Linking the Arlberg - Good or bad thing?

Just noted the revamped Lech & Zurs website and nice improvement IMO. It has been updated with shots of last seasons European record of 5m of powder on the Valluga. Also noted this piece on a future possible link between the regions.


Will There Be A "New Connected Arlberg Ski Region" In The Future?

The Arlberg region is a paradise for winter sports enthusiasts, skiers and snowboarders! In the last few days, on Vorarlberg Online, there have been reports of concrete plans to connect Arlberg West – Lech and Zurs am Arlberg and Arlberg East – Stuben, St Christoph, St Anton am Arlberg through a new system of cable cars.


For Non-Arlberg Ski Insiders, What Does It All Mean?

At the present time it is possible for skiers to go from the Zurs ski area over to neighboring Lech am Arlberg without getting on a bus and without cross country skis, say the resorts of Lech and Zurs, as they are connected via ski lifts. The same goes for the Vorarlberg resort of Stuben am Arlberg and the Tyrolean ski resorts of St Christoph and St Anton am Arlberg, as these are also connected by lifts and cable cars.

If you want to spend your ski vacation in Lech or Zurs am Arlberg and feel like changing to St Anton in Arlberg, you can do so without an extra charge, as a ski pass is valid for Lech, Zurs am Arlberg as well as Stuben, St Christoph and St Anton. (The bus fare is also included with an Arlberg ski pass). There is one things missing though! If you are not a cross country skier or a top free –skier you have to unfasten your skies and take the bus from Zurs to Alpe Rauz and then climb aboard a six person ski lift in order to get to St Anton. If you want to do it in the other direction from St Anton to Zurs you can only do it over the Galzig (above St Christoph am Arlberg):
•Galzig – Valluga – tram 1 – (departing from Ulmer Hutte) – to Alpe Rauzw
•Galzig – Arlenmahder 6 seater – (departing from Ulmer Hutte) – to Alpe Rauz
•Galzig – Schindlergrat – 3 seater – (departing from Ulmer Hutte) – to Alpe Rauz

But when changing in St.Anton, St Christoph, Stuben over towards Lech to Zurs am Arlberg the ski guest has to stay in the bus from Alpe Rauz to Zurs am Arlberg, not saving any time.

If you absolutely don't want to get in a bus and if you are a top free skier, you can go over the Valluga mountain trails, Valluga 1 and Valluga 2 to the top of Valluga itself, which at 2811 meters is the highest point in the St. Anton ski area. Then you can go from there through the Pazieltal towards Lech (Hexenboden). This tip is meant for "Freeride World Tour Competitiors", state tested ski instructors and ski guides; please do not attempt this route without a guide or ski instructor. Top, fit professional free skiers can expect the proverbial "White Rush". Videos of Valluga 2 ski route are attached!


What Would This Connection Between Arlberg West And Arlberg East's Ski Resorts Mean?

For holidaymakers in the Arlberg, the drawback of getting in a bus for get from Lech Zurs to Stuben, St Christoph, St Anton or the other way round would be eliminated.

Guests who only want to ski for one day in the Arlberg and make the journey from the Vorarlberg side, would probably try to avoid the serpentine journey up from Zurs or Lech and start their day of skiing in Stuben: day guests in Tyrol would similarly most likely park their cars in St Anton in the future. Those in charge will have to take into account that if the joining of Arlberg ski resorts takes place, ski guests will need additional parking in both Alpe Rauz and St Anton.

There are some critical voices against the "Arlberg Ski Area Connection" plan. Ms Katharina Lins, nature conservancy lawyer from Voralberg, expressed many reservations. "Connecting Zurs to Alpe Rauz involves an area of land that is not yet developed. It will mean massive construction in the countryside.Building streets and mountain trails means invading nature. This project could actually be beneficial for nature, actually, if, in the winter, thousands fewer days guests from the Tyrol and Vorarlberg side from Lech to Zurs, park their cars in Stuben or St Anton am Arlberg.

What Do You Think Of Connecting Arlberg West With Arlberg East With The New Arlberg Cable Cars?

They've been talking about this for at least a decade. Can only be a good thing, the bus is an absolute bun fight. Getting on the bus can be more challenging that the North Face of the Valluga!

Yes, noted Andy but would it cause an equilibrium of St Anton becoming quieter and Lech and zurs becoming busier? :wink:

Since when have Lech and Zurs been quiet? I've been to Arlberg 3 times but haven't noticed much difference in terms of how busy the slopes get. If anything because so many people head to St Anton for the off piste, I'd say the pistes are slightly less busy.
As for the environmental argument, I can't believe over the life of the lifts they will possibly contribute more CO2 than the motor transport that currently travels between the two areas.

andyhull wrote:Since when have Lech and Zurs been quiet? I've been to Arlberg 3 times but haven't noticed much difference in terms of how busy the slopes get. If anything because so many people head to St Anton for the off piste, I'd say the pistes are slightly less busy.
As for the environmental argument, I can't believe over the life of the lifts they will possibly contribute more CO2 than the motor transport that currently travels between the two areas.

Good point in relation to the environmental issue for sure however, with my limited experience it seems busier in St Anton than Zurs or Stuben, this most likely due to the fact that there are more beds servicing St Anton than the smaller areas which are largly served by a limited number of hotels etc.

Definitely a good thing in my view. As Andy has said, the Arlberg have been charging a fortune for their liftpasses on the basis that it covers such a large area. However, to access it all, you have to take the bus and the bus service is a disgrace :twisted:. I've seen 300 people queuing at Alpe Rauz waiting for the bus to Lech. I suspect the burghers in Lech do not really want to the riff-raff from St Anton coming over :roll:.

Incidentally, I see that Lech has now been connected over the other direction to Warth adding another theoretical 100k or so to the lift pass. I doubt it would be practical (or worthwhile) to try to get over there from St Anton :evil:.

Wanderer wrote:Incidentally, I see that Lech has now been connected over the other direction to Warth adding another theoretical 100k or so to the lift pass. I doubt it would be practical (or worthwhile) to try to get over there from St Anton :evil:.

That shouldn't be difficult, ski to Stuben bus to Lech, the new lift is a lift and a run away. Shouldn't take more than an hour either way.

We're off to St Anton on 5th Jan so will report back.

Agreed the bus service was piss poor .....