Easy to forget how good glacier skiing can be

May and June often serve up some epic days on the glaciers - image © www.skiingaustria.co.uk

I was up on the Stubai Glacier today for a bit of filming, some photography and of course some skiing in fresh powder snow. The last few days have been cold and wet and the glaciers have got a good snow cover over here in Austria. Cold the glaciers maybe in peak winter and for those looking for tree skiing and ski-in, ski-out locations then the glacier skiing on offer in Austria might disappoint. But it is so easy to forget just how incredible the snow conditions can be over 3000m and not just in the peak season but during May and June and September onwards as well. For those who like great snow and wide open pistes then there is nothing to compare with the glaciers. Today there were many heading off-piste to find some early May powder and you could be pretty sure to find more days like that over the coming couple of months before things really wind down for the summer. After the packed conditions on the Stubai Glacier over Easter (due to poorer than anticipated conditions in lower resorts) then the mid week skiers are far fewer with absolutely no queues anywhere today and wide empty pistes on offer.

Wide open pistes with barely anyone on them today - image © www.skiingaustria.co.uk

See the latest snow report video from the Stubai Glacier today:

The masses descend on the Stubai Glacier today

The car parks at the Stubai Glacier offered a pretty good indication of the popularity of the Stubai Glacier ski area today - they were full and it was mighty popular. With many lower ski areas closing and the late Easter meaning lots of skiers and snowboarders are still looking to get on the snow then it is a no-brainer that the Stubai Glacier and others glacier skiing areas are rubbing their hands right now. The entire ski area at the Stubai Glacier is still open including the Wilde Grub’n ski route back to the base-station. It was pretty windy up there today and those looking for slopes to themselves would be better heading to the Stubai Glacier during the mid-week period as it was buys up there. But conditions were really good and probably as good as anywhere in the Alps right now. Snow is forecast for mid-week with temperatures dropping considerably - powder later in the week may well disrupt the planned schedule
See the latest snow report from today - sorry for the sound quality, it was windy up there on the Stubai Glacier today:

White corduroy carpets on the Stubai Glacier

Wide slopes in perfect conditions - image ©www.skiingaustria.co.uk

Whilst the buds start to show in down in the valley in Innsbruck, a little south of the city and some 2.5km plus higher the Stubai Glacier is offering some superb skiing on perfect snow. I skied there today, my first time since the autumn and it is so easy to forget just how good the snow on the Austria glaciers can be at this time of the year. We skied from 3212m down to the base-station at 1750m and only in the very last section was the snow heavy (and not patchy). From the top down the pistes were in superb shape offering some really fast descents. It promises to be a busy weekend on the glaciers with spring sunshine forecast but today the crowds spreads widely to offer some great skiing. My favourite time on the glaciers is the autumn as the temperatures plummet and there is a whole winter to look forward and during the main winter I tend to ski very little on the glaciers. But it never fails to surprise me just how good the snow on the glaciers is after a few months away. Great piste skiing on the Stubai Glacier today on the latest video snow report:

Josh skis on a windy Stubai Glacier

18 months old and now a skier - Josh took to the snow today on a windy Stubai Glacier although his decent was marred by a binding failure on his skis - I am about to write to the manufacturers! The Gamsgarten moving carpet proved something of a distraction as did the automatic doors on the kindergarten but ski he did before we went back to the doors. There were high winds on the Stubai Glacier today and these are set to continue tomorrow before the snow arrives starting Tuesday and lasting all week according to the forecast. Not sure when Josh will get back on the snow, probably after his obsession with automatic doors is over and his binding are repaired? A quick snow report from the Stubai Glacier today:

The last storm cut the power and internet to the Stubai valley

Those on the Stubai Glacier yesterday were served up a staggering 80cm of new snow - surely the best day of the autumn season so far. The other glaciers are also have superb snow depths:

Hintertux Glacier 155cm
Pitztal Glacier 143cm
Molltal Glacier 140cm
Kaunertal Glacier 123cm
Kitzsteinhorn Glacier 114cm
Solden Glacier 105cm

Not all good for those in the Stubai valley though as the snow storm took out power and internet connections for large parts of the valley. Shops were unable to take electronic payments and homes and businesses had no internet connectivity. Had my internet gone down in the Stubai valley I would have picked up my skis and headed south to the glacier!

4 days of snow just starting in the Tirol

The weather charts are looking very, very good for the coming days. Temperatures are set to struggle to reach 4c tomorrow in Innsbruck and heavy snow is forecast across the region. October 2010 just gets better and better, I think I might be hitting a few glaciers next week
We have edited a video from the Stubai Zoo opening from yesterday, a great event on the Stubai Glacier:

Stubai powder at the Stubai Zoo and everyone avoiding it

Right place, right time - image © www.skiingaustria.co.uk

After several days of snow the Stubai Glacier offered excellent power skiing / snowboarding today, although I think yesterday might have been one of the days of the season so far. Ironic then that most of those on the Stubai Glacier today were unconcerned with the banks of powder and instead chose to throw themselves off kickers and rails in the Stubai Zoo Park. Today was the season opening of the Stubai Zoo Park and conditions were superb. The wind that picked up later in the day made for some sketchy landings but also signalled the arrival of the next bout of snow in this part of the Alps. You can see a snow report below - the superlatives to describe the start to the glacier skiing season over here are getting a little worn but I have yet to see a start to an autumn ski season like this one - it is just epic! Great fun at the Stubai Glacier today, I am a little too old for the party in Neustift tonight and my 2 tips as opposed to 4 ruled me out of much of the on-snow action in the Park but the Zoo opening is a popular, well attended event with some pretty special skiers and snowboarders there. The snow report from the Stubai Glacier today:

Going to the Zoo tomorrow….

The Stubai Zoo is back at the Stubai Glacier tomorrow - the 2010 season opener of the Stubai Glacier park. Rails, twin tips and partying till late are on the menu. With the recent incredible snow conditions on all the local glaciers the Stubai Glacier is set to be a popular destination over the weekend. The weather is set to be fine tomorrow and then snow returns Sunday till Tuesday. This has to be the best early season I can ever recall! Evidence to support that below from Stuben am Arlberg yesterday:

Incredible October snow in Stuben am Arlberg

Bode Miller trains on the Stubai Glacier this morning

Bode Miller on the Stubai Glacier today - image © www.skiingaustria.co.uk

Managed to fit in a ski on the Stubai Glacier, loosely disguised as a ‘snow report’ to work colleagues before the next bout of winter arrives over the coming days. Conditions were superb on the Stubai Glacier today with cool temperatures, strong sun and many national race teams on the glacier to prepare for the upcoming Solden FIS season opening race weekend. Bode Miller was up there training on the Daunscharte with the rest of the US team, as were many other national ski teams. The weather forecast is showing 5 days of snow from Saturday onwards meaning many of the local hils should be geeting a great base. As I drove back through the Stubai Valley the tractors were out in force spraying bio-manure on the fields - always a sure sign that the heavens are set to open

Tirol snow card in wrist pocket and ready for some glacier skiing

For the next 8 months my closest plastic companion is going to be the Tirol snow card - I picked mine up today and am off to the Stubai Glacier tomorrow to get it spinning turnstiles. The weather has been cooler with amazing sun over the last few days but snow is forecast over the weekend and into next week so conditions on the glaciers should be excellent for the coming days.

Snow forecast for Friday and the Tirol snow card on sale Saturday

When you add them together that means 2 very good days coming up. The glacier skiing in Austria is currently fantastic and with October round the corner when we usually get the first big snow of the winter things are looking mighty good on that front. The Tirol snow card covers all the main glacier skiing areas in Tirol except the Rettenbach and Tiefenbach glaciers at Solden and basically all the main glacier skiing areas in Austria but for the Kitzsteinhorn Glacier and the Molltaler Glacier, both great to ski but Tirol pretty much leads the pack in the Alps for glacier skiing. I have skied the Hintertux Glacier and the Stubai Glacier so far this September and they were both sensational. The snow is forecast for the glaciers on Friday and then a fairly sunny weekend. I will be heading to a glacier on Friday and will let you know how conditions are.

Deep, deep powder snow on the Stubai Glacier

September 2010 will go down as one of the best season opener in many years. Today I was at the Stubai Glacier and there was well over half a metre of new snow that has fallen over the last few days offering some epic early season powder skiing conditions. October is often the month to really expect powder skiing on the glaciers over here but so far September has delivered several top powder days. Today the snow on the glacier was as good at any time in the winter season and with more set to fall over the coming days the glacier skiing season over here is set to be an outstanding one. The glacier was packed with race teams in early season training and whilst in wasn’t tanning weather I was amongst some very lucky skiers today. The Schaufeljoch viewing platform was closed today but I got access to it and found the reason - too much snow.

Off to the Stubai Glacier tomorrow for some September powder skiing

Austria leads Europe, possibly the world in glacier skiing. The terrain and facilities are unmatched in the Alps in my opinion (and yes I have skied Zermatt, Val d’Isere, Alpe d’Huez, Whistler-Blackcomb etc etc). Austria tops the snow chart in the Alps and from September onwards there is serious skiing on offer. There is no novelty factor involved, for skiers June and September are not considered out of season, more so in-season and skis on car roofs are pretty common. The late August 2010 snow offered some of the earliest ‘very good’ conditions I can recall (and very good based on winter skiing not summer skiing). But powder skiing in June and sometimes July is a given and October onwards offers nearly always days of great skiing / snowboarding. And to see so many people on the slopes just confirms that the season lasts longer in Austria - in most cases very much longer. Tomorrow it is the Stubai Glacier for the first ski there this winter 2010/11 season - one of the top few glacier skiing areas in the world. I will need the powder planks I think, the temperatures are low and snow has been falling the last 2 days on the peaks around Innsbruck with cool and snowy conditions to continue into next week. Looking forward to getting back onto the Stubai Glacier and seeing the new Eisgrat complex. I will be sure to post some images and videos of the day.

Stubai glacier opens today for 2010/11 winter season

And the reason I am sat at a desk a few km’s away on such a momentous day? An incomplete Msc thesis that has to be submitted on the 21st

New snow is falling on the Stubai Glacier right now and is set to come down all weekend. I will try and get up there next week once the weather breaks and once this thesis is a distant memory.

November at the Stubai Glacier

Cold November skiing at the Stubai Glacier, Austria – image © www.skiingaustria.co.uk

So after hauling around a load of camera gear so far this season, today was the first ski where I could let the skis run a bit without being bulked-up with camera harnesses and get the legs working. Today I skied at the Stubai Glacier with a couple of friends that came over from the UK. We only got there mid-afternoon and whilst some of the steeper stuff was a bit icy most of the pistes were really impressive with hard packed, groomed conditions. They were great conditions for some fast descents although with the short days at this time of the year it was a bit of a lottery what you crossed when moving at speed in the flat, late faternoon light. Tomorrow is more of the same - Stubai Glacier, but I will be re-living my days as an Austrian ski instructor and hopefully helping a friend  get past her fear of stopping.