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Wednesday March 27 - Saalbach-Hinterglemm

Left Maria Alm this morning then 3 buses later arrived in Vorderglemm (or Saalbach Jausern) via Saalfelden & Maishofen. Then the ski bus to Schönleitenbahn (though could easily have walked that). A cool cloudy day with a bit of light snowfall in the morning. Higher parts were in fog but vis was fine below that. The new snow had a high moisture content but was perfect for freshening up the pistes, so they were all in really good shape. Was skiing by 11am. Had no plan at all, just took it easy and gave myself a chance to start to re-familiarise myself with this huge complex. Ended up doing a rough Saalbach-Hinterglemm circuit. Was thinking about stopping for lunch somewhere but never got around to it. Wasn't a day for sitting on the terraces. Got back to Schattberg around 3pm so just took the run down to the pension. So feeling a bit hungry now.

So a really nice start to my stay here. Skline stats:
8,766 vert.m., 44km downhill distance, 20 lifts, 283 minutes fun

 

Saalbach


Hinterglemm


At the Hasn' stall at Hinterglemm they had a band playing in the afternoon (part of White Pearl Mountain days). I assume it was intended for warm spring days rather than 0C and snowing. I stopped by for a few minutes. They sounded ok and I wouldn't have minded staying on a bit longer but the deckchairs and lounges in those conditions didn't seem that appealing and I had skiing to do.

 

Saalbach from the Schattberg side


Saalbach Jausern abfahrt


Wednesday = Schnitzel (guys at work will understand)

 

Hallo Leogang

 

Gruessdi Saalbach

 

Ja stimmt. Ruhig und sehr gut zum foan.

 

Servus Fieberbrunn und Tirol.

 

Gruezi Hinterglemm. Jetzt geht's schwer.

 

Und jetzt wieder Saalbach. Ein Abfahrt mehr.

 

Und endlich wieder hoam.

 

12,167 vert.m., 62km downhill distance, 33 lifts, 422 minutes fun

 

Thursday March 28 - Saalbach-Leogang-Fieberbrunn-Hinterglemm

Did the Ski challenge today which is to ski a circuit around the whole region. Got there in the end but it took all of the 7 hours that was suggested.

Took it fairly easily, just concentrating on doing it methodically, just regularly stopping to checking the trail map to make sure I was on the right course and to take a photo. The skiing wasn't difficult at all, mostly pretty cruisy reds & blues, was just a lot of them.

Was all very easy to start with, leaving from the Schönleitenbahn on a cool morning just before 9am and heading over to the Leogang side. Was pretty quiet over that way - still early morning - and the pistes were in great shape. When I was here 4 years ago I stayed in Leogang and generally headed over to Saalbach side to start with and only skied Leogang side on the way back, so this was the first time I had skied this side in the morning.

Back up to the Saalbach side and worked the lifts according to the plan to the Fieberbrunn connection which was only introduced a couple of years ago. A few more people heading down that way, but conditions were still great, only getting slightly softer at the very bottom. There is a fair bit of terrain between Fieberbrunn and Saalbach. The day was also warming up and the trip back involved a few sunny slopes where the snow became a bit heavier. Still it was all good at that point. It was past midday by then but no time for stop for lunch.

It was the sunny south slopes into Hinterglemm that started to get to me. Snow was quite slushy so my pace slowed. The last hour became a struggle, the run down Schattberg to start with, then finally the longest run of the day, the one down from Schattberg down to Jausern which by that stage was all slush bumps. I was well and truly done after that.

It was a great experience, but not in a hurry to do it again. Definitely on the agenda for tomorrow is to stop off at a hut somewhere for a relaxing lunch.

 

Can get details of that stuff when I find time. Quickly though:

Accommodation prices can have a very wide range from simple breakfast pensions a short bus trip away from around €50 (which was what I was getting) to luxury hotels on the slopes for €200. Basically if you want ski in/out you will pay for it. The good value pensions are a bit harder to find but are out there.

Lift passes are generally around €30-50 a day. The most expensive for me this trip was Ischgl but that was also because it was a regular one day ticket €54. But for Maria Alm & Saalbach I got a 9 day Salzburger super ski pass which covered both for around €320 so around €35/day. There are lots of these sort of passes.

Beers are normally around €4-5 for a large (500ml). Gasthaus main courses are generally range around €10-20.

 

Sommerski heute. Bin meistens Leogang Gebiet gefahren. War gut bis zum 13Uhr, dan wars Hüttenzeit in die Sonne und ruckfahrt nach Schönleiten und fertig.

 

Run on it's own is fine, but not so much in late afternoon spring conditions after a long day.

 

Na, zu Hause sprich ich kaum Deutsch, lese aber Nachrichten von ORF. Aber wenn ich nach Österreich komme, probiere ich immer voll am Deutsch zum umstellen and meistens geht es ok.

Ja, kommisch mit die Englander. Die sind viel in einige Orten aber in andere kaum zu sehen. Kann keine errinerung im Ischgl. Hab aber heute einige in Leogang getroffen. Ausser dem gibts wie immer Deutscher, Nederlander und Ostblock (Czech, Slovak, Polen).

Und du hast recht - da gibts wenig Gemüse auf die Hütten und im Gasthaus - Sauerkraut, Erdapfel, sonst fast nichts. Aber die Schweinefleisch ist guat.

 

Pics from yesterdays Skicircus challenge (at least the earlier part - didn't take pics later in the afternoon)

Leogang from Steinbergerbahn


Heading back to Saalbach


In Saalbach itself heading to Bernkogelbahn (actually the only part of Saalbach town I've actually seen)

 

On the way to Fieberbrunn





down in Fieberbrunn


Fieberbrunn gondolas

 

Heading up and back from Fieberbrunn on the way to Hinterglemm

 

Friday March 29 - Saalbach-Leogang

No real plan for today other to make sure it was an easier day and actually stop off for lunch. Decided to do a couple of runs on Schönleiten to start with then headed over to the Leogang side where I had nice run yesterday morning.

Got Schönleiten early while it was still very firm which was good. Then headed over to the Leogang side and did laps from the Asitz & Steinberg gondolas. Snow was in good shape there also, a bit better on the Steinberg side so did 4 top to bottom there. Was really nice till about noon and still reasonable at 1pm. But it was warming up quickly.

An Austrian I was chatting with on of the gondola trips mentioned that some of the Austrian ski team were in Saalbach doing some ski testing.

But then it was time for lunch. At Asitz there is a choice of 3 huts all within 100m of each other, all with outdoor settings and all with music playing. I opted for AsitzBrau. They had some DJ playing. Was very warm (supposed to be around 13C).

After that rather than doing the whole trip around and over to Schattberg for the Jausern abfahrt, I just did the run down to Schönleiten again and walked home for an early finish.

Though with just skiing rather than trying to follow a set sequence of lifts still got a fair day in.
Skiline stats: 8,911 vert.m., 46km downhill distance, 22 lifts, 330 minutes fun

 

Run down to Schönleiten early this morning with a view across to the end of Jausern abfahrt.

 

Leogang

 

AsitzBrau

loo with a view


mixing old and new


DJ


Pork with crackling, sauerkraut & knödel.

 

Back on the Schönleiten abfahrt



they do a good job of maintaining a run down here

 

Saturday March 30 - Saalbach-Leogang

Another really warm day. Did similar thing to yesterday and headed over to the Leogang side, again good early but already getting a bit heavy by 11. So headed back to Saalbach a bit earlier and a few runs down Schönleiten area. Seemed to be less traffic down there today so for much of the run where it wasn't chopped up it was pretty nice spring corn skiing. Then traversed over to Kohlmais area for a leisurely lunch and a final couple of runs before finishing back on Schönleiten.
Skiline stats: 9,442 vert.m., 51km downhill distance, 23 lifts, 355 minutes fun

 

Leogang



returning to Saalbach





Schönleiten



Looking towards Hinterglemm

 

Daylight savings starting here tomorrow.

It seems though that the EU want to get away from Daylight savings adjustments from 2021. It looks like each country can then decide whether to be on permanent standard or summer time. Could get rather confusing.

 

Sunday March 31 - Saalbach-Hinterglemm

Another stunning day weatherwise, though possibly a bit warm for skiing. Last day in Saalbach and almost the end of the skiing for this trip (body says yes).

Different approach today. Got the ski bus to the Zwölferkogelbahn in Hinterglemm. Started with a few runs down the world cup run which was in good shape. With daylight savings we were basically starting the day an hour earlier which helped a bit. But it was still warming quickly. Then did the Zwölferkogelnordabfahrt which in retrospect was probably a mistake. Top section is black for a reason - steep and was still rock hard and I lost it part way down and went for a decent slide. Was a bit shaken up but fine.

Continued on to more mellower terrain on the Hochalm side for a few runs, but was slushing up so headed back around to Schattberg and Simalalm for a late lunch.

Then finishing with a run down Schattberg, making a point to detour around the very top section, then a final very slow run down the slush bumps of the Jausernabfahrt.

Skiline stats: 9,416 vert.m., 41km downhill distance, 20 lifts, 337 minutes fun

 

Hinterglemm Zwölferkogel World cup run

 

View of the Zwölferkogelnordabfahrt from Hochalm on the other side.

 

Another day in the mountains, another great mountain hut in a fantastic setting and table service. Nowhere does this like Austria.





Germknödel

 

When you ski down Schattberg you then cross this bridge back to the Schattberg X-press gondola over the Saalach river.



Final part of Jausernabfahrt.
​

 

Picked up my mug this morning for completing the ski circus challenge. A bit disappointing though. Thought it might be a special ski challenge one but it is just a regular Saalbach mug.

Now on the train again to next destination.

 

Nice lunch in Altenmarkt im Pongau.

 

A lazy warm* afternoon. (Sorry Sam)



* actually a whole 13C but feels much warmer. It's all relative. It is a stunning day.

 

This morning bus from Saalbach to Zell am See, train to Radstadt and bus to Altenmarkt im Pongau. Had a walk around the town. First time I have been here, looks a nice town.

One thing I noticed early on was supermarkets. Where I was in Saalbach Jausern was good value but there wasn't much there as it was a fair way from Saalbach proper. Here in Altenmarkt there is an Mpreis 100m away and another 2 Spar and a Billa within a 10 min walk.

Happy though to have a relaxing afternoon before one more day of skiing.

 

Another thing I noticed in my wander around Altenmarkt was the number of businesses with my family name around town including as it turns out the place I had lunch at.

The big name in town though is Michael Walchhofer - former downhill champion (overall world cup downhill titles in 2005, 2006 & 2009). A businesses and a street in his name. https://www.walchhofer.at/michael-walchhofer/

 

Altenmarkt