Snowshoe expedition
Snowshoeing—an ancient technique becomes a pure winter experience here
For thousands of years, snowshoeing was essential for human survival. In 2003, a snowshoe dating back more than 5,500 years was found on the Gurgler Eisjoch, made from birch branches and animal skins. At the Hotel Gassner****Superior in Neukirchen, between the Hohe Tauern National Park and the Wildkogel, modern snowshoeing is pure winter pleasure.
The ptarmigan does it, as does the snow hare. The fox can do it, and so can the weasel! And us humans? Well, we strap snowshoes to our feet, while animals, thanks to their special winter fur or plumage, increase their surface area in the snow all by themselves. This allows them—and us—to move effortlessly even in deep snow. If you want to enjoy snowshoeing to the fullest, the Hotel Gassner in Neukirchen, between the Hohe Tauern National Park and the Wildkogel, is the perfect place for you.
While snowshoes were once used for survival, today they have become a sport: quiet and sustainable. Modern snowshoes are made of sturdy materials and can be comfortably strapped onto sturdy winter boots. Without the need for birch branches or animal skins, they allow you to move through the quiet natural world, far away from the noise of traffic, snowplows, ski lifts, and crowds of people.
Our advantage over the Neolithic snowshoe hiker is that, first of all, we have winter hiking guide Monika at our side, who shows us the most beautiful places for snowshoeing in the Salzburg Pinzgau region: the Hohe Tauern National Park and the Kitzbühel Alps. And secondly, after the hike, we have the opportunity to warm up in the 1200 m² Crystal SPA at the Hotel Gassner, read a good book in front of the crackling fireplace, or relax in the tree house and immerse ourselves in the snowy panorama. Definitely a comfort that our ancestors did not know.
Snowshoeing is inherently slow-paced. Step by step, you trudge through the powder snow. The silence is not only soothing, but also respectful of nature: many animals have reduced their bodily functions to a minimum in order to survive the winter. If they are startled, they consume unnecessary energy – a risk to their survival. But it is precisely this silence, this "being a little mouse" in the winter world of the Hohe Tauern National Park, that is part of the appeal of this mode of transportation. When snowshoeing, we adjust our pace to the natural pace of humans – and in winter, that is even slower than in summer. This slowness corresponds to our nature, and our bodies and minds instinctively sense this – showering us with happiness hormones.
© Peter Maier
© David Innerhofer
© Hotel Gassner
© Linda Zeichmeister
© Hotel Gassner
It is well known that some people enjoy walking uphill but prefer to avoid walking downhill. In Neukirchen, there are several ways to avoid the latter. You can take the mountain railway back down to the valley or – the more exciting option – whizz down from the Wildkogel to the valley in Bramberg, the neighboring village of Neukirchen, on a toboggan. And this track is not just any track, but the longest illuminated toboggan run in the world. As a guest at Hotel Gassner, you can actually whizz down on a toboggan almost to the Crystal Spa on the hotel's own 1.5 km long toboggan run, which is illuminated until 10 p.m. and ends directly behind the hotel. However, we strongly recommend that you change your clothes between activities 😉.
For anyone who wants to bring the tranquility of nature into their room, the tree house at Hotel Gassner offers a special retreat: 147 square meters of private space among the treetops, forest birds, and sparkling snow. Whether it's cozy togetherness by the fireplace or relaxed family time – everything is possible here. mso-hansi-font-family: Aptos; mso-bidi-font-family: Aptos;">possible.
Would you like to leave your own tracks in the snow and experience snowshoeing in the Hohe Tauern National Park and the Kitzbühel Alps? Would you like to discover the most beautiful tours around Neukirchen and learn more about the winter flora and fauna? Then the Hotel Gassner****Superior is the right place for you.
© Daniel Breuer
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