by Judy Bracken, Newsletter Editor
Unsurpassed views, bluebird days, skiing on glaciers, top notch dining…what more could you want out of a ski trip to the Austrian Alps? We found plenty more, but a word to the wise—this is not a trip for the faint of heart. First there was the long flight, including layovers for some, and then many hours wait at the Munich airport to gather the group travelers coming from various areas of the US. Then there was the 4 hour bus trip to Solden, winding through alpine roads with construction and holiday traffic delays thrown in (it was a big ski week for many European countries). Then there is the first day at the resort, trying to sort out our tickets and pushing through surprisingly long lines to get on lifts and gondolas. And of course, the jet lag that follows us throughout the week. Finally, we got down to the nitty gritty, the whole reason we endured this arduous journey, the point of it all—to ski in the Alps!
And what a joyful ski adventure we had! Swooshing through wide open, perfectly groomed slopes with mountains towering over us, feeling like ants skiing at top speed through long valleys and swaths of glowing white trails. We enjoyed a mountain tour the first day, set up by our trip leader Debbie Stewart, who had divided us into groups based on our stated abilities. My group was the Snow Warriors, and we ended up skiing with most of those people the entire week. Our group consisted of of 6-10 compatible skiers, aging from 28 to 85 years old! The runs have numbers instead of names, so we needed to study the map carefully to avoid getting lost. Austria, as here in California, has not had a plentiful snow year, and the snow quality could have been better. However, they have really good grooming machines and each day we had smooth surfaced, although at times icy, runs. Fortunately, visibility was not a problem and when we ended up at the top of the topmost gondola, we could see for miles, even as far as the Dolomites Range in Italy.
One day, we took a short bus ride and skied at the Gurgl Ski Area, which was divided into two areas called Hochgurgl and Obergurgl. There was a horizontal gondola connecting the two sides, much like at Whistler/Blackcomb. This area had wonderful ski huts spaced about the mountains, complete with full restaurant service. We loved the goulash soup and the apple strudel with vanilla sauce. And no meal was complete without beer!
Some of us attended an optional day trip to see the Swarovski Factory, where sparkly crystals are made for jewelry and many other purposes. While we found out nothing about the process of making the crystals (apparently, it is a secret), we saw many beautiful and creative displays, set in 17 themed rooms. There was a Hollywood room, with displays of Michael Jackson’s white glove, Elton Johns’ red suspendered trousers, Marilyn Monroe’s dress in which she sang “Happy Birthday, Mr. Kennedy,” and Judy Garland’s ruby red slippers. All had used the Swarovski crystals to create apparel with lots of sparkle and “bling.” Other rooms had themes such as love, peace, and nature. The grief chandelier, a gorgeous revolving glass light, allowed a meditation on loss and endings. After the museum, we spent some time touring and shopping in Innsbruck, and some enjoyed lunch in a typical Austrian restaurant.
Our hotel was a ten minute walk from the gondola, and included our breakfasts and dinners every night. It was a wonderful buffet, with pastries, cheeses, salads and several different entrees and desserts from which to choose each night. We were able to have a couple of happy hour gatherings with the FWSA group during the week. The hotel also had a pool and saunas, which were usually full of families with children this holiday week. Of course, you could escape that by going into the “no clothing allowed” sauna and steam room.
Debbie Stewart did an excellent job organizing this trip with its many different changes due to the pandemic. She arranged a Covid test for us the day before we left, which is required to get back to the US. All were negative except one person, and unfortunately, that person will have to quarantine in Austria until completely well and has a negative test. There were others that went on to the Black Forest extension trip, and I have word that others may have Covid symptoms as well. It’s a reminder that this pandemic is still with us, and precautions need to be taken despite the change in mandates and regulations.
There is so much more to tell about this trip, but you will just have to go yourself sometime to experience European skiing. Next year, the FWSA trip will be in Zermatt, Switzerland, home of the Matterhorn. Check it out on the FWSA website.
