10 ways to get locked into a Saalbach après ski bar for 3 days
Not sure if you read the last article and the comment from John - if you did you might have found yourself bonding with a man whose genes seem healthily nestled somewhere between Ernest Shackleton and Ollie Reed:
“Hats off to the people trapped in a (UK) pub for 3 days over new year because they were cut off, that’s the way to see in the new year. Looking for the same sort of lock in at Saalbach.”
Living in Innsbruck I don’t have first hand knowledge of this lengthy incarceration but it seems to have struck a cord with John and possibly others in frozen Britain. It does however get the mind ticking over - what if one were to get stranded in a remote mountain hut in Austria with an accordion playing local, the best chef in the valley, the Swedish women’s volley ball team (including reserves) and one’s five 5 best friends ever. OK, how to make this happen and these are for you John, to employ on your forthcoming trip to Saalbach…
1 - snow
Image © www.skiingaustria.co.uk
Safely inside and it snows like only Austria gets snow. The door is blocked and the ‘wirt’ locks the door to stop the snow piling in.
Right blog readers get thinking 9 other reasons!
2 - replace the Swedish volley ball team with the Norwegian bikini team and drink copious quantities of schnapps - suggested by Bard from Norway Jan 12th, 2010 at 10:35 am
I am not sure about the Swedish volleyball team. How about the norwegian bikini team. Also very important is the great Austrian Schnaps. I just love the different flavors and at least if you believe the Austrians there are tons of vitamins in that drink.
Hey Bard
Good to hear your wisdom again, you are rapidly becoming one of blog legends with your suggestions. You are quite correct about the schnapps, it is considered a national medicine over here. A friend of mine (to remain nameless) went to a doctor in Innsbruck and the receptionist asked him what he thought was ‘did you have schnapps?’ He replied no just a few beers last night. She replied, ‘no, would you like a schnapps?’ He watched in amazement as the receptionist walked around the waiting room with a tray of schnapps for the patients. That is a good reason to have regular health check-ups in Austria! What do they call it, preventative medicine? I cannot argue with the Norwegian bikini team, I have never had the pleasure of seeing them but I will take your word for it that they are a ‘traum manschaft’ as they say in Austria.
My guess is John will suggest great bar service and a set of dice in front of him would be sufficient.
I don’t know if there is any proof about the vitamins, but word of mouth is good enough for me & the next time the missus says “you’ve had enough” i’ll be able to argue the health benfits! as long as i’m still capable of speech. I also like the sound of that Doctor! are you sure it wasn’t some kind of gentlemens entertainment venue? i wouldn’t know myself of course, but i have heard stories about these sort of places.I also enjoyed the photo from the 2007/08 mash series even if it does fit the theme. My one thing would be friendly bar staff! not like that prick at the Mutter bar at Stubai.
The health giving angle is a nice one. Manners are also critical - there are 2 bars I have come across this winter that I would never step foot in again - the Stiftskeller, Innsbruck where some of the staff take rudeness to a new level and the après ski bar at the Mutterbergalm, Stubai Glacier where one of the staff got fired from the Stiftskeller for being rude to customers it would seem.
Granted the picture was a rehash but it was used to illustrate the way in which you could be stranded in a Saalbach bar for 3 days - snow. I took your example of the group in the UK who experienced a patch of black ice on the pub car park and holed up for 3 days in a pub and have used it to encourage the submission of scenarios whereby you could get 3 days residence in a Saalbach après ski bar. So any ideas? Lost clothes? Ah maybe not?
Interesting Blog entry and nice comments. Well I would definitely say that we would need enough Knödel (dumplings)to last for three days. (Spinatknödel, Speckknödel, Kasknödel)
Another important thing would be the music entertainment. There are a few local mountain beatboxes running around. Would be nice to have some alpen rap in the apres ski bar.
Thanks Austrianlocal, yes the comments seem to have veered off the central theme of how to engineer a 3 day stay in an après ski bar, akin to the UK ‘ordeal’ that happened due to a dusting of snow. So far though we have managed to establish the best way to survive the incarceration - drink schnapps to stay healthy, eat dumplings and for entertainment there is the Norwegian bikini team and a rap star. Spass ohne ende!
just smiling as I read your blog-article about being trapped in a mountainhut here in saalbach hinterglemm.
I think there is no lack of Knödel, Schnaps and entertainment on our huts - not sure if the Norwegian bikini team is around… but definitely: Yes we are prepared. 
Ummm, I think you would need some entertainment for the chicks that are locked in aswell! Not just the Norwegian bikini team!! What do you suggest?
Hi Saalbach-Hinterglemm, thanks for your thoughts. This whole topic has its roots in the UK where a group got trapped in a bar for 3 days due to snow - for some this is a dream outcome and certainly so for one of our regular bloggers John, who is heading to Saalbach in 2 weeks. I have spent very many days in the mountains of the Alps and have met few better or more appreciative après skiers than John. For John Kitzbuhel is the centre of the universe but this year I advised them to try Saalbach-Hinterglemm for après ski. They are currently in the south east of England and are heavily into training for Saalbach. John even has his own Nageln log in his garage. So the message to Saalbach is - be prepared, the UK is sending over its finest après skiers and whether the Norwegian bikini team are there or not, John and his team will be drinking the après ski bars dry.
Well chelle if you need some chick fun then the Austrian local has offered to do a rap session. He has yet to be signed up to a record label but he has said in the past that Eminem stole his early work - he must be good??? Watching John make short work of a long bar menu is also entertaining in the extreme.
So we never actually got to 10 ways to incarcerate oneself in a Saalbach apres ski bar - the combined imagination was impressive if somewhat misguided
Matt, you’ve got to stop bigging me up! I’m a middle aged gentleman that enjoys different cultures & Jagermeister. It just so happens that in Austria, they have an abundance of both.
I’m absolutely looking forward to trying the local hospitality in Saalbach & I’m sure I won’t be disappointed as i’ve never had a bad holiday in Austria! & yes I’ll bring the dice!
Back to your theme of how to get locked in is not important Matt. The main thing is just to be locked in! but with good company & service with a smile.
Hi John, if the UN dealt with après ski - Saalbach-Hinterglemm would be a permanent council member, make no mistake my friend, this resort is at the top table when it comes to après ski. I imagine you will fully test its credentials but Saalbach has awards for its après ski and I expect you will be mightily satisfied. Before the après ski bars you will also find a top ski area, one of the best in the region - get very excited!