Postcard from Bad Hofgastein in February

The previous days snow and rain clouds were replaced by brilliant blue skies. New snow above the middle station meant an early start and I was at the Hohe Scharte chairlift at 9am ready for the first ride up to 2300m. A couple of people beat me to a seat but the slopes were still dressed in fine corduroy for my run down.

Saturday is changeover day so not too many tourists on the slopes and it’s the day the Austrians come out to play. A few queues at key lifts but there was always an alternative lift that was quiet. The last run home to the village at 15:30 was a bit heavy but then the piste had been baking in the sun all day.

Lots of smiley faces – one of those magic ski days.

Above the clouds in Bad Hofgastein

On the buses in Gastein

Well, the wind has blown away and so it’s back on the slopes for me today.  It was overcast in the village but it’s just brilliant when you go up in the cable car and break through the cloud into a very different world. Blue sky, snow covered mountains and time to cruise around. Schlossalm in the morning sunshine takes some beating.
Arranged to ski with Berwyn in the afternoon which meant catching the 11.45 bus from Bad Hofgastein to Sportgastein via Bad Gastein.

Don't like to spend too long on the buses so I skied over to Bad Gastein and picked up the bus there.

I am sure we are doing our bit for the environment by catching the buses but it takes some patience to adjust to the dependence you have on the whim of the drivers and the vagaries of the timetables. This morning I was walking to the ski bus carrying my skis when the bus passed me by, grhhh! The driver was clearly doing a good job of avoiding any eye contact. Oh well, there’s another in 10 minutes. Then later, the bus from Bad Gastein was absolutely rammed full of skiers so you have to spend 30 mins. standing in ski boots, holding skis. Then, coming home at 16:30 the unlucky ones have to do it all again.

Of course, would rather suffer the buses than that darn M4 on a Monday morning. (Be nice to have a car though).

Oh, and it’s best not to mess with the bus drivers over here. When we land here we get the bendy trolley bus from Salzburg Airport to the Railway Station. There was a bit of commotion at the back. The driver pulled up, strode purposefully the 50m to the rear of the trolley bus, gave the offending ‘yoof’ a few heavy blows and threw him off the bus. Don’t know if the lad had been given a yellow card before but nobody dared even sneeze for the rest of the journey.

Sportgastein - top of the Gondola

Anyway, Sportgastein was brilliant and well worth the ride; the runs are mainly long sweeping reds. It wasn’t too busy, the snow was superb and scenery stunning in the bright sunlight.