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Spring is here!

The beginning of March brought a significant amount of snow and some fantastic skiing with it.  Since then, the weather has been nothing short of magnificent.  We have enjoyed loads of sunshine everyday, some warmer temperatures and stable snow which has allowed for touring enthusiasts to get out and amongst the big peaks and long runs!  The snowpack itself is very healthy and the pistes are in great shape.

For the first time since December 20th we have availability beginning next week on March 27th.  If you are able to come on short notice, please get in touch!

We wish you a pleasant start to the spring season!  Here are a few pictures from the last few weeks.

Incredible view over the Silveretta from the summit of Kaltenberg.

Incredible view over the Silveretta from the summit of Kaltenberg.

Valley cloud and a very nice morning perch.

Valley cloud and a very nice morning perch.

High above the Malfon and ready for a sip of bubbles!

High above the Malfon and ready for a sip of bubbles!

Wonderful weather to enjoy apres outside at the KK, this time with Gunnar, who owned it for 35 years.

Wonderful weather to enjoy apres outside at the KK, this time with Gunnar, who owned it for 35 years.

 

Into the heart of the season we go!

January brought plenty of fine skiing to the Arlberg.  It snowed almost daily from the 3rd to the 21st and we had some of the best days I had seen in a while.  Visits from the McCaig’s, Andrew Field, Maaike’s sister and oldest friends and some of the original Montreal Canadian team made it an awesome month to be an inn keeper.  We love sharing turns, summits, great meals and fun parties with such fun loving, genuine people!

We are headed into the heart of the season now and look forward to welcoming more great groups ahead.  The snowpack is a solid 2 metres and all the fantastic slopes, both on and off piste are in good shape.  We have two weeks left to fill towards the end of March, so please get in touch if you would like to make some memories here in St. Anton.  I’ll leave this post with a few pics from this month.

Powder skiing at its best down from Kapall.

Powder skiing at its best down from Kapall.

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Ski touring with Andrew Field in the Moostal.

Summit of Kanodelkopf with Pierre, Martin-Luc and Shanie.

Summit of Kanodelkopf with Pierre, Martin-Luc and Shanie.

Kind regards,

R&M

SNOW!!!!!!

Winter has made a full on return to St. Anton and the conditions are improving everyday.  The shift in the weather seems to be taking hold with snow forecast for the next week at least.  Forecasters are using the word “Nordstau” in their posts which is music to any Arberg skier’s ears as this is where we get our big snow from.  Our fingers and toes are crossed that it all comes to fruition.  Until then, we will enjoy the centimetres that are on the ground!

All for now,

R&M

Faceshots are much more common since Jan 3!!!

Faceshots are much more common since Jan 3!!!

Happy 2016!!!

December felt like spring all across the Alps and St. Anton was no different.  Thankfully, we had a few snowfalls in November that allowed most lifts to be open and lots of kilometres of piste to explore.  The weather was gorgeous, with blue skies and amazing clear visibility which allowed vacations makers to soak up the beauty of the Arlberg.

The new year celebration was fantastic as always, and the firework display did not disappoint.  It was great to see the 1000’s of people making the most of toasting 2016!

The new year has brought a change in the weather and we are there is snow falling again.  We have had about 40cm’s in the last few days with more on the way this week.  It is a welcome change and we hope the pattern continues!!!

All for now,

R&M

Gorgeous clear skies that dominated for December.

Gorgeous clear skies that dominated for December.

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Winter 2015/16 set to begin Dec. 4th!!

A few good snowfalls towards the end of November have coverage looking pretty good all over the Arlberg.  The snowpack is between 50-100cm depending on location, but all in all, things look pretty white!

The lifts are set to open this Friday!  We should see the Galzigbahn, Nasserein, Tanzboden, Osthang, St. Christoph and Valfager bahns all spinning and servicing a variety of pistes and off piste options.

We went for a walk today in Zurs for a little sneak-a-peak.  The snow certainly left something to be desired, but the views were stunning and if felt like winter has started.  Keep your fingers crossed for more snow and we should be in great shape for the opening month ahead!

Zurs - Dec 2nd, 2015

Zurs – Dec 2nd, 2015

April round up, and our deepest gratitude to our guests!

St. Anton is ready to close this Sunday, April 26th.  It has been an incredible closing with a 2 metre cycle to begin the month and then plenty of sunshine and stable snow coming down the stretch.  The skiing has been superb!

Maaike is in there somewhere!

Maaike is in there somewhere!

There have also been many celebrations to toast the end of season.  There have been lots of classic closing parties including my favourite at the Krazy Kanguruh.  Andrea, Mario and their amazing team hosted a never ending apres that ended at six o’clock in the morning.  What a time that was!  The Wiesse Rausch was a great event with over 500 participants and many more fans lining the pistes to cheer on the mad men and women.

Here at the chalet it was a fantastic winter, albeit a late start.  Here are a couple of entries in our guest book that will bring smiles to faces as we look back.

“Dear Ross and Maaike,

It is now the third time at the lovely chalet, and the second time this season, so as soon as we enter the door, it feels like home.  Many thanks again for receiving us three boys so kindly, and in particular with Matt’s first ski tours – they will certainly not be the last ones here!  We are hooked on St Anton and there is no better place to stay than Chalet Rafalt.  Have a nice end of the season, and hope to see you again next winter.”

– Martin Bauer and sons. (Vienna, Austria)

“Maaike and Ross,

Words are inadequate – I had so much fun, you two are such great hosts, and the good times roll through the skiing under blue skies to the apres ski to dinners and more.  Many thanks for the great hospitality – we’ll be back.”

-Dan McDonald (Calgary, Alberta)

“Maaike and Rossco,

Please be aware of the value to us old guys of the stage you set.  For us to come here, to ski in beauty, to party like it is 1999, to wine and dine is to give us the priceless opportunity to roll back the calendar, if only but for one magical week.”

-Peter Ruben (Calgary, Alberta)

We certainly cherish these comments and feel likewise to have the opportunity to host such fantastic people from all around the globe.  A heartfelt thanks from Maaike and I for your patronage this season.  We hope to see you again next winter!

Cheers, as always, to our guests!

Cheers, as always, to our guests!

 

Season wind down is upon us, but still lots of fun ahead!

The first week of March brought lots of snow and some very great powder skiing with Captain Blanchard and crew.  Eric has been a client of Chalet Rafalt for the last 16 years and we have had the pleasure of hosting him and his team for the last 5 winters.  We had some classic runs with the highlight likely being a run down to Langen from Maroi.

Most of the rest of March has been absolutely gorgeous with countless bluebird days and finally a more settled snowpack for ski touring.  We have had a variety of new guests, friends and even a very special visit from my father and his oldest friends who certainly showed they are still young at heart.  There practically wasn’t a microphone left in town that didn’t have our signature on it by the week’s end!

More snow is forecast starting tomorrow and we are wide open after Easter Sunday.  The Taps race, KK closing and the Weisse Rausch are all slated in April and are sure to make the season end lots more fun.  Please come join us and help toast the end of another wonderful season at Chalet Rafalt and in the Arlberg.

Kind regards,

Ross and Maaike

Deep powder in early March.

Deep powder in early March.

No description required!

2/3rds of the Bauer boys enjoying their second week of the season at the chalet.

2/3rds of the Bauer boys enjoying their second week of the season at the chalet.

Late February already!!??

Time seems to be flying as we are through the deep winter and spring is approaching.  It has been non stop action with a variety of amazing guests enjoying the chalet and St. Anton.  We have had some wonderful strings of deep powder skiing days and over the last 10 days have enjoyed perfect weather to enjoy the stunning scenery all around the Arlberg.

Snow is set to return next week and the snowpack is looking healthy as we head towards the warmer months of the season.  We are looking forward to lots more great days on the mountain, and on the terraces of nice restaurants and apres skis!  Come and join us as we do have the final week of March available!!

Kind regards,

R&M

Vistas for miles over the last ten days.  Doesn't get much more gorgeous!!

Vistas for miles over the last ten days. Doesn’t get much more gorgeous!!

Friends and family from Calgary lighting up the Arlberg!

We have had a special last two weeks with lots of friends and family visiting the chalet and St. Anton.  The snow has been nothing short of spectacular as we have hardly crossed a track since January 25th with some seriously deeeeeeep days!!

We have toured all around the Arlberg and have been visiting our favourite establishments regularly such as the Hospiz Alm and Krazy Kanguruh.  Maaike has been delivering tasty home made dishes during quiet nights at the chalet which have been thoroughly enjoyed by all!!

All in all, about as good as it can get around here lately!  We still have two weeks in March available.  Please get in touch if you wish to join in on the fantastic snow, atmosphere and cuisine here in St. Anton.

Kind regards,

R&M

Lasagna and smiles!

Lasagna and smiles!

It's been like this for the last 12 days!!

It’s been like this for the last 12 days!!

What 8L of wine at the Hospiz looks like.

What 8L of wine at the Hospiz looks like.

2015 is here!

The new year has brought good times with it!  2014 went out with a bang as the highlight day of the season was had on the 31st.  After a metre and a half of cold snow the sun shone and the skiing was as deep as it gets!  We had some wonderful times skiing around St Anton and Stuben.

The chalet has been filled with excellent guests for several weeks as we have enjoyed times with young families, fully grown families and groups of friends.  We had a superb week with the Bauer family las week and enjoyed their spirits as the climbed Maroi with us and skied down to Langen.  We currently have a group of Danes in the house who helped us make a great party last night at the Krazy Kanguruh and enjoyed the slopes around the white circle today.

The season is in full swing now and the base is registering 180cm on Galzig.  The base is here and now we are in full swing when fresh snow arrives.  We are certainly looking forward to many more weeks to come and the guests who will be enjoying the Arlberg.

We do have availability in March.  Please enquire should you want to have a fantastic ski holiday in the Alps.

Kind regards,

Ross and Maaike

Marty Pommier getting his new year celebration started early.

Marty Pommier getting his new year celebration started early.

Looking good Simon!

Looking good Simon!