A snow day on Kitzsteinhorn

Top of the Kitzsteinhorn

Those wonderful tourist passes provided by our pension hosts gave us two mountain trips today.  Kaprun, the town next to Zell am See, is the access point for ski lifts up to Kitzsteinhorn (3203 m), known for its summer ski opportunities.  Our passes got us free rides on the three-leg lifts to the top.  The price would have been 30E each!


At the top of leg two we were already into snow, and many visitors just stopped there and played in it. Lots of Muslim families seemed to enjoy this area.  We went on to the top where many ski lifts to various slopes were available and some skiing was in evidence. It was a fine sunny, though somewhat hazy, day so the vast mountain ranges don't show clearly in our photos.  We had brought along light jackets but were in shorts since it was in the mid-80s below.  Just enough not to mind the cold at the summit.  After spending some time on the outdoor viewing platforms we looked at a brief movie on the Hohe Tauern National Park, and Rob walked the long tunnel into the mountain, with exhibits along the way.  When I felt that 0 degree celsius (32 F) tunnel air, I opted out.

lower reservoir on our tour

Back down by 1:30 and a short ride to today's second activity.  First a picnic on a somewhat convenient ledge.  Then the 30 minute bus trip (cost 19E but free with our passes) up to the two reservoirs that feed the Glockner Kaprun power station.  Half of that 30 minutes was spent in tunnels.  The reservoirs are actually on the eastern side of the Kitzsteinhorn, but not visible from the viewing stations.  We caught the last bus up (3:15) and the last one down (4:45), giving us 45 minutes to walk across the dam and back.


Rob had planned another late afternoon ride but the weather was somewhat threatening so we headed back to our hotel and will walk this evening if rain holds off.