 Ski Holidays Obergurgl, Austria
Austria
Tyroleans have an extreme, bordering on insane obsession with skiing and scenic views. Well that's the only reason that we can come up with for the settlement of the furthest reaches of the Oetz valley, high and we mean high, right on the Italian border. Obergurgl (1,930m) is the ultimate expression of their compulsion, the highest parish in Austria nestling at the end of the valley and human habitation. This altitude ensures that snow cover is superb throughout the season. The town itself exudes an air of civilized tradition at odds with the often-harsh physical environment surrounding it. The Wurmkogl Mountain (3,080m), which towers above the village, commands views deep into the Italian Dolomites. Skiers have been coming to these most rewarding of pistes for generations, ensuring the area's place in the folklore of the sport.
The Snow
Obergurgl is the most snow-safe of Europe's non-glacier resorts. The resort consists of four peaks Hochgurgl (2,150m), Wurmkogl (3080m), Festkogl (3,035m), and Hohe Mut (2,670m) all of which create a northwest facing half bowl. The majority of runs are located on the Wurmkogl and Festkogl, these mountains being linked by the Top Express eight person gondola, a trip which affords magnificent views of the valley below. There are a great variety of red, blue, and black runs throughout the area, with a particularly testing black descent from the summit of the Wurmkogl. The 8km run down Festkogl is floodlit on Tuesday and Saturday nights providing the perfect setting to experience the delights of night skiing. Continued investment in the area's infrastructure, particularly in an attempt to promote the development of the neighbouring hamlet of Untergurgl, has resulted in the Hochgurglbahn, and a new high speed gondola plus an abundance of facilities for snowboarding including a 120m half pipe on Hochgurgl as well as number of jumps at Festkogl.
Après ski
When skiing was the preserve of only toffs and the most adventurous, Obergurgl's name was already well established. An air of sophistication still lingers from these pioneer days in bars such as Bajazzo, Krumpn's Stadl, and the Umbrella to name but a few. The village is most busy during the teatime rush from the slopes. However, those who see no need to retire till the 'wee small hours', can move on to discos such as the African bar or take the short trip down to the hectic nightlife of Sölden. The range of restaurants, apart from the major hotels, is limited to The Pic Nic and Krump's Stadl but both offer an excellent variety of Tyrolean and international cuisine.
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Jargon explained |
| Black: | 7 |
| Red: | 18 |
| Blue: | 16 |
| Longest: | 8.5km |
| Total: | 110km |
| Village height: | 1930m |
| Highest lift: | 3080m |
| Direction: | N,NW,E |
| Cannons: | 8 |
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| Total lifts: | 26 |
| Chair lifts: | 12 |
| Drag lifts: | 11 |
| Gondola: | 4 |
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| Bowling |
| Ice Skating |
| Jacuzzi |
| Massage |
| Saunas |
| Sleigh Rides |
| Snowshoe Tours |
| Squash |
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