 Poster: A snowHead
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Hey folks, we’re in Saalbach for the first time in a couple of weeks and could do with a little advice please!
We are two good intermediate skiers – try anything at least once, probably twice if we didn’t fall (father / daughter) and
One good but very nervous skier -blues / easy reds, (wife) and
A one week beginner – daughter’s bf - in lessons all week… blue / easy red
Staying at the Berger Sporthotel.
Queries are:
1. Is it possible to do a loop around the area on reds/blacks with a parallel blue for the Mrs to meet us at the bottom of each run?
2. How long does it take to do the loop (me and daughter only initially)?
3. Are there any route 'schedules' or guides (or an App)?
4. Good places for:
a. Lunch on the slopes (esp Tiroler grostl) with the beginner with a great view
b. Apres – either on the slopes with the beginner or in the village?
Thanks in advance
SM
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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'm sure other more detailed contributors will be along shortly but I believe the Crystal ski app is great. A couple I knew who were there at the same time as us in January used it a lot and said it was great.
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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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@shockingmoment, Lovely resort and a belting ski area - you'll love it.
Make sure you get over to Fieberbrunn (sp) as that's a great area too and the new run over to it is brilliant
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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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There's a number of circuits on the paper piste maps. The biggie is the Ski Circus challenge. I think most include the Schattberg run which is a black. I think it's the only black on that route. Get the nervous skiers to sit at a hut for a drink while you do the Schattberg run.
Be warned though the challenge is about 100km of skiing and lifts, so there's not a lot of opportunity for hanging about. The first run down from Saalbach to the bottom of the Tirol S (F14 I think) is a lovely run but it's quite steep for a red.
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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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@shockingmoment, you need the services of Mr Tatman! He will answer all your questions, and has a brilliant and very useful guide to the circuit.
All the mountain stops are lovely, but there a few favourites. Mine are the Azitzbrau and Die Alte Schmeide (sp!) over towards Leogang.
For apres, your number one stop has to be the Hinterhagalm party on the hill just above the resort, absolutely rocking!
I stayed in Berger's a couple of years back. Rather 'interesting' decor - Spoilerdescribed as a porn palace by some! but very friendly staff, decent food and an excellent location right in the town centre.
You will have a wicked time, and no doubt become a huge fan like everyone else does!!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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The Ski Circus app has A section for circuits too if you don't want to wait until you see that paper map. They're probably on the website too.
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Don't take the beginner/timid skiers to Fieberbrunn - a couple of long hard reds each way, although they could download in gondolas if you really wanted to go there. Leogang is a goo outing, nice long blues down through the trees, fun for all!
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| Quote: |
Queries are:
1. Is it possible to do a loop around the area on reds/blacks with a parallel blue for the Mrs to meet us at the bottom of each run?
2. How long does it take to do the loop (me and daughter only initially)?
3. Are there any route 'schedules' or guides (or an App)?
4. Good places for:
a. Lunch on the slopes (esp Tiroler grostl) with the beginner with a great view
b. Apres – either on the slopes with the beginner or in the village?
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@shockingmoment, You've chosen an excellent resort for a mixed ability group. It lends itself to arranging rendezvous on the mountain. All of the 13 or so gondola cable cars have restaurants at the mid- and or top stations. The main apres-ski venues are all accessible by skiers and non-skiers alike.
To answer your specific questions:
1. Yes, it's possible to do an anti-clockwise circuit of the valley, which will take in the more challenging red/black runs. However it's not always possible for your Mrs to do parallel blues. Better for her to take the ski bus to a pre-arranged meeting point. For example, you could ski to Hinterglemm via the Westgipfel run (piste 6/6a) and meet her at the Schwarzacher restaurant, which is near the bottom of the 12er Express. You could then go together up the 12er Express and then the Zwoelferkogelbahn, and she could do blue piste 11/11a, which runs parallel to black (World Cup) piste 15 and then red pistes 12 and 13a (or you could all do blues 11a or 12a from the mid-station). The Zwoelferkogel does lend itself to doing what you suggest.
Another possibility is for your Mrs (if she fancies a leisurely start) to take the ski bus to Hochalm, whilst you're making your way there via pistes 6/6a and 14. You could all meet at the very nice Sonnhof, which is at the top of the Hochalmbahn gondola (f she's there before you, she could do a blue run in the Spieleck area), and then you could all return to Saalbach together via the network of blue runs along the Hochalm/Reiterkogel/Bernkogel side of the valley.
2. It takes about 3 hours to do a loop of the valley clockwise or anti-clockwise. If you incorporate tangents over to Fieberbrunn and/or Leogang, you can add another hour or so (probably a bit longer, depending on how far you go) for each.
3. Yes (as Hammerite says). I have also compiled a couple of detailed itineraries, which I will gladly email to you if you PM me your email address. I will also send you my comprehensive guide, on which other Snowheads have been kind enough to send me appreciative feedback.
4a. My recommendations would be the Asteralm, the Hochwartalm, the Rachkuchl, the Wildenkarhuette, the Skyrest, the Baernalm, the Wieseralm, and the Sonnhof - all accessible by using ski buses and gondolas. If the beginner has already had a week of lessons and has the ability and confidence to ski some distance on blues and easy reds, the "world" (or at least the Ski Circus) is your oyster, and he will be able to get to most places. In that case, I would also recommend the Bergeralm (sometimes referred to as the Bergerhochalm), which is something of a meeting place at happy hour (3.30-4.30pm daily), the Thurneralm, the Maisalm, the Panoramaalm, the Westernstadl, the Reiteralm, the Rosswaldhuette, the Hintermaisalm, the Pfefferalm and the three magnificent restaurants at the top of the gondolas at Leogang: the "Chicken Man" (proper name Mama Thresl's Hendl Fischerei), the Alte Schmiede and the Asitzbraeu.
4b. In Saalbach the apres-ski equivalent of a black run (and in some people's judgment, the best apres-ski venue in the Alps) is the Hinterhagalm, which is located at the top of the nursery slopes. You get there by taking blue piste 52. The party starts at about 4pm and ends at around 7.30pm. Non-skiers can get there on the Turm chair lift, and it's easy for non-drunks to walk down afterwards, although taxis are also available. At the bottom of the nursery slopes (so at village level, and bordering Schiliftstrasse = Ski Lift Street) are three popular apres-ski bars: Bauers Schialm, Burgi's Bar and the Spitzbub. The Spitzbub is especially good fun between 5pm and 7.30pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays, when "Spacey" (Geordie entertainer) is strutting his stuff. Three other Snowheads, whom I took there a couple of weeks ago, commented that it was the best apres-ski they had come across.
Spacey also plays guitar and entertains in Bobby's Pub on Monday evenings, and the Oetzi Bar on Sunday and Wednesday evenings - in both cases, starting at around 10pm. He's particularly impressive when performing rock classics (Pink Floyd, etc.) on his electric guitar.
The Underbar has a lively atmosphere and a live musician every evening.
An absolutely superb and unmissable Irish band, "Cuckoo", have been booked to play every alternate Wednesday evening (starting around 10pm) in Bobby's Pub. Their last gig was last Wednesday, so you can work out whether they will be performing during your week.
For apres-ski up the mountain, I would recommend the Bergeralm (see above), which is usually a good place to be between 3.30 and 5.30pm. The runs to get there and ski down afterwards are easy blues (56, 66 and 52).
At Hinterglemm the apres-ski is likewise easily accessible by non-skiers: the Goassstall (located a stone's throw from the bottom station of the Reiterkogelbahn) and the Schwarzacher (see 1. above). You also have the London Pub/Tanzhimmel and the Glemmerkeller in the village.
Please feel free to ask any further questions.
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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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Spacey is an Apres God LOL
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^^^ Tatman!!!!!!!
Thanks everyone for all your help - the only disappointment I feel now is that I've left it so long to try Saalbach! It sounds amazing.
I really appreciate the suggestions - Tatman - pm on it's way!
Thanks again
SM
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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It's maybe a bit overwhelming having so many suggestions for things to do and see. We're just about to embark on our third trip to Saalbach and have never in the past visited a resort more than twice (on the basis that we like a bit of variety and to see somewhere different) so we definitely like it a lot. You'll know that folk have different opinions based on the saltiness of the soup, the amount of lederhosen, the fluffiness of the cream on the hot chocolate, and so on. Our view is that most of what Saalbach has to offer is at least decent so there's little chance of finding somewhere that's not very good. On that basis I'd not stress too much about having lots of choices - you'll have a great time.
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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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Hinterglemm is probably our favourite resort. Skied there 5 or 6 times over the past 25 or so years and going back soon. Gives you a way of seeing if you have improved- first time it took all morning to get to Saalbach. Used to be a lot of Tbars which have been replaced. Looking forward to trying the link to Fierbrunn as we've never been there.
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My tips based on a visit a couple of years ago:
- I really enjoyed the skiing all over the mountain. You should find a good mix of runs on the Zwolferkogel (I skied there and back, as a fairly poor intermediate) but the runs directly above Saalbach leading down from the Prundlkopf and Wildenkarkogel were also lovely. Blue 46 down from Bernkogel is amazing - great to get one's ski legs back at the very top (above mid-station), great for practicing wide turns on the main piste down from there. The somewhat steep bit is very short and right at the end, so not scary.
- Everything we ate was great. The Asteralm had a lovely terrace, good traditional food, decent beer and is easy to get to and from (your whole group should be able to manage blues 51 and 52).
- the Hinterhagalm was one of life's peak experiences. Top tip was to go to the balcony and all the way around to the far side (so to the band's right). You get a great view, aren't too jostled and there's a small bar there in the corner for easy beer replacement. Then hit Bauer's if you're hard enough!
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You know it makes sense.
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Great tips Tripowski - thanks - particularly the one about the Hinterhagalm! We'll give that one a go... and possibly hit Bauers afterwards...!
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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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@shockingmoment, Reiteralm is another great place for lunch. It's on blue 34 or red 36a and two thirds of the way down turn right through the trees and there it is! great food.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Thanks Gazza
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FAQ
