Skiers Diary - One day in the life in Bad Hofgastein

Smart corduroy
Thursday 14th January 2010
Wake up without an alarm as light starts to show through the Velux windows in the ceiling. Up at 7:15, get the kettle going then head for the shower. Porridge gulped down, then bread and honey washed down with Costa Rica. To the ski room, squeeze on the boots, pick up the ski's and head for the bus, must catch the 8:24 and it won't be late. Buses here are never late. Eight minutes by bus and foot to the first stage of the lift going to middle station, a funicular train that carries 100. Its pretty full this morning. Must be racing on the Haitzingalm piste as many lads riding up with back-packs and fast ski's. Get near the front to make sure I can get on the second stage, a cable car that only takes 80 and there could be other joiners. A display tells me I'm the 77th to get on board. Phew, just made it!
Tighten the boots and fit the planks at the top.
On the piste by nine, the runs still dressed in fine corduroy after their overnight bashing.
Take that first intake of fresh mountain air!
Its about minus 10 under a bright blue sky, head for the Weitmoser 6 man chairlift with its heated seats. At the top, take the Hohe Scharte double chair lift up to 2,300m. Practice my turns on the run back to Weitmoser. Up again to the top then drop over the back on the Nord Abfahrt back to middle station. About 10km, did a oncer, no stops, don't see another skier until I get to the next lift.

Lunch at the Felding Hutte in Angertal
Up on the Haitzingalm double chair to where the boy racers are. Course is set for a Giant Slalom starting at 10am. Take a few circuits using the Sonnleiten 4 man chair then ski to the safety net to watch the racing. Its of a high standard as there is an Austrian ski academy in the valley. Then take a slow 4 man chair over the top of the race. Share the ride with two Russian ladies who talk, or bitch, incessantly to each other in a harsh fish-wifey way. Rang TW to arrange a meet and headed towards Stubnerkogel for a loo stop and email check. Just one short drag then another oncer down the 7km to Angertal. Uplift on the Senderbahn 8 person gondola. Good news, the email we needed has arrived. Another oncer down the red and black to Angertal. Not busy but a few people to avoid. Meet TW who is honing her skills on the drag lift at the bottom, do a couple of circuits with her and arrange to meet again later at the Felding Hutte for lunch. Do some favourite runs on Stubnerkogel, The snow is hard-packed as we haven't had significant new snow since just after Xmas - so its pretty slick. Time to head for late lunch so up on the Kaserebenbahn 8 man gondola, talk to a young Austrian Lady. She works in the bakery in Bad Hofgastein. Works 4 days on and 3 off (skiing). Starts at 5:30 in the morning to get the bread going and finishes at round 6 pm. Didn't ask if there were any vacancies. Make the hut for lunch; we sit outside in the January sun with two friends from Guildford. 'Wurst mit pommes' (Sausage and Chips) and a large beer, lovely. Time to head home, ski back with one of our friends via the North Abfahrt down to Bad Hofgastein. Its about 3pm so quite busy with other folks heading home.. Need to stop to avoid collisions with ski schools and pesky snow-boarders. Made it to the bottom and a dust-buster in the Berglift with TW and friends. Bus to home then set off to a distant shop, about 2km walk each way, for a nut strudel. Oh, and Billa Supermarket on the way back for the non-essentials like meat and veggies for dinner!
Just another day in Gastein.

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