Austria - The Little House on the Piste in Dorfgastein

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 next guests

After a while, Franz went to the dresser and poured five schnapps, one for each of his guests.

Cheers, Prost – Franz!

We paid for our Gluwein and he went out to clear snow from a small terrace, more guests were coming.

Franz has run the little place for 43 years, how much longer he will be there is difficult to know, but on a cold January morning in 2012 it was very nice to meet him.

And we only wanted a coffee!
(Update 2013 - We passed the Hutte many times during 2012/2013, sadly it was always closed. Franz might have poured his last Scnapps?)

Bad Hofgastein in January 2012 - a richtiger winter

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 langlauf, skating langlauf and downhill skiing. Of course, she also found time for Germknodel and Kaiserschmarnn.