 Poster: A snowHead
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5 -12 November 2021
- Stubai Glacier (3 days)
- Pitztal Glacier (1 day)
- Hintertux Glacier (3 days)
- 3 nights in Fulpmes
- 3 nights in Mayrhofen
- 1 night near Salzburg Airport
Amazing to be back in the Alps and an incredible bonus to arrive after a massive snow dump (to low levels) in the previous couple of days. Our first port of call was Stubaital, with a lot of snow at valley level and a winter wonderland drive to the glacier.
Stroke of luck part two was six out of seven days of wall to wall sun. And even the one foggy/cloudy day (day five) got out sunny in the afternoon. We did have one very windy day at Hintertux though, where skiing from the summit wasn't too much fun.
Conditions were generally fantastic (packed powder) but some trafficked areas did get a bit slick and worn as the week progressed. Still very decent overall for the time of year though. And it was great to ski some non-glacial pistes lower down.
We had two very busy days with packed gondolas (with manageable queues) and lunatic speedsters playing human slalom on crowded pistes. These were a Saturday at Stubai and (strangely) a Thursday at Hintertux. We did still manage to find quieter runs on those days though, so still enjoyed ourselves. And even a busy glacier ski day was worth waiting for after all that we've all endured.
The trip highlight was our day at Pitztal. Years since we skied there and the area was a lot more extensive than we remembered. Access via the funicular is excellent (only 8 mins) and the runs were all but deserted. There's a cafe at the top of the skiing which has absolutely sensational views - fantastic for a hot chocolate to end the day before our final run.
Good to be back indeed 
Approaching Stubai Glacier and winter wonderland
Cruising at Stubai
Hintertux
Skiing down to Sommerberg, Hintertux
Empty runs at Pitztal
Top of Pitztal Glacier
The sun sets on the holiday (final run at Hintertux)
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@mountainaddict, a trip report!! It's been too long.
Gorgeous pictures, Stubai looks very different to my trip there when we couldn't see 2 foot in front of us.
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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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Cheers ElzP Stubai is particularly impressive - such a lot of terrain and quite varied for a glacier area.
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Great report and fantastic photos. That Pitztal photo is stunning!
This time next week we will be in Val Thorens - hopefully with weather and snow like that of your trip! Fingers crossed...
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| Quote: |
I'm probably older than you
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Maybe...maybe not...But I'm probably just slower than you, despite my racing snowplough 
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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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You can't beat a bit of bragging about how fast you ski... 
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| Bergmeister wrote: |
| You can't beat a bit of bragging about how fast you ski... |
Nah just teasing really, I didn't actually see that many going that quickly but I was probably out of the way when all of the racers came down at lunchtime when it's normally crazy. On a serious note it is likely to be a bit of a problem this winter in Austria as speeds were much higher last season than ever before due to the fact that nearly everyone on the mountain could ski and there weren't very many people. During the week when we were on the chair we probably only saw a dozen or so people skiing.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Fantastic photo's - how did you find all the covid restrictions etc?
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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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During the 5th and 6th Nov I was on the Kitzsteinhorn glacier at Kaprun, Austria.
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You know it makes sense.
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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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@mountainaddict,
Thanks and sorry I meant to thank you for your pics too.
A lot of very good ski resorts on the Tirol Snow Card, enjoy them!
Sometimes the conditions in late April/May are awesome on the glaciers. Fresh powder in the mornings and super sunny on the terrasse in the afternoons with very few people putting in fresh tracks.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@mountainaddict, Did you venture into any of the bars afterwards? Did they seem busy?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Quote: |
| Did you venture into any of the bars afterwards? Did they seem busy? |
We were using the first (in the middle of nowhere) gondola at Stubai, so no apres ski venues in the vicinity. The Hohenhaus at the bottom of Hintertux looked busy inside and out - so we gave it a miss...
Found one bar open in Mayrhofen, with about six customers in it. Otherwise the town was like a ghost town - all hotels and restaurants in darkness.
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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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@mountainaddict, you went to Hintertux a week too early, apparently a lot of the race clubs have disappeared now that vaccine or recovery are required.
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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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@mountainaddict, I'll find out tomorrow 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Chris_n, We expect a full trip report Chris!
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@russ_e, it's not really a trip, just down the next but one valley
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Sorry no pics atm Imgbb playing up on my tablet. Left home this morning at 6.45 just before it got light. As we were driving up Zillertal it was foggy and there was noticeably less traffic around than last week. Coming through Mayerhofen and the villages beyond it was clear there were a lot less vehicles parked outside of the hotels and guest houses. It was starting to look as though the rumours of many leaving due to 2G were true. As we came through Finkenberg the fog cleared and we could see the mountains in front bathed in sunshine. Coming to the ski area the above ground car parks were nearly empty and there was plenty of space in the underground car park. After we put boots etc on we headed up to the entrance to the lift, ticket kiosks were all manned but only customers at 2 or 3 of them. There was a gazebo set up to carry out 2G checks on season ticket holders and a wrist band valid for one week duly issued. The ticket kiosks were carrying out 2G checks on customers buying short term tickets.
We got to the first lift which is designed to carry maybe 20 sitting and probably the same again standing, there were only 5 of us in the lift despite it being peak time compared with it being more or less full last week. Same again for the next 2 lifts to the top. Getting out at top station it was sunny and there were very few about. We could see immediately that the 2 T bars were really quiet and only one was running partially filled, in contrast to last week where both lifts were running to capacity with large queues in all 4 lanes. Snow was softer than last week following about 20cm of new snow at the weekend. The only run that was disappointing was the run down to Schlegeis chair which was icy in places and had random loose chunks of Ice and a few stones scattered all over the piste, pisten bully drivers must do better . Snow was much better on the lower part of the mountain than last week with the run down to Sommerberg top station in good condition all of the way down. Many piste machines were out in various places preparing new areas of piste. Unfortunately the sun didn't last but the light was always good enough to give reasonable contrast. No 2G checks were carried out in restaurants as everyone on the mountain had been controlled at the bottom. Masks were 100% worn correctly.
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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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Great report Chris_n. Sounds good in terms of conditions, visitor numbers and covid checks. Glad to hear that masks were being worn correctly - but is it correct that (because of the other measures) they are no longer compulsory on the lifts?
It's amazing (and good IMO!) if the 2G enforcement really has resulted in unvaccinated punters staying away. If only HM Government here would be so daring...
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@mountainaddict, no they are still required. It was in the original regulation that they wouldn't be required but further measures imposed on Sunday? (Cant actually remember which day it was, something changes everyday) made the use of masks in 2G areas compulsory.
The British press are delighting in liking these measures to Nazi times with words like Apartheid being bandied about.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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FAQ
Must've just been us old folks... 
If so, no doubt the same lads (& lasses) were the ones wearing masks below their chins in the gondolas... 
I felt a lot safer in Austria last week than I have since returning to the land where liberty rules above all else and where it appears the majority now behave as though covid never happened... 