Latest News
Thank you...
Date: 01/05/2008
We would like to take this moment to thank all of our guests for making our first season with Alpine Evolution a huge success, and for helping us to bring life to Chalet Gertrud Gabl.
Looking back it is amazing to think how far this venture has come over the last year. To all our friends and family thanks you for all your continual support and help in every way...
We wish everyone a fantastic summer and hope to see many familiar faces with us again in winters to come.
End of season...
Date: 28/04/2008
April probably saw one of its biggest ends to the season in recent years. With fresh snow gracing our slopes for the last three weeks running there were plenty of smiles to go around and more than a few last powder turns to be had by all.
The abundance of snow also added to the already thrilling Weisse Rausch. This allowed competitors more than enough snow on the finishing straight to hold on for dear life and complete the Arlbergs'most exciting anuual race in style. A race steeped in history and tradition with an infamous 'mass start'.
The Mooserwirt kept visitors going until the last day of the season and as always lived upto its reputation of being the best Apres Ski venue in the Alps.
Nasserein hosted its Spring Outdoor festival and saw a promising turn out of locals and visitors. Sausages and beers being the order of the day and shorts and flip flops marked their returned as Spring finally took its hold over the mountains.
To Fang House, a special mention and 'thank you' as they stayed open to the end allowing for resort workers of both old and new to reminisce over the season. It also gave everyone a chance to unwind following another very successful and busy winter in St Anton... Here's looking to 2008/2009...
Massive amounts of snow in late March will enable good skiing throguh until the last day of the lifts
Date: 26/03/2008
Winter returned last week across the Alps, with temperatures plumeting to -13 and snow falling constantly for almost a week. There is over 350cm on Glazig at the moment, which will be sure to keep people happy until the 20th April (the day the St Anton lifts close). After that, there will be definitely be lots of touring for those keen enough.
Guests and locals alike were exhausted last week after fresh nightly snowfalls meant that every day we were waking up to waist deep powder, to good an oppurtunity to miss (especially at this time of year). The snow on the piste also remains in tip top condition - Happy skiing!
Thoughts on skiing, happiness, and dogs bellies...
Date: 22/02/2008
Whilst recently reading the introduction of Powder magazine (Volume 36, Number 6) it made me smile when the writer (Derek Taylor) attributed the psychological and physiological pacifying effects of sliding downhill to rubbing a restless dog's belly until he falls asleep... Surely this makes perfect sense...
Fantastic snow and beautiful sunshine
Date: 10/02/2008
The start of February has brought the best overall conditions of the season so far. We had a heavy snowfall last Wednesday and Thursday, which brought in about 70cm of snow up top. Since then, we have had perfect blue skies every day, and cold nights keeping the snow in amazing condition. Although much of the off piste got trakced early on, there is more to be had if you wish to venture a little further - with Piste to Powder (see details on our links page) and pistes and deckchairs are not bad either!
Special offers on February weeks and weekends!
Date: 27/01/2008
We are offering a special price of £770 per person for the weeks commencing 10th February and 17th February... You can also come and stay with us just for the weekend for £500 for 4 nights and £485 for 3 nights. The snow is in perfect condition right now and we can make you all jealous by saying we had a bluebird powder day in Sonnenkopf this week, bouncing around in 1 metre of fresh snow! Heaven...
Excellent snow conditions and quiet pistes
Date: 17/01/2008
We just thought we'd let you all know of the fantastic piste conditions we have been having recently. We have been very fortunate in St Anton to have had a flurry of snow every three days or so over the past fortnight, and it has really kept the base layer in amazing condition. The run from Schindler to Rauz yesterday was 150% perfect...It's all good!
Celebrating New Year under a rocket filled sky!
Date: 04/01/2008
The dawn of 2008 was celebrated in style in St Anton with fireworks exploding in the sky for at least a quater of an hour before and after midnight. We (the Alpine Evolution team and lovely guests) stood near the entrance to the Museum restuarant, just up from the Galzig bahn in order to get a good view of the dazzling lights right down the valley to Schnann. Jason had the stove on the go, serving homemade Gluwein to fight the cold off, and had lit beautiful candles in the snow adding to the warm glow... May 2008 be a fantastic year for everyone!
Moonlight hike on Christmas Eve
Date: 25/12/2007
As Christmas Eve turned into Christmas Day dawned we were lucky enough to have a perfect full moon and take the opportunity to hike up the piste from St Christoph to Galzig to celebrate Christmas Day at the top, under the stars with 360 degree views of the Arlberg mountains.
Never before has the moonlight hike been so beautiful, with no one else there (except 2 Canadians who were very jealous of our camping stove and gluwein as they huddled over a Jaegermeister and beer) and it was especially wonderful to be hiking up on Christmas Eve and get to the top just after midnight.
At 1.15am we were pretty thankful to get back to a warm and cosy chalet, tired, frozen yet exhilerated and feeling very much alive!
Introducing Chalet Gertrud Gabl
Date: 06/12/2007
For those of you who have been patiently waiting for photos of Chalet Gertud Gabl, we are so pleased to finally show them to you. The chalet looks gorgeous, and the views are just magnificent. Especially on a day like this!
Have a look at our gallery page for some more...
Let is snow, let it snow...
Date: 05/12/2007
Over the past 2 days St Anton has seen a massive amount of snow fall. It is also the light and fluffy snow, the one we really like, the one that covers everything in its path, the one that's silent and dulls the noises around you, the one that's often referred to as 'champagne powder'!
Incredible day skiing
Date: 01/12/2007
Today the skies cleared and the Alpine Evolution team headed up the moutnain for a perfect first day of the winter season. The early snowfall has been such a blessing, and with such cold temperatures recently the snow conditions were fantastic. The pistes were perfect, with great runs from Schindler all the way down to Stuben. There was also fantastic untracked powder to be had.
The weather started to come in from the North West (the best direction) by mid afternoon, and we are due for another big snowfall over the next couple of days... It's magical to be skiing again.
£100 off for New Year and plenty of snow due this weekend!
Date: 07/11/2007
We have 3 rooms still available for New Year and so far it looks as though it's going to be a fantastic start to the season!
There is a special offer price of £790 per person and we'd recommend booking now as it's an incredible place to celebrate the coming of the New Year. Fireworks galore and it looks like there could be heaps of snow too!!
The winter season is gearing up...
Date: 06/11/2007
Following a cold October, the snow has started to fall in St Anton...Time to dust the cobwebs of your skis and book an Austrian ski holiday!
New ways to get to St Anton
Date: 28/10/2007
Fly BMI have introduced 6 new flights from various Uk airports to Zurich and Munich to ease your travel to St Anton.
In addition, both Ryanair and Easyjet have started flights from Liverpool to both Freidrichshafen and Innsbruck respectively.
Check out our travel page to see exactly where you can fly to and from.
Metro Ski and Board show
Date: 25/10/2007
Alpine Evolution visited the Ski show on Wednesday and we were pleased to see the diverse selection of stands there. Hope some of you manage to get there over the next few days, if anything, it will get you geared up and excited for the season ahead! (Especially if you put your head under the polystyrene snowflake machine...)
New UK telephone number for Alpine Evolution
Date: 17/10/2007
We can now be reached on 0044 (0)7954 357443 from October - November as well as our Austrian number 0043 (0)664 4460966... we look forward to speaking to you!
A brief enlightenment on the splendour of snow
Date: 29/09/2007
This is an extract from an article 'Deep Thoughts about the Deep' by Leslie Anthony in Powder Magazine September 2007. To me it somehow puts in to words the majestical awe of snow and the power it has to transform the world into an endless winter playground...
"Few things compare to walking through falling snow, except perhaps skiing through it. Something about tumbling flakes draws you out, teases the Id into consciousness. You're aware of a hovering desire to do something, derive engagement from the gathering medium, to be part of this transformation. At the same time this new and subtle beauty seems to steer your attention from mundane concerns and make fast the moment. A paradox in which tracings of the surrounding world are suddenly more apparent only because they've disappeared, replaced by an entirely new iconography: the intricate patterns of footfalls; flakes fluttering and swirling around corners;corniced constructs of driven snow; mounds bowing over gnarled branches;... drooping hats adorning posts; the cold, fresh, unfathomable smell; pervasive quiet worn like a shroud on a land where every angle is curved, every curve flattened, and every flatness mute."
The continuing stuggle to secure North Face, Rendl
Date: 20/09/2007
The thumping of the helicopter propellors is normally a sound which you associate with winter in St Anton, as those unfortunate enough to have broken something (finger's crossed!) are swiftly rescued from the mountain.
However this month, sees the Bergbahn working very hard to secure North Face on Rendl. They are putting up a growing number of avalanche barriers to try to keep this notorious face safe this year.
As the season nears, and you are itching to get thigh deep in powder, we will be writing more articles on avalanche danger and signs to be aware of, so you can still enjoy those addictive face shots and bluebird days.
Welcoming Thomas Ripper Ritzon
Date: 17/09/2007
Congratulations to Chris and Maggie Ritzon (Fang house) who gave birth to Thomas Ritzon on 12th October 2007...He has already had his first trip up Rendl and loved the fresh mountain air...A future downhill champion in the making!
The Farmer's festival
Date: 15/09/2007
Last Saturday was the day the animals came down from the rich summer pastures, to be tucked up cosy and warm for the winter. With all the cold weather recently the parade wasnt as large as it sometimes is, as many of the sheep and cattle had come down early. The day is really a celebration for the animals of St Anton, and the most productive cattle are adorned with the largest bells and decorative head-dresses.
Snow!
Date: 04/09/2007
It's freeeezing... Last night the first of the snow arrived for this winter season. It snowed down to 1800m and the locals say it will be a bumper of a snow year - finger's crossed!
Chalet Gertrud Gabl's Firstfeuer
Date: 30/08/2007
When the roof is completed on a buiding in Austria there is a tradition to have a party. And so, on the cold night of the 30th August 2007, with the roof kindly sheltering us from the rain, we blessed the Chalet Gertrud Gabl. By tradition, we attatched a small decorated tree to the roof and one of the builders read a poem and then smashed an empty beer bottle on to the floor (also a tradition apparently!)...More photos of the chalet to follow when the weather is not so bleak and miserable...
Congratulations Mr and Mrs Pearce!
Date: 24/08/2007
The celebration of the union of two wonderful people on a perfect day in St Anton am Arlberg.
Cheap flights for New Year and Christmas
Date: 20/08/2007
There are still cheap flights from Gatwick to Innsbruck with Easy Jet over New Year and Christmas weeks. Inclusive of all taxes, a return flight for either week is just £118. Have a look at www.easyjet.com.
EasyJet flys Gatwick to Innsbruck
Date: 06/08/2007
We are delighted to get confirmation that EasyJet will fly from London Gatwick and Bristol to Innsbruck this winter season. This is great news for those wishing to come and stay in St Anton as Innsbruck is only 1 hour away. There will be flights every day for Gatwick, except Saturdays and flights from Bristol will fly on Fridays, Sundays and Mondays. The train from Innsbruck to St Anton is 20 euros each way, or we can organise easy taxi transfers for you.
We advise on booking now as these seats will be in high demand.
Kampf der Giganten - Fight of the Giants
Date: 23/07/2007
The annual event, which kick starts the Dorf Fest, this year saw 6 teams compete. Each team must have at least 5 members, including 1 female. It starts on Saturday afternoon with a round of heats to see who makes it through to the final on Sunday.
The event is sponsored by the Mooserwirt and Kirsch Baum, who dreamed up a series of radical tasks for the teams to complete in as quick a time as possible. The photo on the right shows Steffi, (of the Horny Marmottes), stacking beer crates on top of each other whilst climbing the 'crate tower' herself. The highest number of stacked crates was an impressive 30.
The final tasks on Sunday were bid for. This years winners (FC St Anton) walked away with 750 euros. The runner's up (Team Taps) won a respectable 250 euros, which they donated to the Bergrettung - and were given a free apres ski session at the Mooserwirt - easily worth more than 250 euros!
What's been going on in St Anton...
Date: 23/07/2007
The St Anton Dorf Fest was a great success this year, with a very high turn out considering temperatures reached a record 36 degrees. The town was packed with stalls ranging from The Red Cross, to sweetie stands, to art displays, to'guess the weight of the rucksack'. The rucksack was filled to the brim with ski equipment including all avalanche safety gear, googles, beanies, gloves - and some lucky person managed to win the lot!
Throughout the weekend bands played traditional songs, chickens sizzled on the rotisserie and beer and schnapps flowed endlessly.
"A warm atmosphere and community pride are an integral part of the Tyrolean mentality".
Summer in St Anton
Date: 09/07/2007
People often ask us, “…what is there to do in St Anton in the summer??” assuming that the town shuts down once the last of the snow has melted away.... here are a just few options:
The summer season is from the last week in June through to mid September. The best months to visit are June and July as the wild flowers are in all their glory. From far away, the fields appear velvety green and it is not until you get close up that you are able see the incredible array of colours.
There are dozens of marked walking trails, ranging from the Sonnenweg which is a lovely meander through the forest where wild fruit is abundant, to more intense routes such as Leutkirche and Darmstatter. On most walks in the Arlberg area, you stumble across an Alm or two, which are open for coffee, cake, plates of fresh speck or Alm cheese. A number of walks follow rivers as they snake through the valleys, and they are a good spot to fill up on pure mountain drinking water.
Lech is also a gorgeous place to walk in the summer, and an area which we are only just beginning to discover for ourselves. The hills are gentle, and you can walk from village to village, past lakes and beautiful dairies, simply taking in the tranquillity of the mountains.
Mountain biking is a fun, fast and rewarding way to see the area. There are numerous tracks, around lakes, through the woods and plenty of downhills (as well as the uphills – naturally!) to feed the adrenaline junkies. The biking scene is becoming more popular here, and they now allow you to take your bike up Rendl gondola. The ultimate challenge in the summer, is the 42km bike marathon which starts in town, then up to Putzenalpe, Gampen, Verwall, Sattlekopf, Rendl and finishes by the swimming pool. There are plenty of places in St Anton to rent bikes.
If you are into rock climbing, there are some bolted routes in Schnann, an easy bike ride from St Anton. They are situated at the mouth of a gorge and vary from 5a to 8c (French grading). It’s a good place to learn.
Lazing by a swimming pool is also a great way to spend a day in the mountains. The views are to die for, and you can dose off listening to the dingling of cow bells and the whistles of Marmottes. There are outdoor pools in St Anton, Lech, Klosterle and Stuben.
Summer, I think, is one of the most spectacular times of year to be in the mountains. Doing sport, in fresh mountain air, surrounded by stunning scenery, can only add to the feel good factor. And it’s great to discover valleys, lakes, rivers and forests you would never imagine were there in the winter.
Feuerberge Festival (Fire Mountain Festival)
Date: 17/06/2007
Each year, on the second Sunday after Corpus Christi a festival of fires take place in the Tyrol.
The mountains are illuminated with countless bonfires, as well as worldly and religious motifs - such as goblets, crosses and hearts. It is a very impressive sight and there are a number of reasons for the celebration.
- As a reminder of 1796, when Napolean defeated Austria. The Tyroleans bitterly fought for their freedom and were said to pledge themselves to the heart of Jesus if they won (the day is also called Herz Jesu Sonntag).
- Over the ages, distress fires have been lit to warn of enemies approaching.
- As a celebration of the Summer Solstice.
Equally impressive is to think that groups of locals all around the Tyrol hike up these mountains laiden with firewood, fireworks and food. They climb as high as RendlSpitze, Riffel and Stanskogel. Once the fires have been lit, they then must make their way down to the valley in the dark. It is a great festival to watch, and a fine example of the traditions still celebrated in this world class ski resort.
This season's jam production is under way...
Date: 14/06/2007
With all the warm weather and afternoon showers we are having at the moment, there is plenty of fresh fruit. Here in Tyrol in the summer, there are strawberries, rhubarb, elderflower, wild chives (in Happy Valley), wild raspberries and blueberries (secret location!) and chanterelles. In South Tyrol there is mile after mile of Golden Delicious orchards and cherry trees by the road side.
The Alpine Evolution team have been hard at work making jams such as Strawberry, Strawberry and Vanilla, Rhubarb and Ginger and Apple, Cherry and Elderflower. In chalet Gertrud Gabl, these will be served alongside fresh bread and croissants to kick start your day! They are equally delicious spooned over a bowl of Homemade muesli and natural yoghurt...
The time for construction and renovation has begun again...
Date: 07/06/2007
And this year is no exception. Here is the main shop of Jennewein undergoing renovation to expand its facilities and open up more space for a larger clothes shop, ski and boot test centre and sales area.
Below is a bit information on other Ski and Snowboard shops in St Anton:
Alber - The main store in the centre of town has a fanstastic range of skis and boots for hire and for sale. They pride themselves on being boot specialists and stock the infamous Strolz liners, which are made to fit your feet.
Sno'Control - An outlet of Alber, designed for the younger, trendier crowd (!). It is a great place for goggles, helmets and other must haves, and also has an equipment hire/sale shop downstairs.
Surfer's Paradise - A snowboarding paradise, run by knowledgeable and helpfull staff. They have a good selection of the latest boarding fashion, accessories as well as selling top of the range snowboards and boots. They can also do repairs.
Sport Pete - A specialist clothing and equipment shop for the serious skier or telemarker. They stock brands such as Arcteryx, Ice Breaker and Mountain Hardware. Run by hardcore skiers, they definitely know what they are talking about!
The North Face Store - New to St Anton in 2006, it has a wide selection of all the excellent clothing, and especially ski gear, that North Face has to offer.
Snow in St Anton...
Date: 29/05/2007
Winter is here!
As I type this looking out of the Alpine Evolution office, snow is falling above 1400m. Rendl, Schongraben, Gampen, Mattun... it's all filling in.
Away with the mountain bikes, crank up those bindings.
Ever dreamed of your office being in the back country or fully mastering powder skiing?
Date: 24/05/2007
Run by friends of Alpine Evolution, All Tracks Academy is a professional family run company providing Ski and Snowboard courses in Whistler.
Ideal for a constructive gap year or a career break, and anyone wishing to revolutionise their skiing.
Seth Morrison eat your heart out!
If you are interested call Paul on 0844 800 9159
Alpine Evolution goes live!
Date: 21/05/2007
Welcome to our website... This has been an incredible work in progress and we really hope that you enjoy mousing through the text and images to get a feel of what Alpine Evolution is all about... We are an independant chalet comapny working solely in St Anton, in an envrionment we feel passionate about, to provide people with what we believe will be a fantastic chalet holiday.
Date: 14/04/2007
The official launch party of Alpine Evolution at the top of Valluga 2!