The southern Alps in Italy have been getting hammered with some big storms this last week or so, but it's been quiet and dry here in Austria on the north side of the main Alpine ridge. In the last few days, though, the snow forecasts here shot up unexpectedly, so this morning we woke up early in Fügen and waited for the ski bus in the rain (which I know by now is a very good sign!). When the bus dropped us off at the Hochfügen ski area a half hour later, I was delighted to see a good foot or so of fresh powder in the parking lot! Better yet, there was only one other person there waiting for the gondolas to open!

The first run was insane - over a foot of pristine powder on top of a steep, long groomer, and not a single track yet. Pure bliss... like soaring down a cloud! Got back on the gondola, went back to the same run, and still only our two tracks there. Did it again. Just... wow. We rode/skied all day long, mostly lapping my favorite gladed stash with fresh lines every time.

Back home at any Colorado ski resort a powder day like this would be pretty much tracked up within a couple hours tops. So you could say that to get fresh tracks for six hours straight is like having three powder days in one! 🤔 (I can do maths).