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!