Top Mountain Report 2010 part I

Winter... skiing... traditionally, week 1 is reserved for Ischgl, Austria with some old friends. Actually, I been lucky to meet my old friend Nina just by a chance. The world is definitely a small place...

So let me began...


View from my room... not so much snow in the village...


but on the mountain...


perfect weather and condition...


a small pat of the L'Equipe sport...


view on the famous Schatzi apres ski bar...


and it's interior ;-)


next day time for my off-piste skiing...


on ca. 2800 m...


there is no much new snowfall, so effort is necessary...


finally something fun...


not so short video made by my friend Horst. Go 2 minute in for an action...


alright, time for a break in in Alpenhaus...


some James Bond picture...


hmmm... not sure how to approach this terrain...


and the end game with not so good weather...

If you haven't been there, just pack your bags and go!

Next station, the Vallee Blanche, Chamonix :-D

Top Mountain Report I

Yep, it is time to ski again.

Last week I've been in Ischgl, Austria with some old friends and meet some new friends.

But even before I start writing this post… I see a problem. How do I rank the mountains? There are so many unknowns; like slopes, accessible off-piste, lifts, cable-cars, après-ski, food, etc. So, I promise I'll try my best.

I've been in Ischgl a number of times, starting from 2000 or so, and each time I saw those peaks, it reminds me of good times! The question is what's so special about this small Tyrolean village surrounded by huge wild goats? In short, everything! The weather was glorious, the skiing superb, the wine and the food divine...

If I say, a picture is worth a thousand words, I know it is a cliché, but as a matter of fact, I don't see any other way to describe this rather complex story, so let's begin!


The biggest wild goat I've seen thus far.


At the beginning, we had some serious Champagne in arguably the best après-ski bar: Trofana Alm, Ischgl. After an hour or so, one starts singing along to German songs... just like a native!


L'Equipe Sport...


and me.


We end up in Schmuggler-Alm, restaurants in Samnaun, Switzerland.


Once more... a good fireplace...


and perfect Swiss cheese fondue...


The next day, we saw the possibilities. It is like a bubblegum machine...


with some ridiculously good fish dish at 2500m!


The time has come for some off-piste mountain skiing :-D


We start from Palinkopf,


and we end end up, by my opinion, at one of the most dangerous place on earth!


Fortunately, I made it out alive :-D


Of course, Mario, our guide, is happy. He don't need to carry anyone to the hospital :p


We also saw some wild goats along the way,


and I've experienced nature with an artist's eyes.


Short video...


L'Equipe Off-piste...


The Moon is already around, so, time has come to go down from the mountain. The question is how?


Of course, we chose to go the hard way, and


end up in the famous Kuhstall, in the village center. Save St Anton, Ischgl must be the apres-ski capital.


Next day, at the beautiful open fireplace in Alpenhaus, in a new restaurant with a rustic wood-stone-glass architecture.


Emil brings a good dish of an


austrian variant of the shish-kebab, delight!


We forgot to visit Schätzi... isn't this the right time to do so?


The end game...


Unfortunately, everything that has a beginning has an end. I took couple of hours in Vienna. It helped me to relax and come down.

Visit Ischl at least once in your lifetime!

That's it! Next station, Cortina d'Ampezzo :-D

PS. I've found my missing pictures from Hvar on my SD card, so I'll post these as soon as possible.