Winter

The ski season is over, and I’ve visited lots of ski resorts. So many of you keep asking me which one I think is the best. But I really can’t answer that. For one thing, while I know lots of them, I’m a long way from knowing them all. And for another, everyone has their own preferences. So I passed the question on to you and ran a poll on YouTube to find out which resort is your favourite. I don’t want to keep the results to myself, so here they are…

Continue reading “The best ski resorts of 2018/2019” →

I’m breathing hard. Putting one foot in front of the other. I can feel the effort, and I’m glad I can already see my goal. Just a few more metres separate me from the summit. I keep making my way up through the snow, concentrating on my movements. But I’m almost there. Soon I’ll be standing on Austria’s highest mountain. And in winter, at that.

Continue reading “2/101: A strenuous ski tour to Großglockner” →

I take the very first gondola up into the Ischgl ski area. Around me are lift employees getting ready for their working day. I, on the other hand, have my ski helmet tucked under my arm and my skis dangling from the rack beneath the ceiling. Today I'll get to make my tracks in the snow before anyone else. Perfect. Glorious weather is forecast, and there will probably be plenty of skiers making the most of these conditions one last time. After all, it's one of the last chances of the season. Continue reading “Winter isn’t over yet: Skiing in Ischgl” →

The birds have been singing a concert outside my window for some time now. The first rays of sunshine have already crept over the surrounding mountain peaks. There isn’t a single cloud in the sky. I throw back the covers, sit up and stretch on the edge of the bed. It’s half past six. There’s still time for a quick coffee, then the mountain is calling. Spring skiing in April is on the agenda.
Continue reading “Spring Awakening in Ski Arlberg” →

“This could get dicey today.” At the top station of the Gletscherexpress, we put on our climbing harnesses, adjust our crampons to fit our ski boots, and warm up one last time. Outside, temperatures are freezing. The thermometer reads a biting -18 degrees Celsius. And today we’re heading much higher still. Our goal is Wildspitze, which at 3.768 m is Austria’s second-highest mountain. Continue reading “2/101 Wildspitze: An Ice-Cold Ski Tour” →

One pole finds a grip in the snow to my left. The other slips away. I flail my arms. Try to keep my balance. Focus on standing steady. Phew. Not so easy. I've been on cross-country skis since November now, and I still have the occasional problem with coordination and balance. The sport is more challenging than I initially thought. And now the Koasalauf is coming up soon. This should be interesting. But looking back, I can see I've already achieved quite a bit to get this far …
Continue reading “All beginnings are hard: The road to the Koasalauf” →

The alarm goes off early. It’s still dark outside. I blink away the sleep, have a good stretch and swing my legs out of bed. We have a lot planned today. First we’re going cross-country skiing ourselves, then we’ll watch the pros at the Biathlon World Cup in Ruhpolding. So a hearty breakfast is a must. And at this hour, we have it almost entirely to ourselves. Other guests only gradually start trickling into the breakfast room. By then, we’re already fueled up and ready to hit the trails.
Continue reading “Soooo beautiful! Cross-country skiing in the Chiemgau winter wonderland” →

Big snowflakes drift gently down from the sky. The road is white. We’re on our way to Kleinwalsertal. With every meter, the scenery gets more wintry. “The last stretch is uphill. I hope the car can make it through the snow,” Felix says, looking at me doubtfully. I cross my fingers in my mind and gaze outside again, my eyes fixed on the white flakes dancing in the darkness. We made it! We’re here.
Continue reading “Snow, Snow & Even More Snow in Oberstdorf-Kleinwalsertal” →

The first few metres are hard work. I’m breathing heavily, even though we haven’t come very far yet. Still, I can feel the unfamiliar movement in my legs. The first ski tour of the season takes us up the edge of the piste on the Kaunertaler Glacier. We duck under snow cannons, make our way past rocks at the edge of the run and, in the end, take the cable car for the final stretch of the climb. After all, it’s already running … Continue reading “What a view! The first ski tour of the season on the Kaunertaler Glacier” →

The Drei Zinnen are among the most imposing mountain formations in the Alps and a favorite photo subject for mountaineers and tourists alike. In winter, touring skis offer a chance to get particularly close to the striking rock towers. Far from ski lifts and tourist attractions, this relatively easy ski tour leads to a rocky viewpoint with a direct view of the Drei Zinnen. I want to do that too, I think to myself. No sooner said than done, …

Continue reading “Tour tip: Ski touring to the Drei Zinnen” →