We woke up to snow again, overnight it had dropped another 10cm and the snow
plough had been rumbling up and down since crazy o'clock - earlier than
yesterday. The avalanche risk was high so the option was to either go piste
skiing or else take another rest day.
The snow stopped around 10 am so we decided to go for a tourist expedition to
Mayrhofen taking in the Zillertalbahn from Jenbach. We parked in the P&R
(park and ride) beside the Jenback station and bought tickets to Mayrhofen -
this is a simple branch line form the main Inn valley line, and so just did this
simple journey then returned. In the summer there is a puffer on this line, but
it does not start until may.
On the train we watched the mountains down the Zillertal, past Fugen where we
had driven earlier and on through Zell and to Mayrhofen. As we rode the train
the weather improved and the sun was coming through the clouds
The train station is away from the town centre, so we walked up and around the
town. Luckily this was the off-season adn the streets were not very full.
We walked up to the two big lift stations at the top of town.
Back to a open concert stage where we paused for lunch, then back to the train
station for the return journey. The only challenge was that the ticket office
was closed for lunch and we had to buy them on the train. By now the sky was
clear and sun shining.
The return followed the same as the outward journey, only we sat on the
other side to see both sides of the valley through the day. This time getting a
good view into the impressive wood yard at Fugen.
Back
at Jenbach we picked up the van then returned to the apartment via the
supermarket for supplies.
The day had turned out different the forecast and initial expectations, although by the evening the clouds were back again. The avalanche risk was now quite high, but it was a shame to have missed the sun.
