Take a hat

The Magic of Austria At the base of the black run in Dorfgastein is a small hut. It’s not a lot bigger than a garden shed. It could be one of the smallest pubs in Austria. This year it’s almost buried in snow but we found the door. Inside was a small table where three Germans were sitting eating a picnic they brought with them of bread and sausages. We sat on a low couch by the wall. Franz came in and greeted us. He is 82 and a bit shaky on his pins. He went to the wood stove in the corner where a saucepan full of Gluwein was bubbling away. With a ladle he filled two mugs and brought them over. Even last year, apparently, he would have reached us in one stride but now it was a careful slow shuffle. The Gluwein was lovely and warming. Franz sat with the German trio and shared some of their picnic, they had plenty. The atmosphere was convivial and the banter friendly. The Germans wanted their D Mark back and envied us for having our Pound.   Franz clears the snow for the n...

A proper Winter in 2012 Out on the Graukogel TW - blue day for a blue run TBIL - the powder hound It’s a proper winter here in Gastein. A ‘richtiger winter’ the Austrians call it. All the runs have loads of snow. Some upper runs have closed when the weather has been bad or there has been avalanche danger but apart from that its been 100% go-go-go. Even H8 is open down to the valley. This undulating run through a farm hasn’t been open for a few years, well not during my visits anyway. Also open is a brilliant Black run down to the bottom on the Graukogl which is a first for me. I think it's the piste where Toni Sailer won the World Championship back in 1958. TNG - soft seat in the snow As for cross-country, we have had some rain in the valley recently but all the Langlauf loops are open including the long trek up towards Bad Gastein along the river.  TNG has been in town. She divided her time between marathon skating sessions on the ice rink, classic lang...