Four wheel ski adventure
The ski season has finally started, so we decided to start it in the well-known Austria. If you've read our previous blogs about camping, you may have noticed that we always remembered at the last minute where we were going and if we were going on a trip at all. This time the planning had to be a little different (read more seriously and more responsibly) because we still had to go to temperatures with a negative omen and we went with two campers. The Plan was to use four days after Christmas on several Austrian ski resorts, so it was important to ensure that each camper had two full gas bottles, that snow chains and winter protection for the windshield were stored in the trunk!and much more!
Since we started the day after Christmas, we didn't have to worry about food because all that was left of Christmas (read two turkeys with grills, a bunch of Sarma, salad, etc.) we just transferred to the RV. The night before departure, we packed all the things in the camper (ski equipment, food, water, clothes, everything!).
So we left early Thursday morning at about 5 o'clock and headed to the first destination: the beautiful ski resort Katschberg-Aineck. Important information for campers: we have parked the camper in a special parking lot for campers: https://maps.app.goo.gl/PNzya1ca6dJgL98b9 where he laughs and spends the night. There is no electricity, water or other sanitation in the parking lot. Until last year, they tolerated overnight stays, without any charges, and from this year the price of overnight stays (from 00:00 to 06:00) is high 25 EUR, regardless of the number of people. Parking and charging works so that when entering the parking lot, the camera removes the vehicle license plate, and before going to the kiosk, pay for the night (exclusively with a card) by entering the license plate of your vehicle. Very simple and practical.
Although all the weather forecasts announced and showed that it was -6 degrees in that part, it was not so. In this valley, temperatures in the morning drop to -15 degrees, while up on the ski slope it was about 0 degrees. Everyone who plans to go to that part of the camper should prepare at much lower temperatures than announced.
This was also a great test for our two campers at very low temperatures when we were off the grid. Since all our campers have Winter packages which include truma gas heating of 6 KW, grey water heating etc., we were not worried at all that we would freeze (neither US, nor the camper). While we were at the ski resort, we kept the heating in the camper at a pleasant 15 degrees, and after returning to the camper, we would turn the heating up to 23 degrees and enjoy a warm evening and night.
But let's get back to what it really is – skiing!
So, the first day of snow adventure: Katschberg-Aineck! 70 km of ski slopes that meet all levels of skiing; Kamperi.hr the team also has those not so great skiers in the team, as well as those who could try out in some FIS competition. One part Kamperi.hr the team liked the part better Aineck, while the second part of the team liked the part Katschberg.
What we have to praise are their new and fast gondolas, and most of all – the ski slopes held up to 16 hours phenomenally! Hupser was almost gone. It's a really nice ski resort, so we decided to stay here the next day.
Both days the weather served us, so the whole day was sunny, without wind and precipitation, just a real winter ski idyll.
Waking up in that parking lot was also a fairy tale because from the camper you have a view of the beautiful surrounding mountains covered with snow and illuminated by the morning sun.The View for painting and filming was spoiled by a German with Adria who parked right next to us in the evening, and the rest of the parking lot empty. Not to mention the buzz of his heating which was so noisy and irritating... but the fatigue from skiing did its part, so despite the buzz of the neighboring camper, we all fell asleep very early…
Although the plan was to be the first on the track in the morning (because we still spend the night next to the entrance to the ski resort) and to ski on the famous tracks, this plan failed because some members of the team became real snails overnight. We had a wonderful day anyway.
After skiing, we headed to the camp, which is close to all three ski resorts we planned to visit. The original plan was to go to a beautiful camp Campingplatz Mauterndorf where we were last year, but the camp was full during this period, and a special condition was that between Christmas and New Year you must have a minimum of 6 nights in the camp. So a few days before departure we planned a place for two nights in the camp Camping Ramsbacher: https://www.camp-ram.at/ . The campsite is not too large, and has everything you need: electricity at the campsite, sanitary block (toilet, showers, dishwashing area, clothes, toilet tank emptying area, water filling, ski equipment storage area, fast food restaurant, free ski bus.).
Camp price: 35 EUR / Night place for a camper with electricity and two persons included. Additional persons are 9.50 EUR per person.
The sanitary block is decent, clean, warm, the camp staff very friendly. The best part of the camp is a beautiful view of nature and the surrounding hills, and the worst part of the camp is the nearby church bells that start with their ringing in the morning at 5.30 am and you have the feeling that they never stop!
The third day was reserved for the ski resort. Mauterndorf. Also a beautiful ski resort with beautifully landscaped trails that have been kept all day. Also suitable for beginners and advanced skiers.
If you are not from the Kostelic family, be sure to remember not to take track 2b!!! Although we have recently praised the trails at this ski resort, there is a trap there too, and this is precisely the track 2b (which intertwines with the closed track 2A). The Problem with that track is that it is on the south side so it quickly destroys itself, but as soon as we turned on it, we felt that it had not been arranged for years. The Hupser on the hupser, the icy parts, the ice crevices.the worst part of that trail is that it's so long and never ends, and it's also very narrow. While we and a few others strayed to that side struggled with that track, there was a team that just ran through the track while we were sweating from stress and fatigue.after that experience the legs no longer listened to us and it was the smartest to finish the ski day. All in all, halloween track 2b did not diminish the whole experience of this ski resort because the other tracks were really top!
In the evening, we went back to camp and, weary dead, rushed to the sarmas, the turkey and the cakes we had left over from Christmas.
Sunday was full of questionnaires because we did not know whether we would repeat one of these two previous ski resorts or go to Obertauern. Every time so far Ober disappointed us, but mostly because the weather was not very favorable so the tracks were destroyed and unusable in the morning. This time the perfect time for skiing was announced, and in addition – a bunch of people are constantly praising this ski resort, so we decided to give it another chance and it turned out-the last one.although all the conditions for skiing were ideal (natural snow, good temperatures, no precipitation.), the trails were visibly bumpy, uneven already in the morning. It is better not to write about the crowds because there was a crowded ski resort, both on the seats and on the slopes. Although Obertauern has 100 km of trails, the crowds were felt dangerously, much more than at the previous two smaller ski resorts. We can't say that all the trails were bad, but the main problem was that the trails were short, so good and very bad trails alternate and then the whole experience of skiing does not turn out very well. We still do not understand why this is a top ski resort for some people when a lot of people confirm what we concluded ourselves – poorly groomed trails and crowds! We are definitely finished with Ober.…
Finally, we bring a little more technical details about the heating itself, gas bottles, battery because clients always ask us how long a camper can withstand off the grid in winter conditions. Since for each of these parts we have special mobile applications through which we monitor the gas level (in each camper there is a special bluetooth scale that is located under the bottle and measures the actual state and consumption of gas in the bottle), the battery level, we can make some kind of frame calculation:
- if it is -15 degrees outside and you want to keep the temperature of the camper at 21 degrees, you can count on gas consumption of 2.5% per hour.
- in the situation that during the day (while you are not in the camper) reduce the heating in the camper to 15 degrees, count on you to consume half a bottle of gas in 24 hours.
All in all, our camping ski adventure was unforgettable! Although the impressions from individual ski resorts are different, traveling by camper allowed us flexibility, comfort and a unique experience of skiing with “own home” on four wheels.
Austria has once again confirmed its status as one of the best ski destinations, and our Kamperi.hr can't wait for the next snow adventure!
However, we would like to note that not all campers are intended for wintering, that is, for temperatures below zero. If you are planning to rent a camper, make sure that the appropriate “Winter package” – such as strong heating, insulation and grey water heating – is in place to make your trip safe and comfortable, without worrying about freezing water or insufficient heating. Don't fall for the idea that all campers are the same – because they're not!
If you are planning to ski with a camper, we strongly recommend good planning and careful preparation – from equipment to logistics.
Have you ever experienced winter in a camper? Share your stories, tips or recommendations in the comments-we would love to hear your experiences!
See you on the tracks!