The kickoff of ski season at Germany's towering peak, the Zugspitze, brought forth a delightful blanket of fresh snow and a cloak of fog last Friday. Verena Tanzer, the spokesperson for the Bavarian Zugspitzbahn, mused on the joyous opening, "Frigid temperatures, heavy snowfall, poor visibility – but a sheer delight in the abundance of snow."
Despite the adverse conditions, just as Tanzer predicted, the locals, especially those with season and annual passes, embraced the crisp air and skied with fervor at heights surpassing 2000 meters above sea level. The initial cabins thrived with activity as three lifts were operational, and eight slopes could be explored – a relatively substantial number compared to ordinary beginnings. Notably, it's been a decade since the mountain witnessed this mammoth snowfall at the beginning of the ski season.
The Zugspitze wasn't the only contender for winter enthusiasts; midweek saw winter operations in the Black Forest, followed by the Söllereck in Allgäu the very next day. The unpredictable sequence of events was a consequence of the recent heavy snowfall.
Predictably, winter sports lovers needed to find a few extra euros in their pockets. Prices have hiked up by approximately 4–10% in various ski resorts. For instance, the Zugspitze and the Garmisch Classic ski area, now cost 62 euros for a day ticket, which is a 5 euros increment from the previous season. Similarly, prices in Austria will skyrocket by up to 10%.
Undeterred by the costs and the lingering effects of the coronavirus pandemic and energy crisis, enthusiasm for winter sports is unshakeable. Antonia Asenstorfer, Managing Director of Alpen Plus ski resorts and board member of the Association of German Cable Cars and T-bar Lifts, reveals that season ticket sales are thriving. "Winter sports fanaticism is unbroken," she says. Lift operators are optimistic that the approaching winter will be largely conventional, with favorable snow conditions.
Additional Information
- Temperatures at the summit vary from a high of -5.5°C to a low of -11.5°C, with clear stretches of weather and cloudy spells forecasted for the upcoming days.
- Snowfall details for February are relatively average, with approximately 26 cm (10.23 inches) of snow predicted to fall across three to four days of the week.
- Hotel prices can fluctuate, with 3-star hotels averaging $188 per night, 4-star hotels around $341, and 5-star hotels reaching $584. Specific hotels like Hotel Alpin, Boutique Hotel Bellevue Lermoos, and Landhaus Sonnenbichl Mittenwald offer quality breakfasts and varying price points.
