After skiing, the sauna, then a warm sleeping needle. Tourists can experience this cold-warm combination in the Zillertal Valley. The most important thing for fans of winter sports: the area is certainly snow.
Visibility is excellent on the Ahorn plateau. At an altitude of 2000 meters, the sun slowly sets, and the mountains of the Zillertal Alps seem to take on clearer outlines as the evening progresses. The slopes above the village of Mayrhofen are now empty, and the cable cars are already closed for the day. Only a few winter sports fans stayed on the plateau – a special night awaits them, sleeping in the igloo.
Guests are excited about what awaits them on the first night in Iglu. It will be cold, for sure – this is what most of the thirty tourists believe. But the first one will warm up: with caipirinhes and hot rhythms, dinner at ‘Dining Igloo’ and a visit to the igloo sauna, which is located on the edge of the needle of the village ‘White Lounge’. This experience will be offered again in the 2009/10 winter season, probably from Christmas to Easter.
The needle is as pleasant as it can be at four degrees Celsius above zero: warm sleeping bags lie on frozen platforms, with thick sheepskins underneath. Candles illuminate the accommodation, which even has wooden doors. Take off your ski equipment, put on your pajamas and pack as much heat as possible in your sleeping bag – night can begin. The next morning’s impressions are mixed – some slept better than ever in the cold mountain air and in absolute peace. For others it was too cold, too hard, too quiet. But they agree on one thing: to be the first to descend into the valley through the snow that fell overnight – this experience could not be more beautiful.
Great ski pass for the whole Zillertal
If you are ready to challenge after a cold night, the Zillertal and Tuxer Alps have much to offer: the entire Zillertal Valley has 649 kilometers of trails with 170 cable cars. Just above Mayrhofen there are 159 kilometers of trails and 53 cable cars. ‘Super Ski Pass’ is valid for the entire Zillertal Valley. Some routes challenge even those who used to be somewhat bored by the valley – for example, “Höhenmeterfresser-Runde” (the altitude swallowing route), which covers up to 13 kilometers of ascent in one journey.
And there is the ‘Harakiri’ trail in the Penken ski resort, which, according to the cable cars, is the steepest in all of Austria. With a slope of up to 78 percent, it is steeper than the run of the ski jump – even experienced winter sports fans will take a deep breath when they reach the beginning of the steep path. Those who are not sure if this path is right for them can always practice: Trail number 17 is called the ‘Devil’s Trail’, and the steep path at the end is known to the locals as ‘Harakiri test’. And Mayrhofen has another area for the intrepid: ‘Vans Penken Park’ draws freeridere with lines and obstacles, as well as halfpipe.
The ski resort, starting the trail at 1800 meters, is considered safe snow. However, more than 100 snow cannons are also available, which ensures a 100% snow cover. From Mayrhofen, excursions to the Hintertux glacier, the only Austrian ski resort that is open all year round, are also possible. At 3000 meters above sea level, skiing is possible even in summer.
