 Poster: A snowHead
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Our first trip here and a change from the usual French resorts; we’re loving it for the terrain, skiing, ambience, Austrians and value. We will be back next year. Due to late booking and lack of space on the plane we weren’t able to bring our off piste skis so also left the avi gear etc at home. The OP terrain looks brilliant here and I’d like to come back for a guided week. I don't think the usual suspects SCGB or Snoworks offer anything here; can anyone direct me to any organised OP holidays?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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SCGB are in Ischgl for meet ups but not organised trips
They meet at Kiwi bar in the eves, or used to pre Covid
I was there the week the resort shut down in March 2020
Have you been down Red 7? Have you done those bunch of reds off to the north side of Alp Trida served by N2 - very quiet up there. I see Val Gronda end of the resort isn't open - shame.
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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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Red 7 is on the list tomorrow and 40. Had a fun morning earlier doing everything off N2, M1 and M2. I think Gronda is not open because of lack of snow cover for the OP served by it?
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| On the rocks wrote: |
| Red 7 is on the list tomorrow and 40. Had a fun morning earlier doing everything off N2, M1 and M2. I think Gronda is not open because of lack of snow cover for the OP served by it? |
Yes, I like those runs up there - good area especially now N2 is new.
New lift serving return on red 7 as well - used to be a short 2 man with a more convoluted return route. Easier to use it now, so not as quiet
Those were the two new lifts in 2020
I see 40 is open now and wasn't a few days ago so it's opening up. 42 not always open, I've skied it pisted and non pisted
Smugglers run? (though getting back is a pain)
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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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Bluebird day today so enjoyed 80and the double decker return. Any recommendations on blacks? I get to do a few if Ms OTR has an early finish. 4 was fun.
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| On the rocks wrote: |
| Bluebird day today so enjoyed 80and the double decker return. Any recommendations on blacks? I get to do a few if Ms OTR has an early finish. 4 was fun. |
If you like off piste skiing the marked ski routes are unpisted and generally good fun and fairly quiet.
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@T Bar, thanks, yes I do but on rented GS skis this week so enjoying the pistes
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| On the rocks wrote: |
| Bluebird day today so enjoyed 80and the double decker return. Any recommendations on blacks? I get to do a few if Ms OTR has an early finish. 4 was fun. |
Nice lot of blacks off the sides of Hollboden valley or whatever it's called. 14c is shut though, 14a is OK but a daft bit later in the day where it links up with 14c (not steep, just a narrow bit that's all chopped up). 14b I think was pretty easy. 20 and 21 are probably may favourites; quite short, not too steep, and constant gradient so a bit easier than the 14c which I think is supposed to be the steepest in resort. Great viewing of them off the two 6 man chairs - seem so all-the-way-down falls. Don't remember 34 and 35 - think I did them with SCGB in not great conditions but they weren't that bad even in poor light. Hadn't done any on Swiss side (barely any - Swiss side is generally a bit easier and a bit quieter and I probably prefer it).
7a I am sure used to be red - maybe it's to stop people using it as a route home. 4a is the path of the old 2 man chair - never did that. There seem to be more official ski routes on the map now and I see they are graded as well - there's a black one, 26; don't remember any except 42 when it wasn't pisted.
If the blacks are pisted, I didn't find any of them too tricky; I'm not good on bumps though, so a lot depends on what you want them to be! I am sure that there are reds in Ischgl as steep as some of the blacks
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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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| T Bar wrote: |
| On the rocks wrote: |
| Bluebird day today so enjoyed 80and the double decker return. Any recommendations on blacks? I get to do a few if Ms OTR has an early finish. 4 was fun. |
If you like off piste skiing the marked ski routes are unpisted and generally good fun and fairly quiet. |
I'm sure that they didn't use to be on the map...apart from 42.
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| buchanan101 wrote: |
I'm sure that they didn't use to be on the map...apart from 42. |
Don't remember them not being on the map but it's a few years since I've been the new cable car up to Val Gronda was not built last time I was there.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| On the rocks wrote: |
| Any recommendations on blacks? . |
14c is the pick for me - so a shame to see that's reported as shut.
One of those enormous crosses at the top gives a sense that your fate is in God's hands and then as the run makes it's way down between steep rock walls you wonder if perhaps you should say a prayer.
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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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black 13 is my favorite, access it from the Greitspitzelift t bar. just go non stop.
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| red 27 wrote: |
| On the rocks wrote: |
| Any recommendations on blacks? . |
14c is the pick for me - so a shame to see that's reported as shut.
One of those enormous crosses at the top gives a sense that your fate is in God's hands and then as the run makes it's way down between steep rock walls you wonder if perhaps you should say a prayer. |
I think it's the steepest in resort?
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You know it makes sense.
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| T Bar wrote: |
| buchanan101 wrote: |
I'm sure that they didn't use to be on the map...apart from 42. |
Don't remember them not being on the map but it's a few years since I've been the new cable car up to Val Gronda was not built last time I was there. |
Must be a few years. I think I first went in 2017 or 2018 and it was there.
You are correct - old maps pre Piz Val Gronda have routes on them (e.g.the one on this page) https://www.j2ski.com/ski_resorts/Austria/Ischgl_Piste_Map.html
I was correct though about the bottom part of 7; was red. I suspect they've regraded it to reduce the number of people using it as a way home
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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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| Bob wrote: |
| black 13 is my favorite, access it from the Greitspitzelift t bar. just go non stop. |
Never did that T bar... always looked a bit cold, so never did Black 13. Liked red 13 though (which it turns in to). Very quiet, plus the red 12 branch off it.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Never mind all this tak of runs have - you been to Alp Bella for a chicken lunch yet? 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Mjit, Now you're talking.
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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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Sorry for the hijack but trying to do some thread recycling. Like the look of Ischgl but wanted to see what everyone reckons on the following.
How busy is it on piste in Janaury? Solden was really busy, Obergurgl was quiet, lech and Saalbach were busy but manageable.
My wife and I like apres but my 75yr old parents not so. Any part of Ischgl close to slopes not party central? Ie Saalbach outside of Main Street very quiet.
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Easy peasy:-) Either find a place near to Hotel Fimba (above everything with an elevator down to town or lifts), or in either end of town. The only really noisy place in the evening, is the central part of Dorfstrasse, which can get very noisy. Anything east of Kitzloch will be quite also
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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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Thanks that’s really helpful
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Yes. The apres is limited to a relatively few number of bars. There are loads of places to have a quiet drink. Try the Kiwi bar by the church for one.
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| Ldj226 wrote: |
| How busy is it on piste in Janaury? Solden was really busy, Obergurgl was quiet, lech and Saalbach were busy but manageable. |
As a more adult than family resort Ischgl seems to be quite steady on skier numbers across the main season. Slopes/lifts seem really busy first thing, but that's just because everyone uplifts to the same 2 spots. Once out of the Idalp bowl everyone spreads out and most busy pistes are also very wide ones. First thing the B2/B3 chair pair will be rammed - so we usually ski past under them to Höllboden, where the C2 chair can have a queue but C3 will be empty so where we usually start our day. Everything has then calmed down by the time we've worked our way back to Idalp
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| My wife and I like apres but my 75yr old parents not so. Any part of Ischgl close to slopes not party central? Ie Saalbach outside of Main Street very quiet. |
To be honest even on the main drag apres noise is rarely an issue, most of it stopping at 7pm/the walking in ski boots after 8pm ban. OK you can get the odd late night reveller singing late at night but not many.
One of the best things about apres in Ischgl is how much variety there us to it. Sure the Kushtall probably won't be your parents cup of tea but the second bar next to it often has a more mature clientele, or you the the 'no music' option in Kiwi Bar, or hit the Trofanna Royal hotel bar for a roaring fire, nice wine list, and maybe a little piano accompaniment. Or go full alt. apres and hit one of the cafés for tea/coffee and cake 
I'd just focus on distance/ease of access to the lifts (remembering there's a lift down to the travelator next to Hotel Jägerhof) and not worry about noise being an issue.
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Concur - Was in Mayrhofen over new year - Talk about a noisy place, and that goes for all days there.
I have been spending 2-3 weeks a year in Ischgl for the past 24 years (corona year obviously not - Only got one week over new years), and both me and my four teenage daughters + wife, agree that we should just stay in Ischgl - Primarily because of the lack of noise 24/7
We also go to other places in Austria, Italy and France, but everyone seems to agree that Ischgl along with Val D is the favorites.
Ischgl can get rowdy, but it is very easy to scape the noise.
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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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We really enjoyed our first visit to Ischgl earlier in January and are already planning to book a week for next season but not sure when for. This January the Piz Val Gronda has been closed, apparently due to lack of OP cover. Is this usual for January or has this season been untypical? Thanks
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| On the rocks wrote: |
| We really enjoyed our first visit to Ischgl earlier in January and are already planning to book a week for next season but not sure when for. This January the Piz Val Gronda has been closed, apparently due to lack of OP cover. Is this usual for January or has this season been untypical? Thanks |
PVG is actually very often closed - I have been in Ischgl a lot, and maybe only seen it run in 20% of the time. According to legend, they actually planned to develop the whole area in that direction, but they found a very rare plant on the backside, so they ended up stopping at the PVG.
Last edited by Ski the Net with snowHeads  on Sun 29-01-23 17:32; edited 1 time in total
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Yes seems to be more closed than open. In the many occasions I've been since its been built I've only managed to get up there once.
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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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We have managed PVG regulary but that has been in March
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| Garfield wrote: |
| We have managed PVG regulary but that has been in March |
Make sense - I heard that because of the rare plants, they only open it when plenty of snow there, just in case that people decided to drop down the back of the mountain, where the rare plants are. Guess they are trying to preserve them.
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You know it makes sense.
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Thanks all
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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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good thread. considering going in april. anybody any comments how it compares to say zermatt, val-d/tignes? is the beer pricey (priority item obviously)?
TIA
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Poster: A snowHead
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Never been to Zermatt, but compared to Val D I rate them equally high.
Beer prices are quite steep for Austria, but still a steal compared to France.
Lift infrastructure in Ischgl is maybe the best in the world, and it is one of the most snowsure resorts in Europe - Especially early and late season.
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Fri 3-02-23 19:44; edited 1 time in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| DanishRider wrote: |
Never been to Zermatt, but compared to Val D I rate the equally high.
Beer prices are quite steep for Austria, but still a steal compared to France.
Lift infrastructure in Ischgl is maybe the best in the world, and it is one of the most snowsure resorts in Europe - Especially early and late season. |
Agree - I'd rank it with Saalbach for lifts and better than anywhere else I've been
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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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thanks for feedback folks
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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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| Mjit wrote: |
| Never mind all this tak of runs have - you been to Alp Bella for a chicken lunch yet? |
Ooh. Are we talking half roast chicken here or what?
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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 wrote: |
| Mjit wrote: |
| Never mind all this tak of runs have - you been to Alp Bella for a chicken lunch yet? |
Ooh. Are we talking half roast chicken here or what? |
Yep, half a freshly roasted rotisserie chicken/salad/bread roll.
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@VolklAttivaS5, You've missed out on a treat.
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It’s in the area of reds to the left (north west?) of Alp Trida on the map. One of my favourite area for skiing. Slopes quiet there, restaurant busy.,
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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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@Corky, @buchanan101, I’m not too familiar with Ischgl but when I see it I may well remember that I’ve already been! I can’t remember the chicken though and I’d remember that. Maybe they had run out.
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| VolklAttivaS5 wrote: |
| @Corky, @buchanan101, I’m not too familiar with Ischgl but when I see it I may well remember that I’ve already been! I can’t remember the chicken though and I’d remember that. Maybe they had run out. |
It’s near the bottom of 76. It’s the only restaurant in that area of runs off Alp Trida.
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FAQ
Going later in March but I don’t think I’ve been to that restaurant before.