Cross-country skiing in Austria: The Berghasen check out the Nordic trails in the Salzburg region

The bitterly cold January days with fabulous powder snow were followed this week by a period of warmer weather with scattered rain. The conditions in the mountains? No longer ideal. The snow was wet and heavy. So the Berghasen, Susi and Vroni, sprightly sports students and bloggers, headed out to test the Nordic trails in Werfenweng near Salzburg for the FITAPP community.

The Berghasen decided to celebrate the start of the half term break by heading out on their cross-country skis. They soon found a suitable trail near their hometown of Salzburg. The chosen destination was Werfenweng, half an hour from Salzburg via the motorway. A thick cloud layer held the usually clear mountain peaks in its grip. Our decision not to head up high appeared to have been a sensible one.

We parked the car in Wengerau, a valley basin in the furthest hidden corner of Werfenweng. There was little more than a farm, an alpine hut and some steep rock faces. We felt at home; it was fantastic.

Sunshine after rain

Just as we clipped in to our Nordic skis and took our first steps on to the freshly groomed tracks, the clouds began to lift. We caught a glimpse of the mountain panorama around us through the window in the clouds and spied the Kemetstein and the Eiskogel reigning over us.

It was early, and we were the first and only skiers to set foot on the tracks. The Nordic skis made an unaccustomed change to the numerous ski tours of the previous weeks. Vroni joked that “it felt like I had stuck toothpicks on my feet.”

But we had underestimated just how tiring cross country skiing is! The tracks often snaked upwards, leading to speedy descents. Every time we reached the top of a hill, we stopped to catch our breath before clenching our poles under our arms and shooting off down the next slope.

Tailor-made for everyone

In Werfenweng, a well-groomed network of cross country trails waits to be conquered. Whether you are a beginner or an ambitious Nordic skater, there is something here to allow everyone to find their own rhythm. The Wengerauloipe is, as we can testify, an energy-sapping option. Accomplished cross-country skiers will have a whale of a time on the nine kilometre track which includes almost 200m of height gain.

A more gentle option is the Eulersbergloipe. Skating beginners can fine-tune their skills on this stretch or classic skiers can glide through forests and eavesdrop on the owls of Owlmountain, as the Eulersberg is called.

If, however, you want a view over the whole of Werfenweng, your best bet is the Panoramaloipe. This trail leads from the centre of the village up to the sunny plateau on the Zistelberg. Here, a generous panorama opens up encompassing the Tennengebirge, the Hagengebirge and the Hochkönig. The trail steers you past old farmsteads and through untouched landscape.

Cross-country skiing makes you hungry. It took less than two hours for us to find this out! Along the trails there are numerous enticing places to stop for refreshment. We were tempted in to the Wengerau Alm where we enjoyed a sausage salad with freshly baked bread.

Conclusion of the day: In Werfenweng, the cross-country skiing is second to none. It’s the perfect alternative for every winter sports enthusiast wanting to improve their stamina and to have an all-body workout. And for everyone who does want to head up high, two tips: ski tours to the Eiskogel and to the Werfener hut are amongst the very best in Werfenweng.

Follow the Berghasen on Facebook and Instagram for excursion ideas and insights into the world of sports.

Read more about the Berghasen and about FITAPP Premiere here when they take a wintery hike up the Schlenken (1,648m) near Salzburg.

Blog: https://www.berghasen.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/berghasen
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/berghasen/

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