 Poster: A snowHead
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@ArlbergMeister et al.
We're currently in Oberlech, a surprise pre-Christmas trip for the family. I'll leave all the clever forecast stuff to others, and just post about our experience this week so far...
The overriding snow conditions in Lech are basically that there is no natural snow to speak of. Really. We had expected up top that there would be some natural snow, and it's true there is some in the shade of gullies and on north-facing slopes, but the pistes that are open have all been created with snowmaking or snow moving. It's a risk you bear early season in recent years I guess.
As temperatures have been cold lately, snowmaking has enabled heroic efforts from the pisteurs to create runs and keep them open. Basically there is one route down from each open lift. Off piste is grass and rocks. Overnight Monday there was a whopping 1cm of snowfall which provided a welcome dust on the pisteurs' crust. And at least a seasonal cosmetic sprinkling on the trees.
Since Saturday (17th), things had been reasonably cold, and piste conditions were good such as they were, but yesterday (Tuesday 20th) it warmed up a lot; up high there was birdsong, running water and a general thaw. Almost spring conditions. All daytime snow-making was turned off as it was too warm. Cover is visibly thinning, pisteurs were hand picking stones from the Mohnenmähder down from the top of the Steinmäder chair. All the nice looking south-facing reds under this chair are grass at 2300m altitude.
So there are basically what feels like half-a-dozen runs open in Lech - one per primary lift - some such as the Schelgelkopf-Rudalpe-Lech are about 15m wide in places rather than what looks like they are usually 50m, which is fine currently as there is no one here. Mercifully, the runs and lifts have been practically empty in pre-Christmas week. How this limited capacity will work with the Christmas and New Year crowds is anyone's guess. I would leave it to those more knowledgable than I to say what is needed in terms of snowfall, but I would unscientifically say 'a lot'. If you are expecting a 'base', there isn't one currently right up to the summits in Lech.
We went over to St. Anton today, the ski connection via Rüfikopf isn't open, so it was a short, crowded, bus to Zürs, then up and over on the impressive new Trittkopfbahn to Stuben. As others have said, conditions are definitely better in St.Anton due to the increased amount of snowmaking, and up high off Schindler Spitze there is more natural cover. As a result there are more people, and although no lift queues, some of the runs began to feel busy, with increasing collision risks: we saw a helicopter job on Steissbachtal. It felt very much like spring conditions with cold and packed, slightly icy pistes up high, and heavy going melting artificial stuff at the bottom, with everything in between. All bathed today in warm sunshine, T-shirt conditions. Much more seemed skiable over in St.Anton generally. As @stanton has said Lech could do with more snowmaking, St.Anton is clearly reaping the benefits of their investment right now.
We have noted in Lech that there are some people skiing when almost paralytically drunk. Maybe this is always the case the world over, but is perhaps more noticeable when everyone is condensed into a smaller piece of the mountain. One guy was so pissed he couldn't stand up on his skis. Dangerous stuff.
The new Der Wolf mountain restaurant in Lech is a modernist's chic delight, and belongs in Wallpaper magazine, although is not locally popular according to the chief barman at the Burgbar in Oberlech. It's probably not practical, all raw wood and concrete, but we love it.
All in all though, we've had a fantastic trip, had there been more snow, conditions would have been perfect. But we just love being in the mountains on the snow, even if there is not much of it about! To those coming out in the next couple of weeks: good luck and enjoy!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Thanks, @HenleyBranch. Sorry to hear about the dire conditions. Taking friends from the States next week and was hoping to show them proper Arlberg skiing.
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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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Conditions certainly aren't dire, they are just limited, particularly in Lech, less so in St. Anton. We've had a great trip. Good luck.
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@HenleyBranch, Thanks for the encouragement -- and the candor -- much appreciated. Hoping the forecasted snow pans out to be something, but I'd take even a cosmetic dusting at this point so that it feels gemütlich.
Glad to hear that you've enjoyed regardless. Hope to do the same!
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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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D@ArlbergMeister, if your worrued about next week being crowded it will be a lot less likelast season. The Dutch & Germans will not bother to go they will wait yntill snow comes.
Last season numbers xmas/new year were down cosiderably.
People who come on packages (mostly British) are locked in and its dufficult to cancel or change as there is a general lack of snow all over Europe .
One thing for sure the Apre Ski goes on allday!!
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@stanton, Haha, indeed it does. We might have to shift our focus from shredding powder to shredding the KK and Mooserwirt.
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Looking into week 2 of 2017 before any significant change
Official Weather & Snow Report
The current bright weather will continue up to and including Friday. High air pressure will still block out the approaching extensions of an Atlantic disturbance. Towards the prolonged Christmas weekend the influence of high pressure will slightly weaken; more changeable weather is forecast. Cloud fields will cross our regions and slight precipitation may fall. However, larger amounts of precipitation are not expected. Throughout next week, the influence of high pressure will probably increase, consequently mostly stable, dry and moderately mild weather is forecast for the end of the year
One thing for sure no need to haul/ bring any avalanche gear airbag ruksaks, probes peeps.. Off Piste skiing is some weeks off yet.
Sunscreen is most important item.
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@HenleyBranch, interesting report, thanks taking the time to write it up. The Wolf sounds very interesting, can't wait to have a look.
Drunks on the piste happens in many places, but Austria is among the worst. So many places on the mountain are very 'convivial' and I guess it's tempting to while away a few hours drinking if the skiing isn't that great, so it would be a worse situation than usual right now. I'm not excusing it, it is utterly stupid and the authorities do threaten to arrest people who ski drunk. I'd like to see them actually follow through with those threats one day.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| sah wrote: |
| the authorities do threaten to arrest people who ski drunk. I'd like to see them actually follow through with those threats one day. |
It is illegal but the authorities only get involved if there is an accident (which I know is to late).
Speed & Carving are more of a problem and cause way more accidents.
During Peak Season the Polizei are on the slopes (The where Red Jackets).
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Of all the places I've skied I think St Anton and Tignes/Val D'Isere are the worst for skiers skiing too fast for their ability. Just something I noticed.
Another reason why it's better off the piste 
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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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| VolklAttivaS5 wrote: |
Of all the places I've skied I think St Anton and Tignes/Val D'Isere are the worst for skiers skiing too fast for their ability. Just something I noticed.
Another reason why it's better off the piste |
Obergurgl is the opposite. Age of clientele and lack of crowds...
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Yes I would agree Obergurgl is calmer 
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You know it makes sense.
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| VolklAttivaS5 wrote: |
| Yes I would agree Obergurgl is calmer |
And the main on-mountain Apres Ski spot - the Niederhutte is at the top of the flattest blue run home for those who have drunk a bit too much
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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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| VolklAttivaS5 wrote: |
Of all the places I've skied I think St Anton **** are the worst for skiers skiing too fast for their ability. Just something I noticed.
Another reason why it's better off the piste |
Well yes, a huge percentage of vacation skiers are unfit & not prepared for St Anton slopes in fact it makes you wonder why they choose here when they would get much more satisfaction at less challenging areas in Austria plus it is a lot cheaper elsewhere.
Carpet Skiers = Bad skiers (False sense of ability)
Some of the folk here who sign up for Off Piste Guiding just makes me laugh ..
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| stanton wrote: |
| VolklAttivaS5 wrote: |
Of all the places I've skied I think St Anton **** are the worst for skiers skiing too fast for their ability. Just something I noticed.
Another reason why it's better off the piste |
Well yes, a huge percentage of vacation skiers are unfit & not prepared for St Anton slopes in fact it makes you wonder why they choose here when they would get much more satisfaction at less challenging areas in Austria plus it is a lot cheaper elsewhere.
Carpet Skiers = Bad skiers (False sense of ability)
Some of the folk here who sign up for Off Piste Guiding just makes me laugh .. |
That's a but of a generalisation that insults a good proportion of skiers. I _prefer_ to ski on carpet; it's what I like to do and enjoy most. I will try other stuff; I'm not a great skier, I'm Ok - but because I like carpet does that mean I'm a bad skier? I like to ski quite fast, but don't do it when conditions don't allow, and have never in maybe half a year's worth of skiing had a crash (touch wood).
Still, brilliant skiers like you think I'm a bad skier, rather than just moderately reasonable. And I wouldn't sign up for off piste guiding - I know I'm not good enough for that
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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 think @Markymark29 is heading out to the Arlberg shortly and it always snows when he's there, so you'll be fine 
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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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All rather irrelevant. You were basically insulting most leisure skiers who like to ski almost exclusively on well prepared pistes. It's what we pay for for one or two weeks a year. And now it's "aren't I great I can ski on one ski and I bet all you horrid "carpet skiers" can't". Because a few can't ski in control you tar everyone with the same brush. Next time you see someone out of control skiing fast count how many others are on the same piste skiing perfectly ok. 99%+ are most likely.
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@HenleyBranch, Great report and pictures - thank you for taking the time to share.
I'm there 7-14th Jan and (when not paralytically drunk) will report back on conditions.
I skied 28 days last season and it snowed on 22 of them so here's hoping.
If conditions stay as they are I'll take some time to work on drills - perhaps even attempting our Orange friend's pole-less one-legged carpet caper 
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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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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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How do they get the tables and chairs to stick to the ceiling?
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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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You know it makes sense.
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Polar Cold Warning Alert
Next week during the evening & night (only) it will be Siberian cold.
Temperatures down to -20-22C
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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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Poster: A snowHead
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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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@stanton, what is the coldest you have ever known it to be during the day in St Anton in all your years of skiing there?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Can we all focus our energies on shifting this Stau west so that the Arlberg hits the jackpot? http://wepowder.com/forum/topic/235569
My dad keeps stoking my hopes. He's Austrian and made his staatlicher in St. Christoph back in the 60s. Keeps telling me tales of how freak weather can move in there and dump. If only...
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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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@VolklAttivaS5, i cannot remember exact temperature but iy has been below -20c (without windchill) a few times over the seasons even without modern skiwear ..... but when it gets that cold not even modern ski apparel protects.
I would not go out when its below -15C as frostbite hits fast without you realising..
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@ArlbergMeister, It CAN & Has before changed overnight with a 1 metre dump but it will become incredibly dangerous.
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@stanton, Yes, very good point. I was there once in April 2006 (was teaching in St. Moritz for season) -- it was raining in the valley, so we hit apres-ski early. When he woke up the next morning there was a good bit of snow, but up high there was close to a meter. Had some amazing runs off the front of the Schindler Spitze. That said, it was after a full season and there was a solid base. Not this time.
Still, I'd welcome what a fresh dump would do for the pistes and the aesthetics. A snowy Arlberg always looks better than a brown Arlberg!
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I was there about 4 years ago when it megadumped just after new year. The guides said it was the biggest single dump they'd seen in 20 years.
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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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@Kelskii, that was huricane andrea ! Epic..
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@stanton, it was!
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FAQ
