 Poster: A snowHead
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
@clarky999, yes a bit more bike time before the clocks go back would be good. That said when the sun shines at this time of year it can be the perfect moment for being in the mountains on foot.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
Any info on the snow quality on the glaciers currently?
I would like to go next weekend (23/10) but the forecast is not looking very promising, and I don't feel like traveling over 1000km (I live in Holland) if the snow is not good...
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
@Gustavo the Gaper, in various people’s Instagram Stories the skiing looks pretty ok, but I haven’t been up myself yet, sorry!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
Stubai: slopes very icy..
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
| Oceanfalls wrote: |
| Stubai: slopes very icy.. |
Thanks! Are you there yourself?
I called the Hintertux tourist office last week and they said the same about the conditions there. There's about 40km of pistes open though, and quite a bit of snow expected for next week, so November should start off pretty amazing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yes, 1st day ski was Monday 25th October & it was probably the worst ice I've ever skied.. Conditions have improved yesterday & today as the sun softened the snow but still lots of ice.. I've skied end of Oct/beginning of November for the last 6-7 years but in different resorts but must have been lucky with the choice of resorts..
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Unfortunately, we then had a bit of a dry spell, followed by a couple of days of torrential rain about a fortnight ago. This destroyed the snow at lower altitudes and caused a lot of wet slides. Fortunately, the warm temperatures didn't last too long, and the benefit is that it has now stabilised the snowpack, albeit with a horrible layer of rain crust 
Finally it started snowing properly again last week. I spent the afternoon on the pistes at Patscherkofel on Thursday, which was a holiday – that was fine, pistes are in good condition, but there wasn't really enough fresh to cover the rain crust very deeply off-piste. I think Saturday would have been fairly good, but it kept snowing so we went out on Sunday instead.
The plan was to start early and head to Kappl in Paznauntal, on the way to Ischgl. It catches the extra snow that also falls in the Arlberg, and has plenty of accessible terrain. There were hardly any cars there when we arrived at 9.30, but in our half-asleep state we just thought “great, more for us” and jumped on the gondola. At the top (mid-mountain), it became apparent that the chairlift we needed to get higher up wasn't running. In fact, only the T-bar was open and the lifty seemed very unsure as to whether any chairs would open at all. We took the T-bar anyway to have a look, but soon discovered the howling gale that had closed the chairlifts. It's a nice long red down to the bottom from there, but not really what we had in mind, so we hatched a plan B and got back in the car.
Plan B was a quick check it was open, that it accepted our season tickets, and a twenty minute drive up the valley to Galtür. Of course, we could have stopped at Ischgl, but we only get 3 days/season there and reckoned that that's where everyone else had gone. It certainly looked busier on the way through. Also, neither of us had been to Galtür before, so it was a bit of an adventure 
Galtür isn't actually in Galtür, but in Wirl, a tiny place about 1km further on. The gondola looked like it finished in a better location than the chair we were parked next to, so we trudged across the road and up the world's slowest magic carpet, grabbing a couple of piste maps on the way through. Some freeride areas are actually marked on the piste map, so we decided to do an on-piste lap of the resort to scout them out. Unfortunately, as it was still snowing, we were struggling to see the next marker, so we opted for an early lunch in the hope that the weather might clear up a bit.
There was hardly anybody there, and no competition off piste early afternoon  The cloud lifted a little bit, and we were able to figure out what looked okay, including the currently unmarked ski route. The snow was really nice at the top, though we started to hit the rain crust about half way down the mountain. About 30cm had fallen over the weekend, so it was pretty good really. A couple more groups joined in after an hour or two, but it was still quiet enough that we found small powder stashes still untouched by the black piste on the way home!
It made this Frenchman very happy anyway. He was so, so pleased that we had finally managed to find “the pow”! 
We also found some nice tree runs:
It's a bit of a drive (about 1.5 hrs), but we'll definitely be going back to Galtür. We were pretty stoked that after a couple of false starts (someone else was supposed to have joined us, but they bailed last minute with suspected corona ) we managed to still get a decent day out. We checked on Kappl when we got back to the car, and it seemed that the chairlifts did open, though we don't know whether it was ten minutes or three hours after we left. It wasn't as windy at Galtür anyway, so we didn't really mind.
Next weekend brings a freeride competition (FWT?) to Kappl, postponed by a week presumably because of the wind. We might go and check that out 
Last edited by You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net. on Mon 10-01-22 21:04; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lovely snow at Kappl today. Valley run in great nick; slopes deserted; some powder higher up but visibility mostly poor all day at altitude.
Today was our first time there - great skiing and a big vertical
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
@mountainaddict, we did say as we left, that there would be good snow for whoever could ski in Kappl today.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
Ta for the updates and pics clarky999.
It was back to Kappl today to try out the mellow powder fields we scoped out in yesterday's poor weather.
Pistes still in perfect condition too and, once again, the place was deserted.
Lovely day for it - so good time had by all
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Loving the updates, keep them coming
we're due in Kuhtai end of March which seems a long way off at the moment...!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
| Quote: |
| Loving the updates, keep them coming |
Your wish is my command
EarthWindandWater 
We skied at See today, as it's only about 5km from our digs in Kappl. Our second visit there after one day there some time in the last 7 or 8 years, during a visit to Ischgl. We couldn't remember much about it, so it felt like somewhere totally new. An amazing ski area - there are next to no gentle runs but a lot of fast-cruising steeps. A massive 1400m vertical too. And (since our first visit), there's a new gondola 'over the back,' serving yet more lovely runs.
As per our previous three days' skiing, we virtually had the place to ourselves - to the extent that runs felt busy if we saw any other skiers No queues whatsoever, and straight onto every lift.
We even found some powder in the late afternoon, in the area served by the new gondola. As we skied a fair bit in the shade, we got bitterly cold though. Down jackets required in the afternoon and a lovely après ski Konditorei coffee (and cake of course  ) in the village to warm up. It was -9C on the car thermometer when we left the car park.
Great snow top to bottom again and another brilliant day
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
@mountainaddict, looks great!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
Felt kinda like April in January again today, but still nice to get a couple of laps at Seefeld today after work. Pistes generally seem to be holding up pretty well even at the bottom, but it's still very much low tide atm.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Great reports clarky999. Kappl apartment owner today was describing this winter as a no snow winter. Guess it's all relative - but we have found plenty of snow over the last six days
We skied at Ischgl yesterday. Busy car parks, a bustling town and queuing for the gondola out of town came as a real shock after the deserted skiing of Kappl and See We were dreading crowds on the slopes as a result - but were pleased to find most runs very quiet and we had no lift queues. Did manage to find the first non-perfect snow of the trip - a few trafficked runs with slick bits - and one steep section of a red run that was ridiculously polished...Cue me hurtling down it at stupid speed thinking death was imminent. Not big or clever... 
We skied down to Samnaun in CH too, which was good fun.
Went to Galtuer for the first time today. Absolutely loved it - perfect groomers, some powder too and back to absolutely deserted pistes. A great ski area, with very shady slopes and excellent snow. Great stuff
Ischgl and Samnaun:
Galtuer:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Is there anybody in Kitzbuhel that could give an update on the conditions ?
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
@barthez1980, not quite Kitzbühel but I can see it from here. Pistes here are in perfect condition at the moment but off piste is more or less non existent.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
After relocating from Kappl to Huben in the Oetztal (it's very near Laengenfeld) for week two of our trip, we visited Hochoetz today. It wasn't busy at all for a sunny Sunday - happy days
A great little area, with some excellent cruising runs and a couple of good steeper runs as well. Fantastic views too. We did find the snow to be a bit slick in a fair few places - but maybe we're just getting a bit picky after the past seven days of excellent snow The weather has really warmed up and, in places, today felt like skiing in March. Still very nippy in the shade and on chairlifts though.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Time for an update after a further three days on Tirol snow
Mon 17.1.22 - Skied at Soelden. Another relatively busy start (at Giggijochbahn) after visiting mainly deserted ski areas so far.
Snow conditions were mainly excellent (packed powder) except for heavily tracked runs, that had some slick bits. The run from Hochsoelden to the valley was very challenging in that regard. Note to self: Must get edges sharpened.
The weather at altitude (Gaislachkogel) was brutal - bitter cold and ferocious wind. At least we had some blown powder on the descent as a result.
Finished by skiing down at dusk after a warming hot chocolate just above Giggijoch.
Tue 18.1.22 - Skied at Obergurgl: Any ski day anywhere is always great - but Obergurgl was the worst snow of our trip so far. We did have some lovely packed powder, especially at altitude, but a lot of runs had been skied into slick oblivion. So much so that a couple of blue runs were getting on for lethal. Survival skiing in places.
All a bit disappointing given the altitude of the skiing. Still, the lift system is impressive and the scenery is fantastic.
More to follow....
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Oh dear - we're for Obergurgl on Saturday. Any sign of new snow?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
@cardweg, there is snow forecast over the next few days for the Bavarian & northern Austrian alps, might not get as far as Obergurgl though.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
On Sunday my gf and I went to Ischgl, for the most part just pistencruisen. It felt a lot colder and actually pretty fresh at times! Snow on piste was really good everywhere apart from one 2-30m pitch. Basically all firm but very grippy, mostly with a mm or two windblown snow on top. One of the best piste days I've had in a while.
Everything off-piste reasonably accessible form the lifts was tracked, and looked like it had been good a day or two earlier, but by that point was mostly pretty crusty. Few concerns about depth offpiste for the most part - I'd say around 80% of the normal off-piste terrain is skiable despite the low tide season it's been so far. Even the tree areas are skiable.
Slopes were way quieter than they normally would be, but still very obvious by the standard of skiing that it's not only locals anymore... Not just bad skiing but people in their own world with 0 spatial awareness or thought for others. On the one icy pitch mentioned above, despite waiting for a space between groups, I got overtaken by one guy who proceeded to then career directly in front of me (tbh he was lucky it was me, 'cos most other people about would have smashed into him); was then immediately passed by two snowboarders on their backs, and then had to ski in front of and stop a lady who'd crashed and lost both her skis and was careering towards a group of people at the bottom.
The home run was predictably nuts too. Not difficult, and snow was perfectly ok, but too many people completely clueless about what's going on around them with no thought of moderating their skiing to suit...
But other than that, a great day skiing in perfect weather haha!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
| cardweg wrote: |
| Oh dear - we're for Obergurgl on Saturday. Any sign of new snow? |
Looks like a solid dump is about to come through Austria, but more for the northerly mountains first in line... Some should make it's way south deeper into the main alpine ridge and Obergurgl, but atm it doesn't look like much more than 10-20cms. If you head down the valley to HochÖtz they might more though.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
| Quote: |
| Oh dear - we're for Obergurgl on Saturday. Any sign of new snow? |
I'm sure you will still enjoy Obergurgl
cardweg. As I mentioned, still some excellent snow conditions to be found (as shown on my photos earlier) and it's a great ski area.
My comments were relative. We'd skied 10 days on our current trip before skiing at Obergurgl, with our arrival coinciding with new snow. We've been spoilt by conditions we've found at (relatively) off the radar and very quiet ski areas like Kappl, See and Oberperfuss.
One quirk to mention since our last visit (years ago) to Obergurgl. They've now got a motorcycle museum, which has free entry with your lift pass. We didn't go in but did go in the adjacent restaurant - if only to use the toilets . It's really nice and well worth a visit - especially so if you have any interest in motorbikes. Very unusual for a ski area but very nice, as I've said.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
I think that poor museum burnt down? Maybe they've rebuilt it but I though they lost an eyewatering amount of vintage stuff
@mountainaddict, what way are you doing your trip, just moving on to a new resort every day or two? I love the idea of it but is it hassle? Presume you have your own skis
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
| clarky999 wrote: |
The home run was predictably nuts too. Not difficult, and snow was perfectly ok, but too many people completely clueless about what's going on around them with no thought of moderating their skiing to suit...
|
Some things never change, cant blame over enthusiastic partying at Paznauner Thaya either!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
Thanks @clarky999 & @mountainaddict. I’m sure we’ll find something to keep us entertained
I presume we can get to hochOtz on the bus with our super pass?
It’s been a very long time indoors & I hope the wide open spaces don’t frighten us!
Anyway, today is PCR day. Wish me luck…
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Quote: |
| I think that poor museum burnt down? Maybe they've rebuilt it but I though they lost an eyewatering amount of vintage stuff |
It burned down a year ago and, sadly, they lost everything - including vintage bikes on loan from people. It's been totally rebuilt - an amazing effort in 12 months - and has 400 bikes, plus some cars. The museum incorporates the lift station, or vice-versa, in a very modern building.
| Quote: |
| What way are you doing your trip, just moving on to a new resort every day or two? I love the idea of it but is it hassle? Presume you have your own skis |
Yes, brought our own kit. We have a hire car from Innsbruck Airport. We stayed in Kappl the first week. Driving times to the skiing from there were 2 mins to 25 mins, so no problem. We skied two days at Kappl, as we had powder there. Currently on day two at Soelden today.
Otherwise, we have skied a different ski area daily. Great for the smaller areas like See, Galtuer and Hochzeiger, that all have about 40km of piste. We've found the small areas to be very quiet, with pistes to ourselves. At the more mainstream areas of Obergurgl, Ischgl and Soelden, it hasn't been exactly busy but skiing alongside people on some runs has come as a shock
In week two (based near Laengenfeld) we've driven between 10 and 50 mins each way to the skiing. Again, no bother really. It's good to return to the same digs each night as it saves packing and moving on.
So a great road trip overall.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Quote: |
| Today is PCR day. Wish me luck… |
Good luck!! cardweg 
Good news! Snowing lightly today and the 2 or 3 cm so far has really refreshed the pistes at Soelden. I'm sure it will be the same just up the road at Obergurgl.
It's absolutely wild at altitude though - ferocious wind and whiteout in the blowing snow at the top of Gaislachkogl. The pistes are nice with the windblown powder though.
Edit: (Close of play update) - The weather cleared enough in the afternoon for a few fresh tracks at the side of the piste, albeit a bit lumpy underneath. Also found some pockets of powder on piste at altitude. A nice end to a very cold and snowy day. We tried to get up to glacier at about 3pm, but the gondola link was closed due to the wind.
Last edited by After all it is free  on Thu 20-01-22 17:46; edited 2 times in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
@mountainaddict, if you fancy a break from the weather I can highly recommend the Aquadome spa/wellness centre in Langenfeld!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Quote: |
if you fancy a break from the weather I can highly recommend the Aquadome spa/wellness centre in Langenfeld!
|
Cheers clarky999 We've stayed near the Aquadome previously and really fancy it - but forgot to bring our swimwear
Also, while the outdoor pools look great for a post-ski soak, we're assuming we'd have to do so in masks. While we're over the moon to actually get on this trip, the masks on lifts lark is actually taking its toll after 12 days of it, sometimes 20-odd times a day. Our FP2 masks have ended up scratchy and itchy and got a bit damp too in today's snowy weather. Can't wait for when we can all ski maskless!
Mustn't grumble too much though - it's really fantastic to be here after what we've all endured and after missing last winter.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
