Bad News for Me, Too

Carrying on from CerebralVortex's situation, I've just had to cancel my two week trip to Galtür over Christmas and New Years. Starting a new job on Monday (I tried to negotiate a January start date, but that wasn't possible) makes taking two weeks vacation in December impossible, and screws up my ski season more generally. Hopefully it will pay dividends down the line, though.

The new job started immediately, as in I'm already working, so sadly no time to squeeze something in.

My season will be made up of weekend cross-country trips to the mountains nearby (they're great for nordic skiing when there is enough snow, but pretty much a waste of time for downhill skiing). A weekend trip to Sweden, Norway, or Finland is no closer than one to the alps south of Munich. I may end up doing one or two of those, and maybe Easter in Engelberg. But for the most part I won't be skiing much this year.

Poor me. I guess I'll have to try to make up for it next winter.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnowbirdDevotee 

Good news bad new but guess it's all good.  I had a 2.5 day trip from USA to St. Anton, but USAir just told me they canceled my flight home and I be staying an extra day and skiing 3.5 days.  Now i have enough time to ski a day at Lech/Zurs, cool!  Maybe I'll see a movie star?

That's rough, but I think you should be able to suffer through.

I managed to get two days off from my new job before New Years, so I can at least get a four day trip in. Probably Garmisch and going to the ski jumping on New Years day.

We went to the Garmisch jump in 2006/07 as well. It's impressive on TV, but in person it is indescribable to see those guys fly through the air. That year it was +2° and pouring down rain, and they called off the competition after the first round. Hopefully it's better this year. Warm shoes and schnapps is no problem. I need to pick up a bell somewhere, though.

I thought about the WC as well, but couldn't justify the expense (nor get the time off with the new job that sparked this tread). But if you're able to be in Munich anyway on biz, it would be rude not to attend.

I have some issues with Garmisch, but one thing you have to say in its favor: they do know how to put on an event.

I don't suspect getting a cowbell will be difficult. I just wish I had reason to bring my American flag, but sadly I don't think any of my countrymen will be jumping on New Years.

As for schnapps, I'll go with Williams (naturally with a chunk of pear in it as well). I'm not a fan of the Pflümi in Switzerland. I just can't get in to plum schnapps and coffee (I'll drink it of course, just not my first choice).

I spent a long afternoon in a hut in Bad Gastein a few years ago, and the staff treated us to some free drinks as we were heading out the door: homemade Himbeerli. When I asked what was in it, they said "raspbeeries soaked in a many kinds of alcohol for three weeks". It was good.

It's funny to watch the fur coat brigades interact with the AFRC crowd, though. Both groups tend to miss the best of the skiing on offer in the region. I actually kind of enjoy the wiff of past glory the place has. I find that easier to take than the nouveau rich in other resorts.

I certainly know Ettal and its brewery and distillery. Incredibly beautiful spot.

Back from a successful trip. Those lemons were most definitely made into lemonade. Instead of two weeks skiing, we got three days on the snow and one watching the ski jumping (I briefly considered skiing a half day before the jumping started, but my New Years day hangover scuttled those plans).

Day One was spent on the Laber in Oberammergau. €24 for a day's lift ticket riding a 5 person tram built in 1957. No grooming and steep as hell. Great snow at the top, not so great at the bottom. Fantastic area that I'd love to get back to some time on a powder day with a deep base, which the locals say occurs about once every five years.

Day Two at my favourite unknown Tyrolian resort Lermoos. Less intense that the Laber, but for my money the best view in the Alps. And a small area that nevertheless packs a pretty big punch.

Day Three ski jumping. Awesome, and plenty of glühwein and cowbell.

Day Four in a snowstorm in Garmisch. After many trips it was great to finally get to ski the Kandahar in good conditions. It's fast, very very fast.

Hopefully that's not it for my alpine ski season (plenty of cross country this year, though), but it's not looking good.

Pity that I can't seem to post pictures from Flickr anymore. What's up with that?

Sweet, I figured out how to post photos from Flickr.

This is the Zugspitze from other side. Amazing. The skiing in Lermoos is pretty damn good, too.

The Laber was foggy:

But clear at the top:

And steep:

And Langlauf at the Kloster? Check:

Good move not going to Germany. After a great December, it's been warm and dry since. I was at the Alpine WC two week's ago for the Men's and Women's Slalom, and it was done on strip of white slush on an otherwise green mountain. It was easily 15°C the day of the Women's race. My plan had been to go to the Women's race on Saturday and ski the Dammkar in Mittenwald on Sunday, but there just wasn't enough snow. Really the only place skiable was the Zugspitze, and it takes so damn long to get up there for such a limited area.

The WC was great, though. They really do know how to put on an event in Garmisch. If Munich gets the Olympics, they'll do a very good job.

That just seems to be the problem with Garmisch. This freakishly warm weather just occurs far too often.

The Woman's Slalom in 15°C sunshine was certainly a nice day out, but not a very fair race. It would be a shame if they miss out on the Olympics because of the weather.

There are several inconvienient things about Garmisch that people complain about, and most of those things I put down as part of the character that makes it a unique place. But the unreliable snow really is an issue.