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Beautiful ski huts in Solden Glacier, Austria

Posted: 21.11.2008 | Views: 246

In fact, it is one of the only places in Austria that caters to the Big Three—this means that there are three mountains that reach over 3,000 feet, and you can see them all here. The Big Three—really the "snow gods" of the area—keep you protected and make for one of the best ski seasons in Europe. Respectively, the Big Three are Gaislachkogl at 3,058 meters, Tiefenbackkogl at 3,250 meters and Schwarze Schneide at 3,340 meters. When you come, you'll be able to point them all out from the tourist map and viewing platform at Schwarze Schneide.

The Big Three are so unique for the Solden Glacier ski area in Austria because there is really nothing similar in all of Western Europe. Getting to some of the highest overlooks at Solden Glacier is not all easy. To get to Schwarze Schneide viewing platform, for example, you'll have to hike up a very strenuous twenty minute from the uppermost ski station. You'll actually climb some 90 meters but the view gives you over 100 km of vistas overlooking the Zugspitze, Ortler, Marmolada and Dolomites. At Tiefenbackkogl, similarly, there is a footbridge where the gondola ends. Here, you'll have a long stage for walking where it seems you are above the cold and frozen underworld. At Gaislachkogl, moreover, there is also a viewing platform at the principal station. Take your camera and visit all three to have some of the most amazing photos in your album.

The whole of Solden Glacier in Austria is so enticingly beautiful in part because of the ski huts lying around the outskirts of town. There are around twenty or more of these little huts that can either be rented as ski accommodation or have already been built or converted into bars and restaurants. The huts add a certain charm not found in more of the purpose built resorts in Europe. Additionally, when you look over the rooftops of these little log cabin-like huts, you feel that you're finally coming home—a place that is both welcoming and offers up some of the best, sometimes rustic, meals your palate has ever savored. Even if you come to Solden Glacier for the ambiance and not the skiing, you'll luckily find both and more.

Though the mountain huts may be rustic, this place is actually state of the art. Solden Glacier, with much credit, is part of the Alpine Ski World Cup circuit and is known for both skiing and snowboarding. How Solden Glacier actually grooms 150 km of slopes for all the visitors takes a crew of hundreds is beyond description. At high season times, the gondolas and lifts can carry nearly 70,000 people an hour. Even given this, however, skiers will always feel that they have some fresh powder and fresher groomed tracks under their skis. The area actually has two glacier ski areas and plenty of downhills from the Big Three mentioned earlier. There will always be snow here ready for crunching because of the altitude and snow cannons covering every single slope below the 2,200-meter mark. You'll have fountains of snow pouring over you as you ski.

The resort lies at 1,350 meters with the main town being Otztal Arena. You'll have access to all kinds of runs if you take the highest lift reaching some 3,249 meters, where a trip down the 13 km run (the longest one around, mind you) gives you some of the neatest views of the Solden area. There are nearly 150 km of pistes and one really awesome snowboard park. Of the total 40-plus runs, 17 are beginner, 18 are for intermediates and 8 are reserved for the advanced skiers of the group. The lift breakdown is just as simple, with 8 draglifts, 19 chairlifts, and 7 gondolas. The slopes face every direction of the compass rose (N, E, S, W) so snow is very likely on one or more of the slopes during different parts of the day.

In addition to skiing, Solden has toboggan runs, curling, walking paths (cleared and ready), snowshoeing, paragliding, ice skating, sleigh rides, spa and aquadome, pools, saunas, tennis and indoor sporting facilities. As a bonus, you'll find plenty of apres ski things to do too. There are tons of restaurants and bars and everything in between to cater to the liveliest and leisure of people. Once you've taken to the slopes and relaxed in the spa, a night on the town is well worth the extra money to treat yourself to an exceptional meal and dessert.

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