 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi
Looking at webcams on www.lofer.net and never see a soul!!
is this normal or are we going to a ghost town??? 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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minicat, it is quiet there and then there was that serial killer on the loose 
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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minicat, Lofer is one of the (fairly) famous 'empty -ofer villages' of Austria. In 1887, Emperor Wolfgang (now usually given the soubriquet 'Wolfgang the you know, not exactly mad, but definitely a bit odd') dictated that all villages with names ending in '-ofer' should be abandoned for ever. No-one really knows why, but there is a belief that he was abused as a small boy by a nurse called Ophelia known to him as 'Ofer'. The villages were duly abandoned and most have been forgotten. Occasionally you will see a collection of abandoned tumbledown buildings in a quiet valley.
The people of Lofer were more resourceful than the others, however. They abandoned their village, for to do otherwise would have courted severe punishment (the traditional punishment was to have a tonsil removed, in public, but more severe punishments were often given), but they quietly returned, occasionally and never more than one or two at a time, to walk the streets of their old home, pray in the church, repair the houses, urinate against the wall of Onkel Willi's barn and commit acts of gross indecency in the pig sty, just as they did when they lived there.
The ordinance against the '-ofer' villages was lifted after the defeat of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in WWI, but few were capable of receiving the displaced villagers back. Lofer was, but the people had become so used to their new home that they decided to stay there. They realised it's potential as ski resort, however, and made it one. It is staffed entirely by transparent automata, undetectable by web cams; they run the pubs, hotels, ski lifts, ski school, everything. You may see the occasional 'villager' doing some complex task of which the automata are incapable, like banking the takings, but that is all.
Unfortunately, the automata are rubbish at their jobs, nothing works properly, incuding the ski lifts, the food is dreadful and the bars never have any beer in, so hardly anyone visits Lofer. Hence the empty web cam pics and the ready availability of accomaodation there.
A poignant tale, I think, but one which I like to think shows the ineffable spirit of man, and of course his equally ineffable stupidity.
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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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FOR SALE
4 flights with free accomodation in the lively, fun village of Lofer
No reaonable offer refused 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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minicat, try looking at them when they're not pitch black!! 
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I have I've looked throughout the day and I'm not joking it is always deserted!!
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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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minicat, perhaps they just ski unusually fast there... wearing white one pieces.
You could always amuse yourself by calling in at the British Olympic Training Base (after all, you've helped pay for it... so, demand free beer and food). Our top skiers tend to doss there inbetween races so you might bump into Chemmy or Finlay. I've been there and can happily confirm that it's as dull as dishwater too. Even dogs can't hear anything in Lofer, tumbleweed can't be ars*d to grow there, but it is in a very impressive setting almost completely surrounded by nice jagged peaks. I'd offer to buy up your flihghts etc but I'm staying in to wash my hair that week.
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richmond, yes, very creative and funny (and probably half true too)
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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soooooo Bode Swiller is there anything good - are there ANY bars with a sort of lively atmosphere - it will be son's 21st when we are there!!!!
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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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Just had a thought - Richmond, do you want to come and keep us amused!
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minicat, atmosphere? They train for space walks there. I'm sure you'll find some fun... it is Austria after all. I was only passing through so my apres experience is limited.
richmond, don't, it's a trap.
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You know it makes sense.
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sounds like it to me - are you coming Richmond??
OK so where else is close where we can escape to - if they let us!!
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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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minicat, you'd hate it if I took you up on your kind offer, I'm sure.
A quiet ski resort; what's your problem? I'd give my eye teeth (since I don't know what they are, I probably wouldn't miss them) for a quiet ski resort. They're usually heaving.
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Poster: A snowHead
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what do you mean- sorry not following that one
found this on an old thread when I was looking where to book!
minicat, Glad to see you have found somewhere at last.I'v been following your search all week.
O.k. Loafer is a very picturesque village. perfect for beginners. Lofer is the home of the "British Olympic Ski Team" where they have a training camp. Dont wory about bars for the boys, I can think of 4 off the top of my head.(Austrian style apres ski) And lots of snow due in the next few days (I hope)
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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minicat, if you're asking me, I merely mean that I don't see the problem with a quiet ski resort.
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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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not worried as long as some lively bars for 19 and 21 year old, but judging by webcams we shouldn't have to queue for a beer!
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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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minicat, stop worrying about your 19 and 21 year olds. If they're being taken anywhere on a ski hol and can't have a good time, sod 'em.
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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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| Elizabeth B wrote: |
| I count at keast 10 people |
Oh my God. They are back.
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i have just looked and they have gone again - plus the village is deserted.
If we go here we might vanish into thin air!
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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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thanks very much for that site- looks better than what I was watching - nothing!!
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Friday night looks kicking!!!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| richmond wrote: |
minicat,
A quiet ski resort; what's your problem? . |
You'll have a good time, don't worry!--and there ARE bars for your kids! 
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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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Just looked at those cams... it's Saturday and there's absolutely nobody there! Not even a marmotte or a crow. I think something REALLY bad has happened there and it just wasn't picked up by our media. There's no claret-coloured patches on the snow so I'm guessing Polonium 210 or anthrax.
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just spotted two survivors on the chairlift.
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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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Thanks for the photo - dont care if it's dead now - its so pretty!!!
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Bode Swiller wrote: |
| just spotted two survivors on the chairlift. |
If you watch carefully they are actually two shop room dummies added to give the place a bit of life
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FAQ
