Snow far, snow good
In some regions of the Austrian Tirol around 2 metres of snow has fallen in the last two weeks, reaping the investment many of the ski resorts have once again put into the ski lift infrastructure this winter. Though with the resort of Soelden already under a metre of snow, it may take a while before that particular resort feels the benefit of its two year project to create new snow-making facilities.
Three new cableways for Obergurgl-Hochgurgl
For winter 2007/08 three new cabin cableways will be operating in Obergurgl-Hochgurgl , ensuring excellent skiing down to the hotel doorstep. The three new lifts, the top Schermerbahn 3000 and Hohe Mut sections I and II are in addition to the existing 22 lift installations which already ensure that guests spend more time skiing the 110 kilometres of pistes than riding on lifts in this high altitude ski area.
Further info: Obergurgl.com
‘Snow-2-go’ in Sölden
After a 2-year building phase a new snowmaking installation on the Rotkogl in the Tirolean resort of Sölden starts operating in the autumn of 2007, enabling skiers to ski on the Giggijoch and the glacier connecting pistes via man-made snow. The required water is taken from the new pond beneath the Rotkogl hut and has a capacity of 150,000 cu. m., fed from water collected on the Rettenbach glacier.
Further info: Solden.com and Oetztal.com
New bottom stage ski lift at Stubai
A new bottom stage of the Stubai glacier lifts will be operating this winter, providing skiers with all the amenities of a state-of-the-art installation and covered waiting.
Further info: Stubaier-gletscher.com
Floodlit skiing & 2 new lifts in Ischgl
In Ischgl the existing Fimbabahn l and ll was replaced during Summer 2007 by new 8-seater cabins with heated seating. The ascent on the first section takes 6.7 minutes and 8.4 minutes for the second stage, carrying up to 2,800 passengers per hour. The service area at the top stage has been enlarged and floodlighting is planned over the whole length to enable ascents at night, too.
Further info: Ischgl.com
Speeding up the Steinbergkogel
In the ski area Wilder Kaiser Brixental a newly renovated 8-seater chair lift will be operating this winter on the Steinbergkogel. It is fitted with a weatherproof cover and heated seating and capacity will be more than doubled from 1,300 to 3,255 people per hour. The ascent will be quicker, too, taking only 4.87 minutes instead of 9 previously. New snow making equipment will be in use on the Griesalm if required.
Further info: Kitzbuehler-alpen.com
New gondola lift in the Pitztal
The newly built 8-seater Mittelberg gondola lift in the Pitztal is 2,400 m long, it replaces Mittelbergjoch l drag lift and takes only 9 minutes up to an altitude of 3,285 m. With 74 gondolas it can convey 2,200 passengers per hour. The new 6-seater Gletschersee chair lift with heated seating replaces the previous double chair lift and starts from the same bottom stage at 2,680 m. The alighting point is located at 2,840 m right in front of the mountain restaurant. Further info: Pitztal.com
In Mayrhofen both drag lifts l and ll on the Ahorn are being replaced by an 8-seater chair lift and snowing equipment is being extended.
Further info: Mayrhofen.com
