Styria is beautiful. Just so beautiful and peaceful. Only on the slopes it is teeming with life. From morning to night.
As there are no queues on the lifts in Austria, unlike in Poland, you can ride without interruptions. And it tires. Therefore, I was convinced that the beautifully lit, night slope in Mondschein would be empty. And it turned out not to be. Skiers, snowboarders and tobogganers were filling the cable cars up the hill in unison. The well-kept, over 9 km long toboggan run is a great attraction here. I confirm, the ride was great!
Around the mountains
The Dachstein-Tauern ski region is one of the top five in Austria. It stretches between the villages of Schladming, Rohrmoos and Haus im Ennstal. It consists of several adjacent mountains connected by a network of ski lifts (the so-called 4-Berge-Skischukel). These are four mountains adjacent to each other (Hauser Kaibling, Planai, Hochwurzen, Reiteralm. Skiing is also possible on the Dachstein Glacier, although it is so flat that it is rather difficult to feel the wind in your hair while descending. It's perfect for snowshoes, and of course for learning how to ski.
In total, skiers in the Dachstein-Tauern region have 111 km of piste at their disposal. Mount Planai (1894m), which is reached from the center of the charming town of Schladming, you can sunbathe in the winter … on the beach. If necessary, in real beach baskets.
Without moguls and stones
The care with which the roads are cared for here is impressive. That they are constantly groomed - it is known. Most of them can be artificially snowed - not news either. But here, additionally, with the help of special "showers", water is dispersed under the snow cover, so that it, freezing, strengthens the cover. And that's why at the end of January, when the slopes in most of Europe were covered with grass, it was possible to ski here without any problems.
It is widely believed that the Dachstein Tauern region is very favorable for snowboarding enthusiasts. It is true that the professionally designed snow parks in Planneralm and Hochwurzen, Europe's largest snowboard run in Kreischberg, are at their disposal.
For fans of classic skiing, apart from the routes on the Dachstein Glacier, many others have been prepared. The longest in the whole region - 7.7 km is in Hochwurzen, and the fastest (FIS) on Planai).
Those with skis orthey have nothing to do with snowboarding, they can hike (on their feet or snowshoe) on 100 km of snow-free hiking trails, play ice bowling, ride a horse sleigh or lead a social life. Necessarily with a glass of the delicious Schilcher - a young, rose wine with a herbal-grass aroma, made from a special type of Blauer Wildbacher grapes, grown exclusively in Western Styria.