Cost is an issue at New Year, and we kept a grip on this by booking early Easyjet flights, and taking a chance on slightly oddly located accommodation. This was a farm, in a valley end, tucked right under the soaring rock faces of the WilderKaiser. The owners ran us down to the Gondela each day, and collected us at night.
All the other guests were German, and little English was spoken. We were invited to take part at night, in an event called Eis Stuck Schiesen. Consisting of a length of ice rink, perhaps two metres wide, and fifty meters long, tucked in the shadow of a mountain chapel, the game was close to curling.
On New Years Eve, we had an amazing fireworks display, with champagne provided. We then invited the Austrians and Germans to join in a Table Curling championship, ensuring that the old man who owned the farm, won.
A braw week, marred just by one incident. Late one afternoon, I started solo down a black, at that time of day, pretty icy. There was a steady stream of people, some managing to stay upright! At the bottom of the first steep face, a German lady fell just in front of me. I stopped, and could tell straight off, it was a break. Put up my crossed skis behind her, and phoned through to the Bergrittung. While they were on the way, I straightened her twisted leg, and crossed her skis, as additional protection. It was certainly needed, as although our location was not steep, we were at the bottom of a steepish icy face. Her husband arrived, and then the Bergrittung arrived with the ackier. The poor lady was in great pain, and it was a bit of a dampener on the day. I had to have a gluewein to get over it!
The two relative beginners in our group made good progress, I kept getting us lost, and Frau Mac kept keeping us right! All in all, another good week, and a good start to our season.
The Kizbuhlerhorn through a sea cloud:
The WilderKaiser:
The BrennerAlm and Haus Kappelle
Inside the Kapelle
Inside the Brenner:
