Austria - Lassie go home - a snow shoe shaggy dog story

Snow-shoeing in Bad Hofgastein

Looking out at the Baerstein

After a morning of skiing we opted for the gentle option of snow-shoeing down from the Middle station. The funicular railway rattled its way up from valley through the snow to our starting point. Snow shoes were strapped on and we headed South. With two feet of snow, the conditions were perfect for a big-footed stroll. Of course, we needed to take on some fuel first and where better than the Baerstein Alm, a short walk South from the Middle Station. It's the cosiest place on the mountain and there is no better view on a cold and snowy day than the one from a Baerstein window. The food is great as well! I had the Schweinebraten, a Pork dish and TW had Kaspressknodel, a cheese dumpling. Both good traditional Austrian dishes. This post-Christmas and New Year week is very quiet and there were very few people in the Alm. We chatted with a chap from the Bergrettung (mountain rescue) who was out on his Alpine ski's and popped in for a warm up. A couple of walkers joined us having walked from Das Goldberg, a posh Hotel that overlooks the town. With them was beautiful Border Collie. TW asked the couple for the name of dog, as she always does, and they replied that it was not theirs but had joined them on their walk! They had called the dog Lassie. Not very original but nice and easy. TW introduced herself  to the collie and it then parked under our seats. Johanna brought the dog a bowl of water and we joked that she had gained a new dog as a friend to her beagle.

TW gets a lead from Lassie

Lassie looks down to home

 Of course, when we made our way out, it was the English that were the newly adopted sheep to be guided down the mountain. Our self-appointed canine guide headed South and Lassies come hither look meant we had to follow. The first part of the route was on a little used ski run so it was easy going for Lassie.  When TW dawdled, our sheep dog dropped back and made sure she kept up! When we hit the deep snow, Lassie did not mind. If a waggy tale is a sign of a contented dog then Lassie was deliriously happy. Sometimes all we could see was the top of her wagging tail making its way down like a furry snowball. As we approached the village we started to get concerned, how would we send Lassie back to her home? We asked a guy clearing his drive. He said we should throw something at her and run. Nooh! We could not leave her by the main road. The Schloss or Castle loomed up. The Schloss was open for coffee so we went inside followed by Lassie. We talked to the waiter and he suggested a plan. He would keep Lassie in the cafe for ten minutes as we beat a swift retreat.So when Lassie was looking away we legged it for the door.
Once through the glass doors we looked back. Lassie was pawing at the doors with a look that could have melted the mountain. We headed home. That night, TW heard heard a dog wailing by the River.

Was it Lassie?

Austria - Sportgastein - Opening the season in November

Season 2016 - 2017 - A Sportgastein opener in November

It felt a little uncomfortable cycling over to the Bus Station in my ski boots with my ski's and poles held in one hand like a medieval jousting knight. It did not feel at all like the ski season as I pedalled between the fields of green. Fortunately, no unsuspecting dog walkers were speared with my Kastles and I made the station in time for the 08:45. Reassuringly, there was another person at the stop with ski gear. The season really does begin today! We shared the large bus as it headed South on the 45min ride to Sportgastein. We drove in tandem with the regular 550 bus to Bad Gastein. I was pleased to see the very cheerful blind chap who invariably gets on the morning bus near the Bertahof. He is very popular with the Bus Drivers and always gets the seat at the front. He goes to Bad Gastein to play cards and perhaps drink a little beer with his mates. Austrians with impaired sight wear a yellow armband with three black dots, a great idea methinks. There were just a few joiners  as we made our way up the valley through Bad Gastein and Bockstein. Our resident Welshman climbed aboard just after Bad Gastein. Aye up, He is a keen skier but has some very funny ideas about food. His latest fad is to carry with him two hard boiled eggs. If he kept them hidden it would not be a problem but he likes to reveal them and eat them in the enclosed comfort of a gondola. Pwarr!
The Gondola was running as we reached the valley station. We rushed to avoid a bus load of ski reps under training and I bashed my head on the low doorway to the Gondola. Normally my helmet would have saved me but my bare head took a hefty knock.
Also skiing was our friendly Postie! He is little eccentric and chuckles to himself as he ski's. He is quite chatty in the Gondola as well and laughs a lot. He claims to be a simple man and loves Gastein, I doubt if he has ever left the valley. He also rides a bike in Summer and claims to have ridden to the top of the Gamskarkogel at over 2400m. Quite a feat by any standards as it just a rough path for the last 1000m of climbing.
The Golden Girls of Bad Hofgastein were also on the mountain. This group of ladies are avid skiers and regulars on the Schlossalm. Some work, some are retired but they all form a high speed snake wherever they ski.

Only the long Blue was open so we had a good warm up on perfect snow with excellent visibility. We had a superb day, so good in fact that we repeated it the following day. By then the Valerie Haus was open. The owner had been in Latvia and, seeing the great conditions, had rushed back to open up. The menu was limited but they rustled up a lovely Chicken Salad. It was washed down with Weiss Beer and a complimentary schnapps. Great to be back!