We had a big discussion last night after dinner once again looking for
snow that could be reached from the car. I had remembered that there were
three routes at St. Johann sponsored by Dynafit and in the hope that they were
like the ones in Areches (outside the pistes) we chose to go and investigate
them. We picked the Eichenhof valley station to begin our tour. However this
route was a little disappointing in that it was just up the side of the
piste.
We could not work out if we needed a ticket or even how they would police it. So
we each bought a touren geher one 7 euros plus one 4 euro for the car. Then set
off to the base station. We were six today - we had met up with Tim and Michael
from AAC UK branch and they brought along Steve.
The place was crowded with people still on their holidays and the car park
was full.
We started up the left of the initial piste - noting the ribbon of man-made snow
keeping this going.
This led up via a couple of steep ramps to the top of the bubble car lift. Here
a short break to de layer and we were off again
This time on the right hand side of the piste. This was consistently steep with
a step in the middle.
The second ramp lead up following the E2 chair lift.
A second fold in the slope showed the start of the E3 lift to the right, and we
continued up the side of piste #1 to a point where the route was supposed to
cross over to follow piste #3. This was bare in places so we continued up the
original direction.
We veered off the edge of the piste to cross an area of rougher ground between
the two pistes. This gave a different feel to the constant angle of the
piste.
We reached a grand crossing area where several pistes defining the edge of this
rough area met.
We crossed over to the right hand side of piste #3 dodging the skiers coming
down and changing their mind about which piste to use to continue.
We reached a point where a forest tack touched the piste, and I did wonder about
using it for the rest of the ascent, however I declined - luckily so as I later
saw it was bare in places. We paused for the bungee to compress once again. At
this point Tim and Michael chose to take a brief pause while the rest of us
continued. We would re-group at the top station.
We continuing up the side rough area, then onto the piste edge when this ended.
The track reached the top station for the Eichenhof #2 lift.
Crossing over past the chair station and we worked behind cutting the corner off
to the righthand side of the #4 piste.
We followed the edge of the piste around a shoulder.
This narrower forest track section that led to the side of the summit cone.
The final section was up the summit cone - by now the snow had softened
considerably and we were working through slidey corn snow zigzagging to the top
and the associated buildings (lift station, and restaurant, etc.)
We stopped by a convenient rondel for lunch before giving in to the siren call
of the restaurant, and a side order of drinks. We all gathered as Tim and
Michael arrived with no hurry to descend.
Back out and skis on for the descent... the top section was corn snow moguls
(similar to yesterday), followed by an icy ride down the link road.
Then down the #3 and #2 pistes in steps to the top of the bubble lift.
Followed
by the final drop to the base station. That was 930m ascent - the most so far
this trip.
The route was the most disappointing so far - not bad, and elements within the party were lookign to return to the top for a second descent (buying a one way ticket), however the route could be done on automatic with out any route finding or any care over foot placements. Similar to walking on a flat pavement as opposed to cross country paths.
As an after thought I think that the ticket would have allowed us to go up the
first section of lifts - I guess later in the season the final section to the car park would be closed with just the sections above being powered by snow cannons. If this was the case we could have got away without paying, however it did support the infrastructure.
