Ski Amade Tour - a day trip to Flachau via Alpendorf and Wagrain

Bad Hofgastein to Flachau - March 2010

Heading for home - above Alpendorf - downhill to the bus stop

The Ski Amade lift pass that we buy for the Gastein Valley also covers a large slice of this region of Austria. Today’s tour took us over to Flachau, home village of the Herminator, Hermann Maier.

Leaving the Gastein Valley at Dorfgastein we took the lift and skied down to Grossarl. From there the local bus took us on a 15 minute trip down the Grossarl valley to Alpendorf, an alpine village above St. Johann in Pongau. A succession of lifts and ski runs took us over the Gernkogel, Sonntagskogel and Grafenberg summits and down into Wagrain. At Wagrain it was a short shuttle bus ride, soon to be a lift, across town to the Flying Mozart lift and onwards up to the Griessenkareck summit above Flachau. Time out for lunch in the Waldgasthof then down the Hermann Maier World Cup run to Flachau valley station. Have to say I liked the look of Flachau. From what I saw it has wide open slopes, plenty of trees and excellent lifts. Methinks TW will get a little day trip soon.

Time to head home to Gastein on the reverse route. We needed to make the last chairlift at Grossarl to get us up and over to Dorfgastein before it stops at 4:15. We made it with 20 minutes to spare.

100km covered and greater appreciation gained of what is on, and over, the horizon from our valley.

Certainly worth taking a day out. Looking forward to returning next season.

There is no place like 'home' though! Very nice to be back in the Gastein Valley. The Ski Amade pass covers the buses as well as the ski lifts.

Berwyn - today's tour leader - takes a ride