Hintertux - When to Go? Oct / Nov

Hi all - we are planning to get some pre-season :) snowboarding done in Hintertux. We can go anytime between mid Oct and end of Nov. What we're trying to balance is how busy the place gets the nearer to winter you get vs what the snow is like.

Some info - we're relative beginners (learned this year and done 10-12 days on the board so far) so not looking at anything too advanced. We also might be able to go midweek although the weekend is easier for us.

What we're wondering is between mid Oct and end Nov I guess the snow is getting better the later we go but is it much busier? As beginners best not to be queuing like mad or have the slopes too busy :)

Is there a massive difference in terms of busyness? If you were us when would you go?

Thanks
G

Hey G,

it could get busy at all those times - there are many skiing teams from all over the world and only the upper areas are open usually.

Expect the Gefrorene Wand, Olperer, Kaserer and the Tuxer Ferner Slope to be open, all other areas may be closed. Those slopes (except the blue run on olperer which you cannot reach directly by lift, you have to use a steeper red run to get there) are all not really beginner slopes.

So if you want blue slopes better choose another glacier or go to hochgurgl which opens in mid november and is never too crowded.

Like Mightyjust said the trip down to the blue slopes are a bit tricky, but I think it can be done with 10-12 days on the board. It's a red piste down and should not be as icy as in summer when going oct/nov

Normally there should be plenty of snow in october already (first should fall in september). I've been to Hintertux last week and although the snow was bad, the blue pistes were still quite good and nice to ski on!

As an alternative, you also might consider Kaprun's Kitzsteinhorn, which is also less steep than Hintertux

Thanks for the info.... we're going to be staying in Mayrhofen (friends place) so Hintertux may be the best idea or is there somewhere else closer?

In terms of quantity of people is is the same whether we go start Nov, end Nov or start of Dec?

Also in terms of fresher / softer snow (last year I finished up with a bruised tail bone so want to start off not on ice if I can!!!) the same question, I guess the later we go the more snowfall yeah?

If you were us and wanted some more beginner types slopes with fresher / softer snow & not too many people what would be the option for you? early Nov - mid nov or early Dec to get the best balance???

Thanks
G

Early Dec!
The Snow is better and more resorts are already open which makes the glacier less busy.

GC, go at the busiest ~ never a better time to meet some top international skiers & boarders. My No 1 auslander fast lady ski buddy was in the Tux last November, and met a wheen of top skiers.

"Of course, I knew most of them", she condecendingly explained. (She works for the Olympic games committee)

Boarders have an advantage over skiers, if the piste is a trite crowded, boarders can jump off the side and ride in junk snow.

Dave Mac wrote:
Boarders have an advantage over skiers, if the piste is a trite crowded, boarders can jump off the side and ride in junk snow.

They also have the advantage of dying in a crevasse or take the helicopter back down.

offpiste on a glacier in oct/nov doesnt really sound like a good idea - also the crowds are at the lifts, not on the slopes (mostly t-bars).

mightyjust wrote:

Dave Mac wrote:
Boarders have an advantage over skiers, if the piste is a trite crowded, boarders can jump off the side and ride in junk snow.

They also have the advantage of dying in a crevasse or take the helicopter back down.

offpiste on a glacier in oct/nov doesnt really sound like a good idea - also the crowds are at the lifts, not on the slopes (mostly t-bars).

Here here.

I think Mr Mac is just trying to kill off more and more people who like the Ziller Valley :wink: