Mayrhofen - Feb 16'

Afternoon,

Wife and I planning a week in Mayrhofen at the end of Feb. Any advice on the following would be appreciated please:

a) snow reliability? I see pistes are pretty high up and has insurance policy of Hintertux. Any past experience?

b) Decent mountain huts/bars/restaurants?

c) Best ski hire place

Thanks and regards
Richard

Richard

Mayrhofen has high slopes for an Austrian resort. There is always good snow coverage to be found, the problem is more about getting away from the crowds. I strongly suggest you head up the mountain on the first lift every day to avoid huge crowds.
Red 7 from the top of Horberg is a great run, with a smashing cafe 2/3 of the way down as you get into the narrow section through the trees. Best Apfelstrudel I have ever had in there.

The skiing over at Eggalm tends to be quieter, and you can take a bus round, but best route over is ski over the back of Penken, take the 150er cable car to Rastkogel, blast down there and then take the red ski route (its not difficult) to Eggalm. Nice tree skiing with some fast runs as well.

The glacier at Hintertux is fantastic, pick a sunny day and head over on the early bus. Theres tons of skiing, very high, and as a result superb snow. I would suggest at least one full day out of a week at Tux.

Also take the free train down to Zell and ski there, and across the back to Gerlos as well if the link is open (closes in high winds). A very good day out.

In town, avoid Hervis or Mannis ski rental, service is poor. Sport2000 are the best, especially the one closest to the Penkenbahn. InterSport down the hill in town near the cross roads is also very good, experienced staff.

Opposite the IceBar at the base of the Penken lift, you will find Happy End, a lively little bar run by Uli Spiess (google him), he also runs the Sport2000 shops. And on the same junction, there is a cracking deli where if you come down into town at lunchtime do a mean meat roll very cheap off the counter.

I recommend a morning up the Ahorn to get the ski legs going, the Ebenwald red run is beautiful, and assuming the snow is good you can ski all the way off when you're done back into town, although its not a run for timid skiers!

All of the eating places up the mountain are good, most are large self service restaurants at sensible prices and good quality food provided you don't just want to eat chips and burgers. Theres a slightly nicer one on Rastkogel, and the umbrella bars at the top of Penken are a good place for a beer in the sun mid afternoon.

Beware the ridge - red 17 which is the main run off into the Horberg/back of Penken in the afternoons - it gets crowded, mogulled and icy, and can scare the crap out of people if they're only used to well groomed quiet pistes!!! Time it right, ski off a little earlier from there and have a beer before taking the cable car back down, and avoid the panic of being able to get back one the front of Penken on the last lift!!! You can always take the gondolas down from Horberg to Hippach anyway, and a bus back into town from there.

Lots of good places to eat, but I would suggest booking a table at least the night before you want to go anywhere to avoid standing around and queuing.

I haven't been to Mayrhofen for a few years now, but I had 6 great trips there previously, and although I have probably skied it to death, its a place I really enjoyed, mainly because the town is such a good place.

Have a great time.

If you are hiring a car, Mietski.com have a shop on the way into the valley and their hire rates can be way cheaper than in resort.

Hi Tony,

Thanks very much for your comprehensive reply! Very useful, just in the process of gathering quotes from operators for deals. Looking forward to it.

Cheers
Richard

Basically what Tony said, though I'd add the main Penken lift has been replaced for this season. So the bottleneck getting up the mountain in the morning should be a thing of the past.

I shall be in resort for a week from 21 Feb.

Hopefully winter will arrive in Austria by then!

Would be inerested in hearing what difference the new lift has made. Learned to ski in mayrehofen some years ago. Loved the place but the penkenbahn queues put me off ever going back. You cant ski down to town so it was lift queues up and down. If they have sorted the lift issues i would love to go back.

Hi Doug - from reading anecdotal reports of Mayrhofen, it sounds like the new penkenbahn gondola lift has gone a long way to addressing the queuing problems!

By the by, are there any mountain huts/drinking spots that are must-visits in Mayrhofen?

Sounds like it may be worth a visit next year then, im all booked up for this year.
In terms of bars etc, to be honest it was that long ago i cant really remember which bars we were in, apart from the sports bar right at the bottom of the lift. It got very busy but it was a bit like a warehouse as far as i remember. There was one next to the top of the lift station that got very busy late in the afternoon and helped regulate the lift queue somewhat. I seem to recall there were some good bars round town but cant recall any of the names. Sure you will find them though.
Do let us all know what the lift queues were like when you get back. If they have indeed got it sorted i will definately look to go back next year as i really want to do the kamikazi while i still can.