Welcome Innsbruck - Winter 2017/18

W E L C O M E 15 for experts, and especially in fresh powder snow is a breathtaking ad- venture. Ski tourers too get their money’s worth on the Nordkette, as do winter hikers, who not only have the fresh white beneath their feet, but a whole city. Aside from the sporting pleasure, relaxing and chilling too is a must for every guest. For one thing, there is the Panoramarestaurant Seegrube, which leaves no culinary desire unfulfilled from breakfast to a four-course menu. Plain traditional fare is served three hundred me- tres higher, at the Karstube. From January to April, finally, you’re invited to unwind in seventh heaven. The igloo bar Cloud 9, open daily from 09:00 to 16:00, is not just known for its congenially presented, meticulous ice carvings, but also for the highest sun deck. Friday evening is party time. From 18:00 to 23:00 there is dancing and entertainment to the sounds of international DJs. I N T H E S O U T H Opposite the Nordkette, the landscape becomes softer. The slopes of the Patscherkofel, which from this season can be scaled by way of the new mono-cable gondola lift, are gentler. From December, the doors of the lift, which takes you to the top in ten minutes, and of the new bottom, intermediate and top stations, are open all barrier-free. Two new restau- rants – Das Hausberg at the bottom station and Das Kofel at the summit station – cater to hungry visitors. Both are equipped with large sundecks, on which to enjoy not just the food and drink, but also hours of glorious sunshine and a terrific view of Innsbruck and far beyond. There is skiing pleasure for the whole family, on the Olympia run you can even follow in legendary historic footsteps. And on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, the Heiligwasserwiese is open for night skiing beneath floodlights. For ski tourers, too, the mountain offers more or less challenging routes. Route 1 leads along the Olympia run up to the top station, from where ambitious tourers can climb to the Gipfelstube (summit lounge) via Route 3 in about an hour. Route 2 – the Vitalweg – starts out near the intermediate station, close to the Patscher Alm, which is a great place for a little break, and leads along a gently sloping path through the woods up to the mountain shelter. The ascent takes about an hour. As far as the new, floodlit toboggan run is concerned, which will be eight kilometres long and bridge an elevation gap of 950 metres, and begin at the top station, we will have to wait. It will not be finished before next winter. Until then, however, we have perfectly groomed pistes with a snow guarantee, for the makeover also includes investment in a new snow-making system. W Auf der Patscher Alm kehrt es sich gemütlich und urig ein – von der Mittelstation ausgehend über die Patscher Alm führt die Skitourenroute 2, die Vitalroute, bis zur Bergstation. // The Patscher Alm is a great place for a break. Starting out from the intermediate station, the ski touring route 2, via the Patscher Alm, leads to the top station. Der Patscherkofel wird mit einer Bahn erschlos- sen – vier Anlagen werden durch eine ersetzt, wodurch 30.000 Quadratmeter Wald aufgeforstet und die Ökobilanz nachhaltig verbessert werden kann. // The Patscherkofel is made accessible by a single cableway. Four facilities are replaced by one, whereby moreover 30,000 square metres of wood can be replanted and the ecological bal- ance lastingly improved. Auf legendären Spuren bewegt man sich auf der Olympiaabfahrt am Patscherkofel. // Follow legendary tracks along the Olympia run on the Patscherkofel.