 Poster: A snowHead
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Can anyone recommend a Summer resort in the Austrian Alps that is as good as Grindelwald, Switzerland please? It is a tall order as summer walking in Grindelwald is second to none and has so many gondolas trains etc that link into each other year round. We would love to do Austria for walking but are not able to find a resort which has lots of gondolas etc that could provide us with enough walking for a week. Grindelwald offers year round activities, Ski and walking but not sure we can find an equivalent in Austria.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@emmaski, there are masses of summer resorts in Austria that offer you all of what you want and more. But you won't like them as it seems you just want to return to Grindelwald.
I have to say I found Grindelwald grim in summer, much more fun to be had at Lauterbrunnen!
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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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Really? Grindelwald has some very challenging walking for eg First to Schynigge. Where in Austria is less grim than Grindelwald then 
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@emmaski, you're living in the French alps? No shortage of wonderful walking though in the wilder areas you might have to walk up yourselves rather than get a lift.
Chamonix has summer lifts though, as do many other areas.
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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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Actually most of the french alps close down their gondolas in the Summer which means starting at low altitiude on foot reduces the amount of high altitiude walking you can do in a day.There could be great walks but with gondolas closed it is difficult to do walks at altitide unless you are a real local and know what's open year round. France is a strange place in the Summer. The ski resorts such as Meribel etc close down and are like ghost towns, so actually no this is where Switzerland and Austria are more geared up I think. I will look into Chamonix then. We have done the Mer de Glace etc but they weren't long or testing for us. Thanks for the feedback.
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What kind of walking are you looking for? Mostly on grassy alpine pasture, rocky trails or on snow/ice?
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Definately not snow and ice with my knees but some alpine hikes near mountain lakes, alpine pasture is good too. Normally walk around the 2000m mark and either circular walks or some ending back in the nearest town or village. We normally like to walk for around 6 hours 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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@emmaski, Have you considered Zell am See? Beautiful lake, pretty town with an old market square, and you can travel there by train (if that is your preferred mode of transport). I'm sure there'll be walks in the surrounding area e.g up to the Schmittenhöhe. Apparently there is a special discount Summercard which guests in the accommodation receive.
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Les Arcs is a fairly lively resort in summer (1600/1800, not 1950/2000). A few lifts are open - we use them for mountain biking. The Vanoise Express also runs in summer so you can include La Plagne. The Tarentaise is beautiful in summer (but granted the resorts themselves aren't as picturesque as Austrian villages).
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Thanks for all the tips. I will look through. I am particularly interested in the Schladming region. Have you been Nozawaomsen? Probably more what we are looking for.
AlastairPink- Zell am See looks great too. Thanks. That is plenty to be getting on with. Will be nice to try some different regions and people experiences on these areas would be much appreciated.
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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 have hit the nail on the head perfect many many thanks. I have emailed Schladming tourism already. Looking at September. Looks awesome and will keep doing lots of research on there and the other resorts. Many thanks for all your feedback, much appreciated. Have you been to any specific resports that have good gondola links etc that I can maybe start with ?
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You know it makes sense.
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@emmaski, small but beautiful place called Brand.
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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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Dont know how deep your pockets are but this Summer visitor card in Saalbach is bonkers:
http://www.saalbach.at/en/summer/the-valley-of-games/joker-card.html
Unlimited,free use of gondolas and a bunch of other stuff which may or may not be of interest to you. Wherever you go you're likely to get some kind of card for the odd 10% off here and there but this Joker card is unbelievable, lord knows how it works as the lift companies must lose a fortune...
Gorgeous area for hiking and much more, easy to reach by train and bus.
Like most places in this wonderful country, highly recommended!!
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Poster: A snowHead
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Lots of places. Not all gondys of course and you might have to slum it on the odd bus to get good ridge walks in. Lech has heaps of stuff for a week. Mayrhofen and Zillertal could probably keep you busy for a fortnight. Kitzbuhel area is another.
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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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@emmaski, It's not Austria, but the Dolomites would meet your needs perfectly.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| RobinS wrote: |
| @emmaski, It's not Austria, but the Dolomites would meet your needs perfectly. |
Hmm. We had friends who did the Dolomites last year. I am not a mssive fan of Italy. The photos looked great bit think I would like to try Austria first and see how we get on. I will certainly bear that in mind though as it is easy to get to for us.
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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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| Quote: |
I am not a mssive fan of Italy.
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But one bit of Italy has practically nothing in common with another bit of Italy. The scenery in the Dolomites knocks most mountains out of the park.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Thanks for the link. I think Schladming sounds the best option and easy with flights etc. Austria is definately where we want to explore next and has been well overdue.
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Schafalm at top of Planai is a good place to refuel (open through summer as well as winter).
http://www.schafalm.at/
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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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@waynos, yes I've done that walk, goes through lots of interesting different terrain.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Schladming it is. Wow so much info you are all so kind, thank you so much for taking the time to recommend some fab places. That looks like a possibility for September.
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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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Hi there, you might want to take a look at the Dolomites. We were there last summer, in Colofosco-Alta Badia, and it was a magical place to hike/walk/climb. All the lifts were operating though we never used them, seemed too much like cheating. Worth investigating on Alta Badia, Summer. in my view a far closer experience to Grindelwald than Schladming (which is perfectly fine btw). Only drawback is it's not Austrian Alps, but being South Tyrol it's a lot closer to Innsbruck than other parts of Austria so worth a look in. All the best.
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Thanks for your help.mAs i said in a previous post we are keen on pursuing Austria for the moment. We are not terribly keen on Italy for one or two reasons but will maybe look at that in the future.
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You know it makes sense.
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@emmaski, make sure all the lifts you want to use are open...the Summer Lifts start closing in early September. Some are open for longer of course
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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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| pam w wrote: |
@emmaski, you're living in the French alps? No shortage of wonderful walking though in the wilder areas you might have to walk up yourselves rather than get a lift.
Chamonix has summer lifts though, as do many other areas. |
I received an email back from Chamonix tourism and as I suspected the cable cars are only open during the Summer holidays (July/Aug) so that is where the problem lies at many french resorts. They seem to remain a ghost town most of the Summer.
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Poster: A snowHead
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I have noticed since living here for the last 10 years that the summers are getting increasingly busier.
With the opening up of many of the bike parks, mountain bike guiding and "newer sports" like the canyoning/rafting the towns that used to be ghost towns in the summer, (and Flachau was always like that) are really buzzing now.
Last year Zell am See was absolutely rammed in the summer 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I loved the summer walking in Austria last year. There are literally hundreds of graded walks (blue, red and black like piste grading), not to mention stunning views, sparkling lakes, activities for kids, the usual Austrian welcome in the huts and hotels. Beats a beach full of drunken flabby bodies any day...
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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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Yes, the Alps in summer are wonderful. I spend time at my apartment at different times of the year. The "summer proper" is quite fun, with the resort busy and lots of people around but I must say that I enormously enjoy my late spring (flowers!!) and autumn visits, when the peace is overwhelming. My favourite areas to walk are where there aren't any lifts - open or not. I love skiing but have to say that the hardware adds nothing to mountain views! I've used the Chamonix lifts in summer to get up to altitudes I'm too idle to walk up for myself, and the views are glorious, but there are just too many other people around, sometimes!
I tend to avoid Lake Annecy, beautiful as it is, in high summer, especially at weekends, but that's a great trip in late spring or autumn, too.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@emmaski, Saalbach has a thriving summer season and is supposed to be one of the best areas in the Austrian Alps for hiking - see http://www.saalbach.com/en/summer.html (4 cable cars are open during the summer).
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