The ski resort of Austria, Pitztal is located in the area of ​​the highest point of the land of Tyrol – Wilspitze. The height of this peak reaches 3774 meters, which guarantees the possibility of skiing on its slopes for the longest possible period. A significant amount of high-quality natural snow not only brings a lot of pleasure to those who ride, but also makes the process itself safer. Local tracks are suitable for skiers of all levels, from beginners to professionals. In the ski schools of the ski complex, which are intended for training both adults and children of different ages, experienced instructors teach the basics of skiing skills to everyone.

The variety of reliefs and wide opportunities for winter sports attract here not only skiers, but also snowboarders, freeriders and carvers. At the same time, the total length of the tracks is more than 272 kilometers. Pitztal is also distinguished by its entertainment infrastructure and a wide selection of hotels, among which three and four-star hotels predominate, quite affordable for tourists with an average income level. The convenient location, just 65 kilometers from the Innsbruck airport , gives the resort guests the opportunity to diversify their leisure time by making an interesting and informative excursion to this beautiful city.

In Pitztal , there are several skiing areas connected to each other by cable cars, along which high-speed lifts move, delivering vacationers to different points of the ski complex. Not far from the village of Erzens, at an altitude of about one and a half thousand meters, there is the Hochzeiger ski area, with a height difference of more than 900 meters. This area is suitable for all categories of skiers. The tracks for professionals are located at an altitude of more than 2,500 meters, and the routes for beginners and intermediate skiers are limited to a height of one and a half thousand. There is also a snow park with a hifi pipe for snowboarders and an illuminated toboggan run several kilometers long. A little higher, at a level of two to three thousand meters, is the Rieflsee skiing area, more recommended for professionals and experienced skiers. The highest skiing area in the resort is the Pitztal glacier , located at an altitude of 1,750 to 3,440 meters. The thickness of the snow cover is always good here, and the tracks are mainly divided into difficult and medium categories of difficulty, although there are routes for inexperienced skiers. All of them are interconnected and from any point you can reach the resort area and lift stations.

Pitztal ski resort, Austria

500 meters from the slope of the Riflsee is the village of Mandarfen, spread out at an altitude of 1675 meters above sea level. Most of the tracks lead from here directly to the Pitztal Glacier, which can also be reached with the help of two funiculars. First, the Pitzexpress takes tourists to an intermediate station, and from there, with the help of the Pitzpanoramabahn lift, they climb to the top of the Hinter Brunnenkogel mountain, at a height of 3,440 meters. Lift stations are located in the immediate vicinity of hotels, which allows tourists staying in them to freely move around the territory of the region right from the doorstep of their hotel. The level of local hotels is limited to three and four stars, but their quality is quite high. Mandarfen belongs to the St. Leonard district, which is lined up along the entire mountain massif and includes several other settlements,

In many ways, the fame of a famous family resort, Pitztal gained thanks to two modern ski centers for children, Bambinipark and Kinderland. They are excellently equipped and receive a large number of visitors every year. The schools are staffed by experienced certified instructors who “put” children on skis with high quality and in the shortest possible time. In addition, there is a kindergarten that takes children from the age of three. As a great gift for parents, the resort has a special Bombini card for all young skiers under the age of ten. It entitles children of this age to ride for free in any zone.

For tourists who want to diversify their program of stay at the resort, there is a beautiful sports complex equipped not only with sports grounds, bowling alleys and a bowling alley, but also has a swimming pool, sauna and solarium. Those who are tired of sports can relax in local restaurants and appreciate the quality of Swiss cuisine, as well as have fun at a disco, go to the cinema or visit a shop. Most of the entertainment facilities are located in the village of Mandarfen, where the main object for entertainment is a bar with the specific name “Witches’ Cauldron”, designed in the best traditions of American horror films.

Pitztal has one important distinguishing feature from most ski resorts in Austria. The season here lasts from the end of September until the middle of June. This is due to the high mountain location of the resort and a significant amount of natural snow lying in the area of ​​the Pitztal glacier until the summer itself. A large number of tracks and their large geography allow skiers to be in different skiing areas without concentrating in one place. Thus, the appearance of a small number of vacationers is created. Meanwhile, this resort has a good reputation in Europe, and thousands of winter sports enthusiasts come here every year to appreciate the picturesque landscapes from a height of almost 3,800 meters and enjoy skiing on the flawless, snow-covered mountain slopes of this region.

Pitztal in detail

The Pitztal glacier has lost part of its tracks in recent years. There were not many of them anyway – 68 km of glacier together with the Rifflsee, and there were 40.6 km of trails. No, they did not go anywhere, they just had to be remeasured according to the new requirements – in a straight line. There are only 22.2 km of them on the glacier itself.

The highest point of the glacier is 3440 m. This is the highest glacier in Tyrol. Accordingly, there is also the most high-altitude cafe, only not in Tyrol, but in all of Austria. The assortment of dishes in it is so-so, it will go for a snack.

There are 3 skiing areas in the Pitztal valley: the Hochzeiger with its fair 40 km of pistes, the Rifflsee and, in fact, the Pitztal glacier. Rifflsee and the glacier are united with each other, and you can get from one to the other (only through the bottom of the lifts), but Hochzeiger stands apart, closer to the entrance to the valley from the side of the autobahn and the railway.

From Munich airport, you can take the train to the Imst-Pitztal station, and from there take bus 4204, which goes to Pitztal every hour. On the pitztal.com website, it is indicated that you need to ask the owners of the house for a voucher, then the bus ride from the station and back is free. For other passengers traveling to and fro in the valley, travel with similar papers is also free to the village of Arzl

We have more or less figured out how to get there, now let’s decide on a place to live. Along the valley, like beads on a string, strung on the road that runs along the Pitz River, tiny villages and hamlets. If you are skiing on the Hochzeiger, then it is better to live in Jerzens, and if you are planning to ski on the glacier from the Rieflsee, then the ski lifts are accessible on foot in Mandarfen. All other places can be reached by ski bus without any problems. After all, every village has its stop. But it is advisable to settle not further than the Zaunhof Hairlach stop. (You can easily find this place on Google Maps). Because the number of ski buses is noticeably decreasing. From Hairlach to the glacier, there are enough of them to avoid any inconvenience. Starting from Weißwald, there are even more of them, but housing also becomes noticeably more expensive closer to Mandarfen. Of course, if you’re in a car, it doesn’t matter where to live.

Mandarfen

If you are driving, you can buy in Imst on the way to Pitztal . There is a large complex of shopping centers near the autobahn. Several supermarkets, including sports ones.

The restaurants in the valley are much better than the shops. But all the same, not every village has one. And again Mandarfen wins, there are the most of them here. So it turns out that in terms of infrastructure, Mandarfen and Jerzens, at the foot of Hochzeiger, are the best in the valley. But it is quite possible to live in the villages, if you approach it consciously. An interactive map of the valley will help you understand everything and get to know the infrastructure. By clicking on the icons, you can display on it objects of interest, shops, restaurants and bus stops, etc.

Eggenstall also has a bakery and a small convenience store within walking distance.

It is snowing, what a joy!

View from the balcony

We figured out where to live and where to eat, now it’s time to talk about skiing. Let’s make an excuse right away that we didn’t have a chance to ride on Hochzeiger, we have vague impressions of Riflsee, we were there a couple of times in bad weather . They mostly skated on the glacier, and once they went to Kaunertal. But about everything in order. And you have to start with the ski pass, because there are nuances here. Two types of ski passes:

Pitzthaler Glacier + Rifflesee Skipass – when buying one for 6 days or more, the glacier in the nearby Kaunertal valley is included for 2 days of your choice.

Pitztal Regio Skipass – it is more expensive and includes the glacier from Riflsee, Hochzeiger and Imst. But Kaunertal is no longer included for some reason. It’s a pity, because I want both.

It is also worth mentioning the ski pass for 5 glaciers Tyrol White 5. 10 days to choose from in the season. Although, it is more suitable for locals.

The lower Glacier Express lift, nicknamed by us the “metro”, is the most disliked:

Kyiv metro in rush hour, that’s what it is. In Kyiv, at least, trains run more often. His productivity is low, so he had to wait for a long time. And then – to ride standing in a wagon densely packed with cross-country skiers.

We went up to the upper metro station, there is a self-service restaurant, Intersport, and a rental car. For complete beginners, you can go to the right, for a short bugel on the educational slope. Nearby – a long, long bugel. There are gorgeous tracks along it, blue on one side, red on the other.

Someone is always training on the red one.

Right in front of us is the new modern gondola Windschritzbahn. Like a UFO that landed in the Alps.

Here he leads to the highest point, to the mark of 3440 m. The observation deck offers a wonderful view in good weather.

Great red tracks lead down. Moreover, in the upper part, they even blacken a little, then lay out. I really like to fly from this top to the bottom of another Mittelbergbahn gondola, it turns out such a beautiful long track. Along this gondola, on both sides, there are also wonderful wide red tracks. Beginners can also ride here – on the extreme right (if you look down), but only to the intermediate station. The second half will be, indeed, red. Well, at the very top, the exit from the gondola is a small unpleasant section, because it is narrow and there are many people.

There seems to be a black track on the diagram, but in reality we did not see it. It seems that she was left untouched to be torn apart by freeriders.

What comes out: one bugel (we do not consider small), two gondolas and one chair. Not densely. In addition, the route along the chairlift is blue, and it would not be bad at all, if it is not used as a transit route, all in a row. Someone learns the first steps, and someone “flies” along it to get to the bottom of the gondola. Viebuks can also get caught – the most dangerous subspecies of ski boarders. Viebuk is translated from French as an old goat. But the word viebuk itself is more comprehensive and understandable (although it is French) in relation to the situation on the slope, when someone blows … runs into someone. But to this place’s credit, this has never happened, and not once has a rescue helicopter disturbed its peaceful tranquility.

Maybe someone gets bored with a small number of tracks, but there are no such tracks here, they don’t go here, devourers of kilometer tracks. They are there, behind the ridge, in the nearby Otztal valley, where the famous Sölden is . We can even see its top station.

There are rumors that they want to connect the Pitztal glacier with Sölden. It’s hard to imagine how hordes of ski boarders will pour in here, spoiling the carefree peace, tearing up the slopes with bumps… I wish this never happened. The region, of course, will receive a big push for development, new hotels, shops, etc. will be built. But it will be a completely different Pitztal.

The Pitztal Glacier is famous for its sparse population. Although, in the season, it is so lively here that there are not enough seats in restaurants at lunchtime, but on the wide slopes, everyone disperses. Sometimes it is dense, and sometimes it is empty.

At first glance, the resort has room for development. Here, for example, is a huge unplowed field. How many new routes could be laid…

But they will not be laid. Glaciers need to be preserved to last until the next ice age. They are not only for the pleasure of ski boarders, but also part of a complex ecosystem. While runners zigzag on this field, or ski-tourists climb slowly, without hurrying.

There is an (illegal) possibility to go down the glacier on skis, bypassing the subway. Previously, this route was even indicated on the route map. But after the accident with the Austrian coach, he was closed, erased from the map. And the people still drive, diligently avoiding the prohibition signs. The path is periodically repaired and kept as an emergency descent for the evacuation of people in the event of a breakdown of the subway. After the tragedy in Kaprun , it became necessary to have an emergency descent. Although it was built without the permission of the Department of Environmental Protection, which strongly opposes gross interference with nature.

We were mostly lucky with the weather, there was fresh snow and light frost. At the end, a strong wind blew and, to our great disappointment, it blew all the snow away, exposing the blue, bare continental ice in places. Of course, the snow sealed by the snowpack remained on the tracks. But it’s not that at all, it’s ordinary Austrian reinforced concrete. When the wind blew, the Wildspitzbahn gondola was turned off – and what to do, it’s a glacier.

And a few words about Kaunertal. If you don’t have a car, Kaunertal is of no use to you. Skibuses do not go there. And it’s not fast to get there by car, it takes almost an hour and a half. It is better to drive in good weather, because it is a mountain road, after all, and at the very end of the serpentines. Let it be short-lived and clean well, but none the less.

Entrance to the valley is paid, if you have a ski pass, it is free. At this control, you can buy a ski pass, who does not have one. The valley is narrow, almost a gorge, very picturesque and unlike anything seen before. It looks harsh, wild and uninhabited.

A narrow path along an empty reservoir.

A small serpentine – and we are at the parking lot near the lifts.

The skiing area is compact, the tracks are also in excellent condition until the very evening. Most of it is in the shade. There are many blue routes, but there are also red and black ones. You can drive from your heart to the extent of your capabilities. There are few people because

Several years ago, they built a lighted ski tunnel under the road and laid a new black track, No. 6, through it.

From the top point you can look into Italy. The state border passes right here.

On the Italian side, the sun burns well. That’s why she and Italy!

Everyone has a good region, but one thing is that there are too many bugels. But, as explained, it is the cable lifts that have the least destructive effect on the ice, which, moreover, is in constant motion due to global warming. The prospectus claims that the glacier moves 30-50 m a year! And every summer, 35 workers come here to restore the supports under the bugels. So, don’t complain, enjoy yourself and admire the harsh beauty of the local places.