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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@Gilly28, yes, it’s just like any mountain bar or restaurant - you can pop in for a drink, or a meal, as you wish. I’ve most often eaten in there without pre booking. I’ve only booked a table when it’s a special occasion, E.g. Christmas lunch or someone’s birthday.
And bear in mind that there are three floors, which many people don’t realise, as you have to go outside and down an exterior flight of stairs to access the (concealed) bottom floor.
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@tatmanstours, Thanks! Looks gorgeous, just don’t like to be tied.
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You know it makes sense.
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@ribblevalleyblue, @tatmanstours,
Many thanks for your recommendations.
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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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@Gilly28, if you don’t have a booking best to arrive outside of 12-1400 if you want to eat in my experience. You may well be able to just wander up, but can also find it’s booked up. I often enjoy a late lunch at about 1500 then ski down. I’ve even occasionally spotted a chap with a Tatmam baseball cap at his Stammtisch… 
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Poster: A snowHead
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@drporat, other recommendations, Genus12 mid station kogel12er, Montana royal top of Kholmais, Wiseralm top of the Reiterkogel, Xandl-Stall you can walk there, if you are using the ski bus then the Kogel12 stop is what you need.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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One further, possibly final thought on the Chicken Man. If it’s too crowded and booked up, Leogang is blessed with some of the best mountain restaurants in the entire area - the words “lost for choice” are probably appropriate.
I refer to the Alte Schmiede, the Asitzbräu, the Stöcklalm, the Forsthofalm (Holzhotel), and the Kralleralm. All have a more varied and arguably more attractively priced menu than the Chicken Man.
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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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@drporat, I asked the tourist office about the sun ticket for the non skiers in our group and below is their response thats confirms 2 ascents and 2 descents per day.
the sun ticket includes daily 2 x ascent and 2 x descent but without ski equipment.
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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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Awesome, I am eager to finally make it to Saalbach.
Many thanks, folks 
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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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@drporat, the Xandl-Stal is cash only, though they do have a cash point , €2 charge for withdrawal.
There is a bank cashpoint at the 12er Kogel lift station , the bottom one
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@drporat, I'm around the area that week and will spend some time in the Saalbach valley. There are a few others who are skiing solo that week I think so a group will probably form (or constantly miss each other by a matter of minutes.....).
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Any recommendations for ski hire? We're staying near the Schattberg X-press. Also pre book online or just rock up?
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For that location, Hansi's is one of several options. Wherever you go, I'd prebook to be sure they have what you want, unless you're happy to ski on anything in the shop
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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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@ribblevalleyblue, oh brill! Sounds like you know saalbach pretty well. It's out first time! Can you recommend a decent pub/bar for football in the evenings? Cheers!
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| ousekjarr wrote: |
| For that location, Hansi's is one of several options. Wherever you go, I'd prebook to be sure they have what you want, unless you're happy to ski on anything in the shop |
Not for me as I'll be riding my K2 Simple Pleasures mostly I imagine. I'm pretty sure any decent piste ski will suffice - I think the question was more around getting the best deal. I'll pass the recommendation along, thank you.
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FAQ
), usually early January and early March and can honestly say that I have never seen a time when it was not possible to ski enjoyably, yes conditions vary but always had piste to ski on. January 2019 was memorable for huge snowfall (Snowmagedon) and believe it or not people were cancelling because there was too much snow!
