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München
Linz
Wien
St. Pölten
Salzburg Eisenstadt
Innsbruck Graz
At the end of the Lüsener Tal, the Lisener Fernerkogel entices at a height of 3299 m.
Klagenfurt
© Tyrol Tourist Office / Photo: Markus Jenewein
a true mecca of freesports, also captivating with its natural beauty such as the Wildspitze, rising to 3,774 m above sea level, and the powerful currents of the Ötztaler Ache. Hiking and trekking through the high mountains represents a special form of nature experience for many. Once you reach a certain elevation, you can hike along the crests of Tyrol’ s peaks. For example, to the“ famous” Berliner Hütte: From Mayrhofen in Zillertal valley, hikers walk three hours – across the Upper Zemmgrund, broad valleys, past the Grawandhütte, until they finally reach the Berliner Hütte and enjoy a well-deserved refreshment stop. This mix of an Alpine Association hut and Alpine hotel perched at 2,042 meters is, like many other huts in Tyrol, a piece of Alpine history. It was actually built back in 1878. Mountain hiking in Tyrol is a foray into an alpine landscape which combines gentle high meadows with barren rock. The right equipment is an absolute must for this kind of enjoyment. The trend towards guided hikes grows steadily. Mountain and hiking guides provide travelers with the necessary safety – as well
Even the world’ s best racers have respect for this hill: The legendary Streif on Kitzbühel’ s Hahnenkamm.
as insights into fauna and flora. The training to become a“ Tyrol Nature Guide” is unique, offered by the Tyrol Department of the Environment for the last four years. There are currently 80 such nature guides in Tyrol, ably introducing hikers to the special aspects of native animal and plant life. The new Peter Habeler Tour in Zillertal is spectacular. Peter Habeler, extreme climber and Mayrhofen native, conquered the world’ s highest peak, Mount Everest, together with Reinhold Messner in 1978, the first to do so without bottled oxygen. The route comprises 60 kilometers and seven huts, with distances ranging from 3.5 to 13 kilometers. For those who perhaps prefer something less“ leisurely”, Ambros Gasser of Alpine School Innsbruck especially recommends the Berliner Höhenweg, the well-known Adlerweg and the Lechweg. Also interesting is the Inntaler Höhenweg from Innsbruck all the way to Schwaz.“ This alpine trail treats you to open views of the Inntal valley time and again. Being able to enjoy a bird’ s-eye view of Tyrol’ s main valley has a fascination all its own”.
Kitzbühel and the Hahnenkamm Races
Tens of thousands in the finish area and alongside the course, as well as millions of viewers at their TV sets follow the races in Kitzbühel year after year. This is probably the world’ s most important ski race. There was actually a skiing movement in Kitzbühel back in 1893, with the first downhill race held in 1907. The first Hahnenkamm race was in 1931. Several hundred media representatives from around the world also pay their annual respects to Kitzbühel as they report on the event.
113 skiers from 17 nations have so far been privileged to present themselves on the winners’ podium to the excited fans. With 47 victories, Austria leads the field, followed by Switzerland with 16 and France with 12. On average, 20 different nations cross the starting line. Impressive and demanding total respect are the pistes of the“ Streif”,“ Streifalm” and“ Ganslern”. The Super-G on the Streifalm is probably the most spectacular of the winter ski season. Only select trainers are allowed to stake out the course here. The pros take barely two minutes to negotiate the Streif.“ My first time, I was afraid”, recalls Didier Cuche. Franz Klammer laughs today and says,“ I thought they must be crazy. But you get used to it, at some point I actually started looking forward to my runs in Kitzbühel.” Also exciting is the slalom on the Ganslernhang.“ There are around 120 different ways to mess up. The steep slope, the many transitions and the finish-flat demand a complete athlete”, describes former slalom winner Julien Lizeroux from France. The 74th Hahnenkamm race takes place from 24 to 26 January 2014 – besides the athletes, the spectators and the organizing committee also look forward feverishly to the upcoming races. We are especially pleased that the athletes always reinforce our efforts, especially since, for them, a win in Kitzbühel couldn’ t be more important.
Michael Huber is head of the HKR Organizing Committee
www. hahnenkamm. com www. skikitz. org