Europe travel advice needed

[IHeartWhistler]

Hey everyone,

So here's the deal. I'm finishing up an 8-month work term over here in Europe, and will have the weekend of Dec 3,4 free for some travelling. I'm currently living in Bavaria, Germany, and would like to go and explore some mountain resort before I head home. So far during the summer I have seen St. Moritz, Interlaken, and Chamonix, so I think I'd like to go and see the Austrian Alps.

So, what I'm looking for is advice on where to go and what to see. I don't have access to a car, so all travel will have to be done with trains/buses. I was also thinking of the crazy idea of going and having a look at the possibility of doing some glacier skiing if there are any that are open around that time. So, does anyone know if there are any glaciers open in Austria on the first weekend of December?

One other problem is that I don't have any ski gear with me over here in Europe. So, does anyone have an idea of how much it would cost to rent everything? I'm talking the whole deal, pants, jacket, goggles, gloves, etc... Also, if anyone has done this, could you suggest some places to go for this equipment?

Thanks everyone!

[hemas]

Stupid Telemarkers (like me, though I was not there) were skiing at Stubai last weekend, a few pics et yada, yada, yada here. And I think you can take the train to the village (and a bus to the lifts).

[Arno]

Plenty of places will be open in Austria by then - not just places with glaciers. Seems to be the only place which has has a reasonable amount of snow so far.

As far as renting everything is concerned, you should be able to rent most things if you go to a big resort. I'm a bit doubtful about gloves and goggles though. Maybe pick something cheap up on ebay before you go?

Costs depends on quality of kit.

[IHeartWhistler]

Wow, Stubai looks great!

I like the idea of heading to Innsbruck, especially if they've been graced with snow!

Does anyone have any suggestions on places to stay in Innsbruck? I've had a look at the hostel options, and they look cheap but dreary. Are there any places anyone here has been that are decent but still cheap? Or does someone know of something that isn't listed as widely on the internet?

Thanks again everyone!

[IHeartWhistler]

Oh, and one other question. I've heard that in a lot of places in the Alps you really need a guide to get around. How is it for ski areas in the Innsbruck region?

[hemas]

Oh, and one other question. I've heard that in a lot of places in the Alps you really need a guide to get around.

The guide come's (well might come) in handy if you want to head for powder stashes and off-piste, but then again I haven't taken a guide yet and always had a blast (on and off-piste).

The good thing with guide's is that they can often skip the liftlines with customers.

[Arno]

If you want to find the best stashes and don't have time to get to know an area, a guide is definitely a good option. Costs a lot though - £160 ish per day (what's that in Euros?)

They're also quite good at steering you away from avalanches, crevasses etc

[ulty_guy]

don't go into glaciated terrain that you don't know without a guide, especially early in the season.

[Hicks]

I've heard that in a lot of places in the Alps you really need a guide to get around. How is it for ski areas in the Innsbruck region?

No matter what you do but be very careful upon venturing out of bounds at the Stubai glacier that early in the season - it is not free of crevasses at all and coverage plus stability of snow bridges entirely insufficient. If you are unfamiliar with the terrain don't leave the marked runs without a guide.

Edit: Ulty beat me to it.

[Toby]

Innsbruck you could pretty much turn up and find accommodation easily. From the train station head either take a bus or walk (not too far) to the tourist area near the Goldenes Dach. Cross the Inn River and on the other side are a bunch of pensions where you can stay. Most of the prices should be reasonable.

Like others have said, every glacier in Austria will be open at that time. From Innsbruck there are several major ones within a relatively short distance, e.g. Pitztal, Sölden, Stubaital, Hintertux. There will be busses that take you there directly, otherwise you get the train along the Inntal to where a valley starts then catch a bus up the valley. It's very easy - public transport is excellent. If you're more interested in staying in one place, it's probably worth going there, though. E.g. to get to Hintertux might be 1 1/2 hours by public transport from Innsbruck, maybe more. Likewise Sölden. Unless you like early starts, not worth it. Actually, the glaciers in Sölden are 45min by bus from Sölden town IIRC, on top of the time from Innsbruck. The road is pretty steep and winding and the poor old bus takes a while to get up there.

As to renting gear, I dunno. You might find something in Innsbruck, or each ski area will have it's fair share of ski shops. Equipment is no problem, but clothes etc is a different matter. Can't help you there.

[bad_roo]

Was this done for a bet?

[hemas]

Was this done for a bet?

What, ain't all GoreTex fartbags cool? Shit, I have to get some new skiing apparel...

[IHeartWhistler]

Wow, the hostels in Innsbruck have some pretty terrible reviews! Does anyone have any secret places to stay there that are cheap and halfway decent?

[bad_roo]

I was looking for decent places in Innsbruck and also came up with not a lot. Did you have a go at www.innsbruck.info ?

[IHeartWhistler]

Yeah, I had a look at that, but I have since resigned myself to one of the not-so-good youth hostels. The fact of my budget on this trip just doesn't allow me to go for anything better.

But, on a positive note, I have found a ski rental shop that also rents pants/gloves/gogles for 9 Euro total! So, it looks like this trip is a go! woot! First time skiing in Europe!!

I'll be sure to take lots of pics and post a TR when I get back

[bad_roo]

Renting pants sounds so gnar in England.

[Arno]

Renting pants sounds so gnar in England.

sort of like the system at the Alpe d'Huez swimming pool if you turn up without skin-tight speedos

[surfsnowywaves]

If you're in Innsbruck, I'd recommend:

Axamer Lizum
Base: 1560 M
Peak: 2340 M
Vert: 780 M
Lifts: 10 (5 chairs, 1 gondola)
Freeride: Be sure to check out all the slopes leading from the Hoadl and the Birgitzkoepfl if you're looking for long runs with lots of powder. Theres also plenty of windlips, natural kickers, and cliffs scattered throughout the area.
Website: www.axams.at , www.axamer-lizum.at

(from Powderhausen magazine)

They are currently posting a manmade base of 30 cm with 30 cm fresh, and theyre opening this Saturday.


And you say you're in Bavaria...where in? Anywhere near Erlangen (Nuremburg) or Hof/Bayreuth?

[IHeartWhistler]

I'm studying in Wuerzburg right now. Yeah, will have a look at that resort.

Hmmm, just thinking. Could anyone give me a good list of all ski resorts within busing distance of Innsbruck? I'm just thinking if it's a whiteout, Stubai could really suck.

[surfsnowywaves]

just some images so you can see the awesomeness of that area:

[bad_roo]

sort of like the system at the Alpe d'Huez swimming pool if you turn up without skin-tight speedos

Speedos, cold water and freezing air do not a good look make.

[surfsnowywaves]

Sweet man, I was born in Erlangen, thats why. Lived there for five years before moving here.

If you want a list of every possibility around there:

(starting towards the west and moving eastward)
Fiss/Ladis
Imst
Zugspitze/Garmisch (Germany)
Pitztal
Soelden/Oetztal
Seefeld
Mittenwald (Germany)
Axamer-Lizum
Stubaital
Seegrube/Hafelekar
Patscherkofel
Hochfuegen
Mayrhofen/Hintertux/Zillertal
Woergl
Kufstein

[IHeartWhistler]

Oh man... I just can't wait! Those pics are sweet!

And yeah, renting pants seems kinda ghetto but I just don't have any other good options. I didn't think that I'd have a chance to ski in Europe at all, I just didn't want to get my hopes up for it was a bad start to the Europe season. But in Austria, it isn't lookin' bad at all!

[IHeartWhistler]

Well actually I have a pair of fleece sweatpants I brought over here... I was thinking of taking a roll of duct-tape and taping those pants up to make them into windbreaking fleece pants!

I know this would be very Canadian (as in Red/Green show), but I'm just not willing to go that far.

[hemas]

Well actually I have a pair of fleece sweatpants I brought over here... I was thinking of taking a roll of duct-tape and taping those pants up to make them into windbreaking fleece pants!

I know this would be very Canadian (as in Red/Green show), but I'm just not willing to go that far.

Just buy some cheap Salewa-pant's, I'm pretty sure you can almost get them at the price of Renting (well , not really but they are cheap anyway). Good gear and quite cheap, kind of like MEC-stuff in Canada.