Take a hat

18.3.10

It ain’t arf hot - skiing in the Gastein sunshine

Gastein in Mid-March

Jungerlift - springtime in Gastein

Spring has come to the Salzburg Alps. Plenty of snow still on the ground but it is best to start 'work' early. The Stubnerkogel slopes are out of the sun in the morning and tend to be cooler.This chair can be really cold when the wind is up but on a beautiful day like today it's just the ticket.

TW has a birthday tomorrow and her big brother is arriving tonight.

17.3.10

Walking in Gastein - Doing it the Hardtweg in Bad Gastein

There’s a mountain in Gastein called Graukogel (2492m). It has old fashioned skiing with no snow-making. A leisurely two stage chairlift takes you up to around 2000m and from there you can take black, red or blue to the middle station. The runs are lovely as they are through the trees and it’s just so very, very quiet! It doesn’t link directly to any other area so it’s a standalone recreation area only a 10 minute bus ride from the bustle of Bad Gastein. It’s popular area with Alpine Touring skiers. They forgo the lifts and walk on their skis to the top. They put seal skins on the bottom of their skis so that they ‘get a grip’ on the way up. Once at the top they stop at Toni’s restaurant (which is excellent) and then, with skins removed and bindings reset, they whizz down. Not sure how the resort gets revenue though because no lift pass is required? When the moon is full the Tourers have a race where the participants go up and down solidly for 24 hours. It’s a massive test of endurance, makes the London Marathon look like a walk in the park.

There is also an abundance of walking trails and climbing on the mountain. For a bit of variety, TW and our friends took one of the walks from Bad Gastein to the Grunen Baum. Called the Hardtweg it goes around the mountain through the trees. Have to say it’s a bit slippery at the time of year, looking forward to doing it again in the Summer when the ice has melted.

At the Winidschgratzhohe - just above Bad Gastein

Lunch was taken at the Windischgratzhohe, mmmm nice salad with bacon. We passed another gasthof ‘Rudolfshohe’ en route that was closed but looks worthy of further investigation next time we are wandering past.

14.3.10

Postcard from Sportgastein in March 2010

Sportgastein is the highest ski area in the Valley, it goes up to about 2700m

Mix of weather at Sportgastein

Sportgastein - take it from the top

The fast Gondola whisks you up to the top where the views are stunning. If it’s a bright sunny day then its certainly a great place to be. Undulating Reds and a Blue take you back to the middle station and its Red and Black down to the base station. The black is a bit hairy and scary when its icy. Today’s weather was a bit mixed so lunch took a bit longer than usual. We went to the Valerie Haus which is next to the cross-country at 1600m. The food is fine but the service is slow which is a bit unusual in this part of the world. I think the Valerie Haus was originally a shelter for people climbing in the area and was named after Marie Valerie, the youngest daughter of the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elizabeth (Sissi).

On the black in Sportgastein

15th March 2010
Falling snow and high winds curtailed ski operations early today. Most of the high lifts were closed. Visibility was OK at start time but deteriorated as the morning wore on. It’s really weird when you lose track of what is up and what’s down and you find yourself hitting the ground head first. Oh well, at least it was soft powder. And, of course, there is always tomorrow.

‘After-Work’ Experience

We have had a youngster over for a week. At the ripe old age of 58 and three-quarters, it was time to give GDC some preparation for Retirement day. Just as youngsters get the opportunity to experience and endure the disciplines of the work-place for short periods prior to leaving full-time education its equally important that those nearing the end of their working life get an insight into what is in store for them.

End of visit report on GDC.

Fitness.

The individual is not adequately prepared for the rigours of retirement. He was under the impression that he was going to get a week’s holiday from the basic tasks of earning a crust and taxiing the family. In reality of course the regular and extended hours of physical exercise and the disciplines required were difficult for GDC to come to terms with.

For example, walking for a meal to Schmaranz a mere 40 minutes away prompted cries of ‘why can’t we take a taxi’. Answer: you won’t be able to afford it and it’s only about 5km. ‘But we can take one home can’t we?’ No, you won’t be able to afford a taxi and a dessert!

GDC did well with the skiing but stamina needs to be improved. Obviously too much time is spent sitting at his computer. The requirement for a coffee stop after a mere hour of skiing are plainly delusional. To do so would mean that valuable corduroy skiing time would be lost and it is an unnecessary expense so shortly after breakfast. We would suggest carrying a bottle of water would give adequate refreshment and this could be consumed on the lift thus maximising ski time!

Time-keeping

Time and tide wait for no man – and the buses certainly don’t hang around. GDC has been used to having a car and the flexibility that brings. He will have to adapt to public transport. If the bus timetable states 8:24 he will need to be at the stop at 8:22. Standing in the road to halt the bus between stops is, we feel, taking an unnecessary risk. This risk that could be avoided by adequate preparation and a timely departure from the ski room. Our analysis is that GDC is over dependent on his car. We would suggest leaving the car at home on occasions and perhaps walking or taking the train to work.

Mobile phones and texting

Not a suitable or respectable habit for retirees, staring at a 2 inch screen when all around are beautiful snow capped mountains is in our view a poor use of daylight. Gadgets have absolutely no place in the modern retired world.

Alcohol

Though alcohol is indeed a necessary and mandatory item for a retiree, a modicum of restraint should be observed in the future. A favoured expression of ‘noch einer’ should perhaps be more often replaced by ‘nein danke’.

This is, of course, purely for financial reasons. The benefits of ‘one more’ beer on one’s skiing ability are well proven. The resultant need for an urgent piste side pit-stop is of course embarrassing and unwelcome but should not be derided by the younger generation. Reap and thou shalt sow!

Eating Out

Only for holiday makers –remember skiing is your work, get it done, go home - then eat.
(p.s. those steaks in Schmaranz were sublime)

Snacking

There is clear evidence that GDC is a secret snacker. His bedroom was littered with a Mars and Twix wrappers and, though we appreciate his generosity in donating his surplus supplies of Mars bars to us, his secret is out. It also needs to be pointed out that a retirees teeth cannot cope with a frozen Mars bar nor the resultant heavy dental expense. Chocolate snacks are expensive, unhealthy and, for a retiree, entirely avoidable.

In conclusion

GDC will, in time, become a valuable member of the retirement community but he needs to be more realistic in his expectations. Food and drink on demand, easy and flexible transportation, will have to be replaced by discipline, fresh air and exercise.

So remember it NOT NOT NOT a holiday, its ‘real life’ At the end of the day your muscles are supposed to ache, you will have done dangerous things, you are hungry and thirsty. It’s what humans are designed for...... and no bloomin M4. Look forward to it!

GDC was a pleasure to work with we wish him well for the future. His comments in the Visitors Book were entirely correct however ‘wunderful’ ski guiding by Bob should have been spelt with an O not a U.
(pps when are you coming back, enjoyed the beers!)

10.3.10

Skiing in Grossarl

Over the mountain from Dorfgastein is the small village of Grossarl. Take the gondola up to Fulseck. Once you are over in Grossarl the skiing is fairly easy.
In the main, the pistes are wide and not too steep. Sadly it is not easy for a beginner to get over there as the upper runs are knee tremblers for a novice. It gets the sun in the morning so we followed the sun and skied Grossarl before the beering hour and Dorfgastein in the afternoon. There are two gondolas up from the valley and also a fast chair that gives access to some good runs.

Lunch was taken in the Jagerhutte. There is a separate smoking and ‘kids’ area. Small goats have an area of their own!

The Goat herd

GDC tried to stop anyone getting out!

8.3.10

Ski Sunday - in Angertal

Pretty on the blue

TW was out on her downhill ski’s today. As I was the instructor I also had to hit the blue runs. She did very well. Just needs to build confidence in her ability to stop. Mind you, one of the blue runs seems to be uphill so really good for pole practice.

A welcome dose of new snow overnight. Nice to see the snow on the trees.

3.3.10

Good Morning and Good Afternoon - Bad Hofgastein

Sunny day in March on H1. New snow on nice cruising section. Off to the left is a favourite summer walk.

Hut for rent, this hut is on piste H1/H2. Long way from the pub but no ski buses are required.

Getting ready for the 'off'. At the top of the new Stubnerkogel lift from Bad Gastein.

Apres Ski - Down on the Farm

Schmaranz

Our idea of Apres Ski is not that conventional!
After ski today we went on bit of a circular walking tour. We walked down the valley and stopped at a favourite watering hole - Schmaranz. It’s a farm where they brew, very tasty, bio beer. The restaurant is well worth a visit, very atmospheric and rustic setting. We always enjoy the food. If you sit inside in winter you can watch it cooking. Had a very nice beer, you can see it brewing through the window. We reserved a table to eat there next week when GDC is over from UK. Can't wait! You need to book a Table in advance and Ruhetag is Sunday.

Snow starts to fall

On the walk back a little snow started to fall. Lots of snow days next week, if the forecast is to be believed. Our return route south, up the valley, is elevated so you get a nice panorama of Bad Hofgastein. Didn't see anyone else out walking, they probably have more sense.

Cafe Pirnbacher

Cafe Pirnbacher was en route, honestly we did not stop! Worth a visit though.