Snow and Ice

I've just returned from a wonderful weekend in Kitzbuhel with my brother and his family. We spent a superb day outdoors on Saturday; ice-skating, Bavarian ice curling (Eisstocksport) and hiking in the snow. As you can see, the weather was perfect. Our day started with a leisurely walk across the frozen surface of the Schwarzee (Black Lake). I last recall walking on a frozen lake in 1984.


An oval track has been cleared on the surface making an ideal walking track and ice skating surface. Karin and the girls took off for a couple of circuits while Hamish and I made our way to a cafe on the far shore. Long, straight curling lanes were carved into the lake's surface outside the cafe. We hired a set of traditional Bavarian curling 'ice sticks' and spent several hours tossing them down the ice with great abandon. Unlike regular curling stones, Bavarian curling ice-sticks are made of wood and are thrown using a handle in their centre.


Lunch was then ordered on tables along the lake's boardwalk, where we soaked up the view and the warmth of the sun. The Hahnenkamm's white slopes literally dazed in the light. Hamish then headed off for work, while the rest of us took an excursion up the Kitzbuheler Horn. I love the Horn. It's a sharp, pointed peak the dominates the town's eastern flank. At 2000 metres, the Horn one of the area's highest peaks and always looks inviting.


I've been to the top only once, back in 2002, during the height of summer. At the time its slope were green and lush. Last weekend the contrast couldn't have been more stark as it was cloaked in a stunning mantle of snow. Two swift gondola rides from the town soon had us standing outside the Gipfelhaus, a cafe located just below the peak. The view from here was as magnificent as I'd remembered it.


While Karin and Nicole went skiing, Steffie and I explored the peak. In winter it grows temporarily higher thanks to the winter snow. We carefully climbed to the peak, soaking up the spectacular view of St. Johann in Tirol in the neighbouring valley and the majestic Kaizers, rising to the north, against a clear blue sky. At 2344 metres, the Kaizers are the highest mountains in the area.

Steffie and I then decided to go 'off piste' and trek back down the mountain to the Alpenhaus, a restuarant located almost 35o metres below. The distance looked easy and the snow seemed rather tame. In reality it took us almost an hour to make our way down the mountain; overcoming slippery, icy slopes and other other winter hazzards.

Steffie spent much of her time sliding down various slopes on her butt, laughing and shouting. I called her a "crazy women" which she initially denied. However, before long, Steffie was yelling, "I'm crazy" to anyone in earshot.