Falling in the freezer in Sportgastein

TW in the groove

At 1600m, Sportgastein guarantees good snow. On a crystal clear and sunny morning the network of cross-country routes are the place to be. It takes about an hour on the bus to get up here from home. Being a novice, the dilemma was what to wear. When I ski downhill I know how many layers are required. On cross-country you get hot pretty quickly so settled for just a couple of layers and left a jacket in the restaurant. It was about minus 12 but soon warmed up, puffing along behind TW in the thin air. We went on my first Black loop, only for experienced skiers! It was the first time she had done this loop as well and it has some significant downhill stretches. You see on the photos that we ski in prepared tracks so, when it gets steep, its like being a scalextric car. Imagine yourself, feet together, careering a down slope with a bend at the bottom coming up fast . Its just a bit hairy! Of course you would expect Jacqui, being the expert, to go down first. Not a bit of it, Bob you go down first, you are the guinea pig. Managed to survive and enjoyed it. Sometimes I think I have the keys to a natural Disneyland out here. The loops took about 90 minutes and the temperature was comfortable all the time. We left the skiis and walked to the Nassfeld Alm, about 2km away, a nice warm hut for some lamb soup and a beer. While we were in there, the sun went down behind the surrounding mountains and it was as though we had fallen in the freezer cabinet. Only the teeth were chattering as we jogged back to the bus stop. So full marks for the cross-country skiiing but a deep zero to the winter jog at a mile high. Soon warmed up though.

Nassfeld Alm Hot Soup

Look back at Anger - cross-country in the trees

 Cross-country

My retirement gift was spent on boots and ski's for cross-country skiing. There are good deals to behad on little-used ex-rental equipment.TW is an expert so she took me to the Anger Valley for lessons. (Anger has nothing at all to do with being grumpy). The Angertal is a great area for Langlauf. There are several loops through the forest and its pretty quiet.
We can jump on the free ski bus up to around 1300m.

Picture the scene, a wooded walley with a track alongside a babbling stream and yours truly puffing along behind. Only fell over three times. The snow was soft though! I think I could enjoy this.