 Poster: A snowHead
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Hello there,
I have finally got the first of this years ski trip's booked, and I'm going to Söll, in the Skiwelt area. Never skied in Austria, and was wandering if anyone had any hidden gems they know of in the area or the best bars etc.
Thanks
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Fri 12-12-08 23:08; 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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Oh dear, does no one go to this area?
Saw a couple of reviews on here, but they date back to the mid 90's.
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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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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| cathy wrote: |
| I'd suggest you change the title of your thread to be more specific about Soll |
Good point, thanks.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Söll and the Hohe Salve range is one of my favourite areas - it's only about an hour from where I live. The Hohe Salve itself sticks up just above Söll and there are black runs down both sides. However, there are easier ways too and I sometimes prefer these when conditions are icy.
There's been quite a bit of lift development in the Skiwelt this year. One new cable-car (second section) from Hopfgarten to the top of the Hohe Salve, removing the need to guddle around with chairlifts. And since Westendorf is in the Skiwelt (I think), you should be able to explore its pistes too on a Skiwelt pass, using the new lift from Brixen to the Choralpe in Westendorf. There's also an improved chairlift on the Silleralm, which is easily reached from Söll. Haven't tried any of these yet but I am looking forward to it.
Make sure that you have a piste plan with you (or ask a local) when you're exploring, for the Hohe Salve range is quite long and can be confusing. I once ended up on a foggy day in Scheffau when my car was in Going - and that was after about twenty years skiing the area 
Can't help you with the aprés-ski; skiing from home I don't use it much.
But you'll have a great time!
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We are going for New Year - for the third time in 2 years - as it ticks all the boxes for us - vast and varied ski area, friendly and has always seem cheap for food and drink but the Euro exchange rate will have an impact on that now I guess. We have young teenagers so don't do apres ski but the town has several lively bars and there are a great variety of mountain lodges/restaurants. We like the laid back atmosphere there and this year as a real bonus they appear to have real snow!
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| Quote: |
We like the laid back atmosphere there and this year as a real bonus they appear to have real snow!
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 do they usually not?
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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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Went here last year in January had agreat time. There is a bar on the cross roads as you come into town from the slopes, you wont miss it Salvn Stadl or similar. The band were absolutely fantastic and I believe they were going to come back this year. Nice skiing for our group, good atmosphere all round. There is a place at the bottom of the gondola where you can leave your boots and skis and walk back to town in comfort. Very friendly and as I recall it is the left hand door at the bottom of the gondola. There are loads of sledges stacked up as you go in, about 10 euros for the week. £10 to you and me. Run back into resort is fairly typical carnage, so be careful, Whisky muel bar looked like it got a bit wild but we avoided without problem. Enjoy 
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Welcome to snowHeads espri, how nice to be able to ski from home! 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| mfamily2 wrote: |
| Went here last year in January had agreat time. There is a bar on the cross roads as you come into town from the slopes, you wont miss it Salvn Stadl or similar. The band were absolutely fantastic and I believe they were going to come back this year. Nice skiing for our group, good atmosphere all round. There is a place at the bottom of the gondola where you can leave your boots and skis and walk back to town in comfort. Very friendly and as I recall it is the left hand door at the bottom of the gondola. There are loads of sledges stacked up as you go in, about 10 euros for the week. £10 to you and me. Run back into resort is fairly typical carnage, so be careful, Whisky muel bar looked like it got a bit wild but we avoided without problem. Enjoy |
I went to Soll about 5 years ago & this brought back great memories of a great trip. Agree with all the above. Have good 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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I went to Soll in 2005. Nothing very hard, lots of easy cruising. Agree if misty it is confusing around Scheffau/Ellmau at the top of the Hartkaiser mt - remember getting v confused when trying to get home 1 day. There was 1 fantastic tavern up there, great food & atmos but I can't really remember where exactly, other than it was close to 1 of the few t-bars. Best runs I remember was a really quiet red in trees off a cablecar to the left of Hochsoll & the black down from the top of Brandstadl - Scheffau. The Salvn Stadl was our favoured apres spot also - impossible to miss coming back to the village. You can ski back to the road/village but then you have to walk back or get the bus in the am, 10mins walk, bus overcrowded & not freq enough (if you are impatient). Or you can leave everything at the Gondola - just make the decision on the run back to the village - you need to be going fast past the Gondola base to make it to the road!
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| what...snow wrote: |
| Best runs I remember was a really quiet red in trees off a cablecar to the left of Hochsoll ... |
The cablecar what..snow mentions here isn't used any more (anyone want to buy a secondhand cablecar?). To get across to the Silleralm and then the track back to Hochsöll past the (not so) old cablecar, the easiest way is now a track from the top of the Keat lift in Hochsöll.
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You know it makes sense.
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charliwest, been to soll a couple of times - really liked it, some very welcoming mountain restaurants - not haut cuisine but good food and good value. Our fav places to eat were Rigi and the Hexenalm. Also theres a great place on the way to lift 7 from Soll - i think its called franks - you could ski past it easy enough - dont expect fast service and make sure you get the haus-schnapps! Top tip tho is to use Edingers ski garage right under the gondola station and not the other one down the hill used by the main TOs. Super well run outfit, good equipment, super service - maybe a few euros more but well worth it. If there is good snow you will love it - both times we were there in March snow was iffy, our fav was down past rigi from hohe salve - from there either go back up the chair - recommended - or take the black/red back to the right half way down.
As for apres theres a bar across the main road from the slopes which seems to be the main hang-out - wasnt in it myself tho. cant believe how the austrians keep their public toilets so clean. whiskey mule is a busy spot too - i dont think you will have any probs finding somewhere fun - where are you staying?
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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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pam w
re the real snow comment - the first time we went it was all snow cannon stuff and the village as snowless as our town back in UK - okay mountain may have had the real deal but there were snow cannons up and down the runs on the go all the time. Similarly the second time - no snow in village and slushy low runs supplemented by cannons - but this time it looks 'real'! ie from the heavens!
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Poster: A snowHead
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charliwest, If you want a cheap but good restaurant ask any local or ski instructor for Harrys. Its opposite the Sports bar - whiskey mule. Its not called that but everybody knows it by that name.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Talking of eating on the slopes, I'll put in my twopence for the Frankalm, which is a smaller hut you can find on the connecting run between the Silleralm and the Filzbodenlift.
BTW, if the daylight hours aren't enough for you, Söll also provides floodlit skiing (or sledging), though you have to pay extra for the lifts.
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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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| ChrisWo wrote: |
| a fantastic restaurant in Westendorf on the far right of the piste map... |
That'll be the Brechhornhaus, I think.
| ChrisWo wrote: |
And there's a good place (memory slowly kicking in  ) for lunch in Ellmau - again slightly out of the way on mid-way down the home run...think it's skiers left again. |
And I guess that's the Rübezahlalm.
I would recommend both too.
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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 - it's been a while
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Thanks everyone for the info, was getting a bit worried when no one replied, but deffintily sounds like everyone enjoyed it. I've been checking the webcams everyday, its looking good there. Counting down the days now!!
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charliwest, Great area for intermediates when it's fully open... On the mountain I like the new self-service place at Riga and also the JeagerHutte above Ellmau. In Soll the DorfStubbe is my favourite place.
Watch some of the runs to resort - they're often quite hard reds or blacks and get icy, and crowded.... No shame in taking the bobble back down, especially if the legs are weary.
When are you off?
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Going on the 3rd Jan with Neilson.
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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 try to get a few days in Soll every year. There is loads of piste to tour around on and an excellent ski school. As mentioned above the Salven Stadl is the main apres ski bar - absolute best place I have ever been for apres ski. Don't miss a few rounds of the 'nail game'!! Good restaurants we like are the Venetian (about two minutes to the left of the Salven Stadl as you face it, on the main road) and I think the other one is called Bella Vita (just around the corner from the Salven Stadl). You might be getting the impression we spend a lot of time in that bar and you'd be right! If you fancy blowing the budget the Schindlhaus is top notch. Not sure if it has a Michelin star but it is that good in my opinion. Enjoy your trip - you will love Soll. The people are really friendly and there is loads of skiing to enjoy. Oh and definitely rent your skis from the shop at the gondola. The hike up the road is pure annoyance if you are carrying skis from the town. They have a garage if you are bringing your own.
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charliwest, fantastic - they have great snow at the moment it should be a perfect trip. Also a great area to visit in summer, I climb there sometimes in the mountains opposite the ski slopes. They have some bonkers festival in June when they dress all the cows up in floral outfits and parade them through town! Needless to say everyone gets steaming pissed and ends up with smelly shoes! 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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espri, that photo was taken from the McDonalds car park in St J right?
charliwest, That reminds me, the SkiWelt gets V.E.R.Y busy on sunny weekends with 1000's of M-plated 525's and A6's steaming down. The locals seem to think the Bavarians are bad drivers... espri, that's not right surely? 
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You know it makes sense.
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espri, Do you not think that what...snow, might mean the red home run from the Hochsoll gondola. As there never was a red run from the cable car? Well only the bottom half of Silla.
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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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| clive5 wrote: |
| might mean the red home run from the Hochsoll gondola. |
When what...snow spoke of "a really quiet red in trees off a cablecar to the left of Hochsöll", I guessed he meant the Skiweg (track) which leads back from the Silleralm to Hochsöll, parallel to the cablecar which was used for a few years as the connection over to the Silleralm (and towards Scheffau). The run is actually a blue, I think, but has one drop which livens it up . I would never have thought of the red runs down from the top of the Hohe Salve gondola as being "really quiet". There's usually plenty of folk on them.
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Poster: A snowHead
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espri,There is only one run to the left of Hochsoll. The Red Home run is only busy when everybody is going home. But don't tell any one as it's the best run in Soll. PS do it with them Atomics that you ski on and you will really like it. we normally send someone down they then phone up to say if it's clear or not.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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charliwest Don't do the home run you won't like it. Full of people falling over.
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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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| clive5 wrote: |
| charliwest Don't do the home run you won't like it. Full of people falling over. |
Don't let that put you off - you just have to ski round them
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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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Went to Soll last year and loved it. It was only my second time skiing but I enjoyed it far more than the first time.
We had two days of heavy snow while we were there and conditions were great for the whole week. What I liked about the Skiwelt as a whole was the variety of different routes you can take, I don't think we went the same route twice all week. Would go back this only I don't have time unfortunately. The red run from Hochsoll to the village is very crowded in the evening, but is great early in the morning.
As everyone has said, the Salven Stadl is a lively spot apres ski and the Whiskey Muhle is the main spot later on. Food and drink generally cheap and good quality.
Have some pictures I'll stick up later on.
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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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espri, Don't do the home run it's full of people skiing round people falling over.It's no fun going down the inside or the outside with the pushed up powder.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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To the people who went to soll and scheffau over xmas, how was it?? I'm off out there in 2 weeks. Cant wait.
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| mckeann wrote: |
| To the people who went to soll and scheffau over xmas, how was it?? I'm off out there in 2 weeks. Cant wait. |
I was last there Tuesday past. Although there hasn't been new snow for a while, the area is completely skiable. But the pistes are hard and tending to icy. We found the best snow in Going but there aren't many pistes there. Hopefully there will be new snow in the next couple of weeks.
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FAQ
Otherwise you've got to open the thread up to know what it's about and I've heard there's some people who don't read all threads 
