Mayrhofen 26.2.11 to 5.3.11 - tips for those going in the future

Partly in relation to Tony H's and Johnski's topics below...

We have also just returned from our second trip to Mayrhofen.

Your Zillertal Superski pass pays for 600km of piste. Most people however, will stick to the Penken arena, with an occasional trip to the Hintertux. This kind of trip will cover a maximum of less than 200km of piste, and basically doesn't do justice to your ski-pass (despite the excellence of the 'Tux).

In short, when the snow is poor and you HAVE to stick to the areas mentioned above, head to Rastkogel, Finkenberg, and the 'Tux. It'll be skiable, but not much fun (except the Tux which is always excellent!).

BUT, only 20 minutes away on the coach/tram are Kaltenbach, Gerlos, Hochzillertal and the Zillertal Arena.

Despite the snow being hard and icy on the Penken, these areas has lovely powdery good-quality deep snow. I was astounded that so many people were cramming themselves into the icy Penken, when 5 stops away on the tram, were 4 or 5 HUGE ski areas with great snow and half the skiers!

I can't recommend them enough, and finding them this year has definitely made me feel better about Mayrhofen in general.

If I had stuck to the Penken (with one or two days at the 'Tux), then frankly I'd be looking at Solden or France next season. But finding these other areas certainly throws big spanners in the works!

My fave areas (in a vague order)...

1. Zillertal Arena (inc Gerlos)
2. Finkenberg
3. Hintertux
4. Kaltenbach
4. Hochzillertal
6. Rastkogel
7. Penken
8. Ahorn

Hi Potato

I fly out to Zell am Ziller on Saturday for a week, and have the Zillertal Superski pass. I'm staying in Zell am Ziller, so any suggestions or thoughts would be much appreciated.

Hi Billip

Depends on your level, but I'd try and cover something like this...

1. Go up the Rosenalmbahn @ Zell am Ziller. Reds are great, and especially the long 21/a. You can spend a morning and bit of an afternoon here and have fun. Obviously, you'll be staying in/near this area.

2. Luckily, you are near Gerlos, which currently has excellent snow and quiet pistes, so spend a bit there, and try and go down the black 36, and get the lifts up to Konigsleitenspitze (another big area).

3. Grab a bus timetable, the Christophorus green line coach will get you to Gerlos and it's lifts from ZaZ, and back again easily. Maybe in about 10 to 20 mins max!

4. Again, on the big timetable, it shows the timetable for the little red train (your station is probably the 'Zell am Ziller Bahnof'): this will take you to the Hochzillertal ski area in less than 10 mins :) Go there and you can mess around all day! Good snow, much better than the Penken. Also, at the top of red 10/11 they have a restaurant called Kristalhutte - its stunning inside and out. Best I've seen across the Ziller valley.

5. Similarly, you will find it easier (than those staying in central mayrhofen) to get to Hochfugen. Haven't ski'd it myself, so let us know whats its like! Coaches to this area are again on the timetable (the timetable shows ALL trains and coaches!)

6. spend a day at the hintertux. You'll need to get a 'green line' coach from the Mayrhofen bahnof. Get up eary this day, it'll be worth it!

7. IF it snows, consider replacing one of the above trips by going to Finkenberg, Raskogel, and Horberg (via the latter's lift). It'll be excellent if it snows, and icy and busy (in the morning) if it doesn't! Worth a bash if youre feeling too familiar with the above.

8. Above all else, plan your day trip in advance, as wasting 30mins sat at the bahnof station is dull! its super-quick for you to get everywhere (with the exception of the hintertux, which actually only takes you about 15mins longer than it would have taken me staying in central mayrhofen.)

Personally, I think you're in a great area. Bash the ski-pass as much as poss!

I should add that the best skiing near Mayrhofen/Finkenburg is at Eggalm.

Hi Potato. Well, you've just planned my week for me and saved me a lot of effort, so thanks for that ! (With the exception of the black you suggest. Will be very cagey there, as it would be my first black run, so may leave that until next year !)

Thanks again; will let you know how it went when I get back.

Bill

potato wrote:1. Go up the Rosenalmbahn @ Zell am Ziller. Reds are great, and especially the long 21/a. You can spend a morning and bit of an afternoon here and have fun. Obviously, you'll be staying in/near this area.

Yes, indeed. Staying in the Hotel Brau in Z am Z.

Edited 2 times. Last update at 08-Mar-2011

Great, I hope you have fun! I too (generally) stick to reds btw.

Also, there are 4 seperate piste maps displaying (in detail) the following areas...

Map 1. Penken & Finkenberg & Rastkogel & Horberg & Egglahm)
Map 2. Hintertux
Map 3. Hochzillertal & Hochfugen
Map 4. Zell am ziller / Gerlos

Unfortunately, each map is generally only available at the lift station of the respective resort (i.e. you can't pick up a ZaZ/Gerlos map at the Penken station!).

So I recommend - before you fly out - it's probably a good idea to go on bergfex.com, which has up-to-date copies of all the above piste maps. Well handy if you wanna know how many reds/blacks in a given area.

The big all-encompassing travel timetable should be given to you on the transfer if you're going with Crystal / Inghams / Neilson. If not, get one asap when you arrive.

:)

All, my twopenneth.

We've skiied in the area 4 times now, staying twice at Lanersbach (Tux) plus Koenigsleiten and Hochkrimml (Zillertal).

Our experience is that as both M and ZaZ are the 'big' towns in their respective areas, the local slopes get busy and worn. Hence getting to the far ends of the ski areas is a good idea during peak holidays. At Lanersbach during half term, we NEVER waited for the Eggalm gondola or any of the other local lifts until we got to the 8 seater chair on Rastkogel. Also the big queue for the 150 Tux cablecar was all but gone by the time we headed home in the afternoon (when we'd been to Penken). Staying in Konigsleiten and Hochkrimml was a similar story.

So my advice to get the most out of these great ski areas would be either stay at the 'quiet end' or invest in the 30 min bus rides in the morning if staying in ZaZ or M.

I find a good look at the pistemap plus GoogleEarth then Tripadvisor works wonders!

On the subject of mountain restaurants, Prolleralm on Black 36 (a not too tricky black) from Gerlos towards Konigsleiten is a treat.

Have fun

Johnski96