C
lose your eyes and imagine
a place where the skies are
a bit bluer and the clouds a
little fluffier. Magnificent
mountains are awash with
a thick coating of the most pristine
snow ever to fall. The air is crisp and
the sun strong. In the early morning,
the only discernible sounds come
from church bells and the crunch
of snow beneath heavy, cumbersome
ski boots. Evenings bring stars, snow
and sometimes bot h. Now, imagine
quaint villages, where people in
woolen layers surround roaring fires,
while sipping on strong spirits. This
place not only exists in your mind,
but also in the western most end of
Austria. It’s known as the Arlberg.
Winter Activities
Serious skiers should know this
region. After all, the Arlberg is
the cradle of Alpine skiing, where
Hannes Schneider developed modernday downhill ski techniques nearly
100 years ago. Ski Club Arlberg is
one of the oldest in the world, where
members include Olympic and world
champions. For the purist, skiing the
Arlberg is not only an opportunity
to experience the sport’s historical
roots, but also some of the very best
snow and terrain in all of the Alps.
Here, mountains reach as high as
9,200 feet and receive an average
of twenty-three feet of annual
snow, creating a dramatic and
awe-inspiring landscape. It’s no
wonder that ski resorts, Lech Zürs
and St. Anton, draw winter sports
enthusiasts from over fifty countries
each year. As part of the prestigious
Best of the Alps organization, Lech
Zürs and St. Anton resorts are not
only known for their tremendous
Alpine activities, but also their
historical significance and tourism
infrastructure.
For centuries, humans have
attempted to conquer these
mountains. Treacherous passes,
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