Montafon/Vorarlberg: Excellent climber

[EasyGallery id='montafon']
(Click on image, browse image gallery)

Perfectly groomed slopes, top-class sporting events and impressive nature: On and off the more than 218 kilometers of slopes, the Montafon offers ideal winter sports conditions at reasonable prices. Recently awarded many times, and gladly visited by families with children as well as winter sports professionals like Ted Ligety. Here, families as well as freeriders and off-piste skiers get their money's worth.

by Henning Heilmann

Only a few kilometers from the Swiss border lies the Montafon, which unfolds its charms in a rustic alpine valley between Verwall and Rätikon. Affectionately known as "Mufu" by the locals, the valley offers beginners as well as ambitious skiers one of the largest and most varied ski regions in Austria, catering to a wide range of needs.

Even a glance at the bare figures is impressive: over 218 kilometers of slopes and 61 lifts are a proud offering. But what makes skiing in the Montafon interesting above all is the diverse offer. Large ski areas such as the Silvretta Montafon with 140 kilometers of pistes are just as much a part of this as smaller hidden ski areas for beginners and families. Gentle, wide sunny slopes can be found as well as tricky steep slopes, ski routes and deep snow variations including freeride safety check for experts. The Kristberg slopes are especially recommended for families with small children. The manageable sunny slopes in the idyllic Silbertal are ideal for the first skiing attempts. Those who stand on the boards for the first time will be satisfied. Fun in the snow with the whole family is also guaranteed on a toboggan run on the natural toboggan run on Hochjoch and Golm or night tobogganing on Garfrescha.

Versatile skiing pleasure
The Silvretta Montafon ski area, with 140 perfectly groomed kilometers of slopes one of the largest in Austria and the largest ski area in the Montafon, leaves nothing to be desired even for experienced skiers. On the longest valley run in Vorarlberg in the Silvretta Montafon on the Hochjoch or on the "Montafon Totale", where ambitious skiers conquer 36 kilometers and 8,000 meters of altitude, there is no room for boredom even on the last day of skiing. On Wednesdays, early risers can enjoy virgin slopes on the "HochjochTotale" shortly after seven. Before the lifts are officially open, the slope climbs to an altitude of 2,430 meters and then descends all the way back down to the valley. Corresponding heights make the skiing area particularly snow-sure. Here you can ski and snowboard from the beginning of winter until long into spring with perfect conditions. With numerous awards, the ski resort has recently become one of the rising stars among Austria's ski resorts.

Tests of courage in the Montafon
If you're looking for a real kick to put your talent to the test, you don't have to look far in the Montafon. With no less than seven extremely black slopes, the so-called "Black Scorpions", the Silvretta Montafon ski area entices skiers with a new challenge every day: the Nova and Nova Süd steep slopes, the Schwarz-köpfle slope and ski route, the Sennihang and Abhenkina ski routes, and the Sennigrat slope - all with inclines of up to 81 percent. The Sennigrat slope in particular demands everything from expert skiers. Standing with the ski tips at 2,300 meters above the slope and breathing in the fresh mountain air, then waving down the icy slope - a real adrenaline kick. The "Diabolo Downhill" in the Golm ski area is also downright devilishly steep. Up to 70 percent slope want to be overcome here. The Vorarlbergers shout "Trau di ahi" from below.

Best for freeriders
Freeriders are not looking for prepared slopes, but like to go new ways. For this purpose, they will not only find many avalanche-safe ski routes in the Montafon, but also several "freeride routes" from deep snow beginners to real professionals. The latter are variant descents and ski tours away from the actual ski area, which can be discovered at your own risk. Since last winter, a "Free-ride Guidebook" has been published especially for the Silvretta Montafon ski area. This is available in the Silvretta Montafon Intersport branches and in the Freeride Infocenter at the mountain station of the newly built Gras-joch cable car and contains 77 exciting routes, including extremely difficult routes. In addition, there is the possibility to participate in "Freeride Safety Checks", there are avalanche transceiver checkpoints and guided tours. It is no coincidence that the Silvretta Montafon ski area was selected as "Freeride Hotspot No. 1" in 2013 and is also popular with professionals such as Ted Ligety.

Powdering in the powder snow
At 1,423 meters above sea level, Gargellen is the highest winter sports resort in the Montafon and offers a breathtaking natural backdrop at the end of a side valley. The ski area reaches up to 2,300 meters and is particularly snow-sure. Although only 28 kilometers of slopes, the ski area is like a microcosm of the diversity of the Montafon. Ambitious skiers and ski tourers enjoy the winter here just as much as families and beginners. About sixty percent of the slopes are blue, yet difficult ski routes and ski tours also attract skiers. A highlight is the Nidla variant descent, where 500 meters of altitude and 387 turns in deep snow are conquered under professional guidance.

A rustic stop
What would skiing be without the hut party afterwards? In Montafon, skiers don't find the big après-ski circuit with endless DJ parties, but they do find rustic mountain huts where the motto "Auf dr Alm da gibt's ka Sünd" (There's no sin on the mountain pasture) can still be taken literally. Particularly popular are rustic mountain hut evenings followed by night tobogganing fun. Whether it's a stop-off with your skis or a prelude to night tobogganing down into the valley, the Brunellawirt at the mountain station of the Garfrescha cable car in the Silvretta Montafon ski area is particularly recommended. Contrary to a widespread trend, there is no continuous cultivation here and the hut has retained its original charm. So the rustic wooden hut is of course usually packed, so you should definitely make reservations in advance on rode evening. But in return the wallet is not strained: A portion of Käss-pätzle is still available for 9.90 EUR, and if you want to be considered a true Vorarlberger, you can order it in the old tradition with homemade potato salad and you're guaranteed to be full afterwards. Vacationers from Switzerland will be pleased at Kartoffelgröstl with fried egg for 10,50 EUR, where do you find such prices still in Switzerland? Some will also allow themselves a Raclette Swiss kind for 22,90 and discover with the relaxed hut feast the linguistic relationship of the "Muntafu" with the Rätoromani. In addition a few Obstler, and already it goes "ahi in the valley". The illuminated night toboggan run Garfrescha is with a length of 5.5 km one of the longest in Austria. But not only at the Brunellawirt, in the entire Montafon the prices are still gastronomic instead of astronomical, and not only cheaper than in most ski resorts in Switzerland, but also cheaper than in many other Austrian ski resorts.

Have fun and save
Let's take an example: You want to join the best athletes at the FIS Snowboardcross World Cup and the FIS Ski and Snowboardcross European Cup (December 5-15), ski for three days in the entire Montafon and be there when the Sportfreunde Stiller perform. Skiers can afford this fun with the "World Cup Montafon" package starting at 165 EUR per person including three nights with breakfast. Families can save in the firn snow in the spring likewise: From mid-March to the end of the winter season, skiing and living (in the parental bedroom) is free for children born 2002 or younger in participating establishments. That saves so some in the vacation cash. And is well invested in the next Montafon vacation.

Excellent connected
Not only ski vacationers from Switzerland will be pleased that the Montafon is well connected by train. International trains stop at the Bludenz train station. Direct connection exists with Railjet from Zurich-Vienna, travel time from Zurich 1:46 hours. From Bludenz to Schruns it is only 20 minutes with the Mon-tafonerbahn, and only a few hundred meters from the Schruns train station, the longest ski run in Vorarlberg beckons at the Hochjoch. The Bludenz-Schruns route costs only 2,60,- EUR one way. With a ski pass Montafon Montafonerbahn and ski buses in the Montafon, which run to all ski areas, are free during the validity period.

The link to the vacation region