The gentle winter sport

For example: SNOWSHOE HIKING — Want to have a go? Like no other sport, modern snowshoes open up a whole new world of beauty to a broad audience that is now able to explore a, so far, unfamiliar but exceedingly charming facet of winter. Nature trend sports like snowshoeing don’t require special skills and can be enjoyed with relatively simple equipment. With snowshoes you’ll discover secluded winter wonderlands far away from the skiing pistes and cross-country skiing tracks. Untouched mountain valleys covered in deep blankets of snow, alpine pastures with glorious views, glistening powdery snow, tranquillity and solitude await the snowshoe hikers on their tours. Snowshoe tours don’t always have to take you up to Alpine summits. All that matters is the enjoyment of nature. Our range of offers at a glance: Comfortable hotel ambience with warm and thoughtful hospitality and three- or four-star comfort Culinary specialities ranging from breakfast buffet to wine tasting sessions Free-of-charge snowshoe rental including poles At least two snowshoe tours a week with professional guides Introductory course in snowshoeing Relaxation in the sauna/steam bath or wellness oasis and massages Enjoyable and cosy winter evenings, sitting by the fireside or tiled stove Varied weekly programme in the snow All you need to take with you are hiking boots that cover your ankles and a pair of gaiters to stop the snow from getting into your boots.

 Winter hiking Whether flattened snow or ploughed trails, the conditions will, naturally, always be a little different, depending on the weather. Always take your hiking poles with you — along with a flask of hot tea. Both aids are standard at Europa Wanderhotels. Usually, the winter hiking trails lead to some remarkable destination or take you around a village or area in a loop. Some trails go on for miles and miles while others reach a length of only two or three kilometres. A sparkling romantic atmosphere can be experienced on torchlight walks at nightfall. Pleasurable winter walks like these are regular features of the holiday programmes at Europa Wanderhotels. A few tips on the equipment and walking techniques on snowshoe hikes: the heavier you are, the larger the snowshoe surface area has to be chosen. Snowshoes should be light yet stable. As for shoes, mountain or hiking boots are sufficient, yet they ought to be waterproof and breathable. Europa Wanderhotels have a good selection of snowshoes suitable for beginners and advanced hikers. Clothing should definitely be breathable because many a tour in deep-snow conditions will get you sweating in no time Cross-country skiing poles or hiking poles with snow baskets will work. Better still are special snow or Nordic walking poles that additionally decrease the load on the arm joints. To begin with, try and get some experience on guided tours. No special qualifications or skills are needed. If you can run, you can snowshoe. Yet a fair level of fitness is always of benefit. The snow-walking guides at Europa Wanderhotels will show you how to snowshoe properly. If you are out on your own in deep-snow terrain, you should always be considerate of the wildlife that needs peace and quite at this time of year. Protect yourself from avalanches by planning your tour properly, taking the necessary equipment with you like an avalanche rescue device (beeper), and asking the hotelier for important tips.

Alpine touring If you’d like to try out Alpine touring with a guide, the minimum requirement is that you are comfortable with normal downhill skiing. The idea of Alpine touring (also known as backcountry skiing) is quite simple: you first ascend the mountainside with skins (plush fabric) attached to the bottom of your skis, which may take several hours, you have a rest on the sunny mountaintop before descending through the deep snow in typical downhill style. Ski touring requires cardiovascular fitness for the, in part, steep climbs — skiers frequently ascend next to downhill slopes, but they may also climb up slopes covered in very deep snow — and good downhill skiing skills. Cross-country skiing A freshly tracked cross-country run has something magical about it. As if an artist had sketched clean lines onto the virgin snow, the double track lures the cross-country skier into a sparkling winter wonderland. You might even feel a little like a train running along a railway. The trail sets the course and is renewed every night. You can explore the mountainous countryside like on rails. Gentle hills, sweeping descents, short moguls. Forest passages and, for the more advanced skiers, demanding ascents and descents. All cross-country skiing runs have signposts telling you their level of difficulty; the destinations and running directions are clearly marked and their entrance points are frequently right on the doorstep of Europa Wanderhotels.

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