Snowfall In Bad Gastein

Snowfall In Bad Gastein, Austria

It just started at 9AM on 1st Oct 2011. The raindrops changed to snow flakes floating in slow motion towards the ground and in just 1 hour Bad Gastein became white.This was the first snow fall of the season.Snow means the beginning of the Skiing season when the whole area comes to life.Skiers from all over Europe flock to the snow covered slopes and the Chairlifts and  Cable Cars run 24 hours every day and the Bars,restaurants, pubs,discos and the only Casino have the cash registers ringing continuously.

First Seasonal Snowfall, Bad Gastein

 We took a cab and went to the Stubnerkogel Cable Car to ride up to the mountain top. The whole area was covered with snow and the slopes which were earlier brown were now absolutely white.For people coming from tropical countries where there is no snow at all, standing in the cool breeze and snow flakes  floating all around is indeed a thrilling experience.  

Car Park of Stubnerkogelbahn Base Station

The cable cars were covered with fresh snow and we could not see much.The snow on the cable cars was increasing the weight also and had to be regularly cleaned.Since there were few tourists the cable car system was stopped.But as the number of tourists increased additional cars were pressed into service and the system was running continuously.

Cable Cars in Snow,Bad Gastein

The tall pine trees which on our earlier trip were standing tall and high were now bent with the weight  of the snow.The tourists in Bad Gastein were enjoying the snowfall and there was a group of American Tourists from New Jersey who wanted to go hiking in the snow all the way up from the mid point. But the staff did not allow them,probably they felt it was not safe.

Snow Laden Pines,Bad Gastein

We reached Stubnerkogel and there was nothing but snow all around. This time in the restaurant ,instead of the staple Stiegl Beer , Hot Chocolate was the most favoured drink  being enjoyed with Hot Apple Strudel and  whipped cream.The staff in the summit restaurant were not at all busy and were suggesting various dishes to beat the cold.

Snow Over Stubnerkogelbahn Summit Station

The snow on the ground was almost a foot thick and walking with shoes required some effort and it was slippery too. Since the snow as still falling the fresh snow as very soft and not at all slippery.

Thick Snow At Stubnerkogel Summit

After an hour of freezing we decided to go down  to Bad Gastein .The attendants of the cable car wiped the snow off the cable car windows and then we could get a clear view outside.

Interesting Video Of Cable Car Station In Snow

It did not last long -fresh snow accumulated again. It was snowing continuously at the top with a strong wind also blowing resulting in the cars swaying from side to side. Probably they cleared the snow to reduce the weight of the Cable cars also. 

Inside the Cable Car

We reached Bad Gastein and promptly headed for the Chinese restaurant across the Bahnof , for an excellent meal, hearty  both in terms of taste and the price. It was our last day in Bad Gastein and everybody congratulated us for seeing the first snowfall of the season.

China Restaurant Bad Gastein

Located in the city centre the China serves good Chinese food but is different from what it tastes in China or Hongkong. Probable it has been adapted for the tourists who come for skiing. 

Inside China Restaurant, Bad Gastein

China is tastefully  decorated on the inside and view outside is equally good-typically Alpine.

Snow Covered Alps From China Restaurant

Sharkfin Soup At The China Restaurant-Bad Gastein

Stubnerkogel Hilltop

Base Station,Stubnerkogelbahn, Bad Gastein, Austria

The new  Stubnerkogel Lift consists of two sections and runs from Bad Gastein directly up to the Stubnerkogel. It is a beautiful sight with Orange coloured cable cars gently moving up to the top against the back drop of green grass on the lower slopes of the Eastern Alps.The base station of the cable car system is located next to the Railway station. 

Machinery of the  Stubnerkogelbahn at Bad Gastein

This lift is the key installation in Gastein’s core ski area of Stubnerkogel – Angertal – Schlossalm, covering a length of 2,600 m and a vertical rise of 1,136 m. The cable cars move at a speed of 6M/sec or 22 Km/hr.Depending on the demand and number of tourists the Cable Cars seen in the background are introduced or removed from the operating system.

Chairlift at Bad Gastein

There is a chairlift also which winds its way up the slopes to Stubnerkogel mountain top. It works mostly in winter when the skiing season is at its peak with skiers repeatedly going up to the top in chairlifts and cables cars and skiing down at speeds depending on the individual skill.

Stubnerkogel Mountain Summit Restaurant

There is a restaurant at the summit of the mountain which serves all kinds of food throughout the year. Chilled beer is popular in summer and hot chocolate when there is snow.  In summer ice cream is popular while apple strudel in snow.                                                                     

Snow Capped Eastern Alps from the Observation Deck

Magnificent view of the snow capped Alps  from the Glocknerblick observation deck on the Stubnerkogel.The observation deck is jutting out of the mountains and supported by chains. It has glass covered holes in the floor so that one can have a view of the depths under the observation deck.

Stubnerkogelbhan Station at Mountain Summit

The cable car  lift up to the Stubnerkogel has been built at a cost of around €16.5 million. At a length of 2.6 kilometres, the lift is able to carry as many as 2800 people per hour from Bad Gastein to the main ski area.

Stubnerkogelbahn Summit 7400 Feet, Bad Gastein

The Stubnerkogel lift is one of the eight prize winning summer lifts in the province of Salzburg as it supplements the regional offer for tourists in the form of downhill hiking in summer and downhill skiing in the winter snow. 

 Summit Restaurant, Stubnerkogel, Bad Gastein 

In winter the whole area outside  becomes white with snow.

Cable Cars Descending, Stubnerkogelbahn, Bad Gastein

As the Stubnerkogel is exposed to wind, great importance is also given  to  reduce the  vulnerability to wind. This is achieved through reduced height and a change in the position of the supporting pillars - particularly in the sections where the lift enters the stations, higher roller rims, heavier cabins providing better behaviour under windy conditions as well as the use of the latest technology, such as automatic monitoring of the rope position using rope position detectors.

Stubnerkogel Cable Cars, Bad Gastein

The Stubnerkogelbahn is a top attraction of Bad Gastein and contributes towards making Bad Gastein a top destination for hikers and skiers.