Austria 

Spotlight On Altenmarkt/Zauchensee

(Originally written for OnTheSnow.com)
by Ted Heck

Altenmarkt and Zauchensee are spoken of in the same breath, even though they are several kilometers apart. The old market name of the former suggests a charming village, which it is. The latter is a purpose-built ski resort with slopeside accommodations.

They are marketed together as one of the leading venues in a region known for its large selection of places to ski. The region is called Skiverband Amade and it includes Sportwelt Amade, Sportregion Schladming-Ramsau, Gastein Valley, Dorfgastein-Grossarltal, and Hochönig Winterreich.

The vast region has 500 miles of prepared slopes and more than 260 lifts. Verticals over 4,000 feet and two-to three-mile runs, plus boundless acres of deep powder, satisfy downhill skiers and snowboarders.

Altenmarkt is only 44 miles from the city of Salzburg and is one of the regular stops in a popular program that includes staying in the historic city and busing an hour or so each day to a different resort in Salzburgerland. But if skiers stay in Altenmarkt, they can get caught up in the ambiance of a rustic village, pay less, and have lots of skiing right at hand.

Altenmarkt/Zauchensee has an area designated for freestyle skiing and often hosts competition for skiers who spin and jump in the air. The two villages were the sites of the 2002 World Cup alpine events for men and women.

Cross country fans have 160 miles of tracks. Other winter sports include everything from ice skating to rodeling in the moonlight on sleds you steer with your feet.

This writer has two fond memories of the area: an important assist by a native and a memorable meal.

The help came from a friendly driver, who pulled up behind our van when the road to Zauchensee was blocked by a huge tree that had fallen across the road.

“One moment, please,” he said, as he pulled a chain saw out of his trunk. In a few minutes he had cut the tree in several pieces that we were able to drag to the side of the road. He waved as he drove off, leaving us to wonder if a chain saw is standard or optional equipment in a Mercedes.

In Zauchensee, I was introduced to Kaiserschmarren, a popular dessert of chopped-up pancakes and fruit. What made it special was that several of us ate from the same huge skillet, perhaps two and a half feet in diameter. We invited Austrian strangers to dig in; it was a great way to make new friends.