Kitzsteinhorn in Kaprun durch die Jahreszeiten

 27.02.2020, 11:00

Trail Running: Kitzsteinhorn Mid of June 2018

We had over 30°C during the last two weeks, the first part of June (2018). In May we already had 30°C here at the feet of Kitzsteinhorn and not so far away from Großglockner, the highest Peak of the Austrian Alps!

After a heavy long winter, Zell am See-Kaprun Area suddenly met the summer and the snows on the mountains around melted very quickly. The ski season official ends on 22nd of July and high on the glacier there are still some people skiing and children playing around in the snow.

I spontaneously decided to take the cable to the Kitzsteinhorn and to attend the guided National Park Tour. It was too late for the first tour at 10, as I reached the starting point first at 11:30. I had no idea I have to change 3 different cable cabins until the end point of the journey.

I had in mind the option to go up by cable and to descend by foot, a trail running session, so I took running clothes and some warm stuff for the Peak.

It was too late .... for a lot of stuff, but I enjoyed the journey into the clouds fields all over ..... I even enjoyed not being able to see anything from the mountain range around ....

I wanted to see this platform .... and voila, here I am! A fascinating picture at 0°C.

In July 2015 I climbed the mountain from St. Johann in Tirol, not far away from Kaprun - about 40 km I think. But I didn't know about the platform or maybe I did know, but it wasnt't interesting for me that time. 

Now I am here, fully in the clouds ........... and fully in winter inside the summer ....

The guided Tour in German was interesting. The guide told us, the glacier retreats about 2 meters every year. Less and less ice on the glacier. Two meters yearly is huge!

The brown color comes from a fine Sahara sand flying all over the Alps and also from a specific red-browny plant blowing right now under the last fields of snow. It is not dirt, it is just nature.

We went through the tunnel, another impressive work  and a scientific base lager for the area. From here, they do all the measurements and observe wild birds and animals life. There is a lot of "crazy" stuff happening here at over 3.000 meters.

Natural cristal extracted from the area and just washed with water .... in its natural form and size .....

I put the hand around ...... undescriptible cold .... but I stayed with my hands on it for several minutes and I inhealed the feeling of it .... the energy of the crystal

It was my meditation place for about ten minutes. The few other tourist walking along didn't even stop to watch the crystal despite its beauty and size and energy .... and this is what we all are doing in our life: ignoring the good, positive, healing energy fields around us. I felt blessed for reasons I cannot describe. And I think it is a matter of consciousness and stay open and curious for things, signals we meet every single step on our life path. I even prayed for a wonder to be brought to me.

Outside the tunnel, from the platform, I saw how some sunshine is trying to break the clouds .... a surreal landscape. No wind, just everything white. Down on the right side some people and children playing and skiing, the last weeks of the skiing season.

After about one hour I finally left the peak taking the cable cabin back to the next valley station. I was not decided what to do: to start running back from here or to descend by cable to the next valley station and to start my trail run from there?

I decided for the second option in order to take covered risks because of the hour, it was already 3 p.m. and descending alone on a huge mountain, partially full of snow, wouldn't be a clever decision. I read the marks and I couldn't see any good choice for me, so I decided to take the cable from 2.450 m (Alpin Center) to 1.976 m (Langwied).

 

I took a last panorama picture over the Zell am See with the lake and I took the cable to 1.976 m. From there, the plan was to descent by running to 900 m.

At Langwied were more tourists. There is also a huge construction site there and afterwards I find out what it will be!

The construction site is working on Maiskogel and on Kitzsteinhorn, a huge project. An amazing challenging project ..... Why do they do it .... no idea ..... to get more money?! No idea really .... or just to proof the can do it? There are pretty fantastic engineering work all over Austria ..... I sometimes ask myself how good the the nature all these interventions are .... To connect these both mountains it seems to be a huge step and "performance", no doubt, but I do not see any reason for the project .... an investition over 8 million euros .... what for? To be admired, to be wondered ....

Due to the strong marketing work - here the source -, this is the project:

 We’re bringing together, what belongs together

The K-onnection to the future:
Kaprun – Maiskogel – Kitzsteinhorn
This gondola link is a long-held dream come true.  
Directly from the village of Kaprun with the aid of two new gondola lifts, first up the Maiskogel, from there to the Langwiedboden and the very heart of the Kitzsteinhorn glacier ski area!
Ski-in-Ski-out, 100% snow guarantee from October until well into springtime, along with a wealth of new opportunities – priceless benefits that further solidify Zell am See-Kaprun’s position as a top destination in the Alps. For unsurpassed winter sports, memorable family holidays or high-alpine sightseeing that reaches all the way to the TOP OF SALZBURG at 3,029 meters above sea level. As of December 2019, an ultra-modern tri-cable gondola, the 3K Kaprun-Kitzsteinhorn-K-onnection, will link the Maiskogel with the Kitzsteinhorn.
With this K-onnection, the Maiskogel family ski area essentially fuses with the Kitzsteinhorn glacier ski area to create a single compelling ski destination. This new, second access means of riding up to the Kitzsteinhorn isn’t the only reason holidays will now become more attractive than ever: Beginning in December 2018, Maiskogel Family Mountain will also offer guests added comfort and convenience, along with whole new dimensions and perspectives, in the form of a 10-passenger gondola known as the MK Maiskogel Lift.
Also under development at the valley terminal of the MK Maiskogel Lift, right in the heart of Kaprun, is the Kaprun-Center: a service hub with ticket offices, a ski depot with over 2,000 storage lockers and a modern sports shop.
HIGHLIGHTS:
The direct K-onnection from Kaprun up to the Glacier.
This new connection essentially fuses the Maiskogel family ski area with the always-snowy glacier ski area to create a single compelling ski destination. 

• Total Convenience - Ski-in-Ski-Out
  On foot from your hotel to the gondola. Now ride the new, ultra-modern MK and 3K lifts, first up the Maiskogel, then to the heart of the glacier ski area, where great snow conditions are 100%guaranteed. And when your winter sports are over for the day, hop back on board the lift with skis in tow for an enjoyable ride down to the valley, all the way back to the town center of Kaprun.

• Maiskogel Family Mountain - more summer experiences
  Thanks to the new MK Maiskogel Lift, Kaprun becomes more attractive than ever for families and their children. This lift will also run in summer, providing convenient access to the hiking paths and bike trails close to town.

• Kaprun-Center
  The Kaprun-Center is being created in parallel to the MK valley station – a highly modern service hub which brings together modern services, ticket offices, a ski depot and a rental center/sports shop under one roof.

• Superlative Lift Axis
  With the longest lift axis (a 12 km-long continuous string of pearls rising from 768 m to 3,029 m) as well as the greatest elevation gain (2,261 m) in the Eastern Alps, the K-onnection proudly boasts several superlatives.

• More Opportunities
  With the opening of the K-onnection, visitors now have TWO different ways to reach the Kitzsteinhorn:
  -    K-onnection from the town center: Recommended for everyone who is staying within walking distance of the MK valley station.
  -    Gletscherjet/valley station: Recommended for day-visitors and everyone who wants fast, direct access to the glacier on the Kitzsteinhorn.

• www.k-onnection.com

Crystal clear, it is all just about money! More money!! Because everything will be much more expensive in the area, no doubts. It is already a non-affordable area to live.

Reaching Langwied Valley Station I started my descend crossing the construction site and following the path 711 to Wüstlau via Salzbürger Hüte. The man from the cable was very friendly to explain me the possibilities of descending. He said, by running I should reach the road near to Kitzsteinhorn Basis Cable in about two hours.

It was 15:20, so I still had plenty of time to enjoy the mountain by daylight. If he said 2+ hours for me it meant no longer than two hours. And indeed after 90 minutes I reached the road at the feet of the mountain! Too early.

The descend is beautiful and easy, no technical stuff or so. Just the right trail running shoes and water are essential. I had more than enough, including rain protection, sun protection (my cap, I never use cremes or so). 

to be followed ..... eventually

Zell am See - Kaprun Summer Card

 find your personal trainer and local guide in the area of Zell am See-Kaprun

Well, the most wanted product in the area is the Zell am See - Kaprun Summer Card! 

The card cannot be purchased by anyone, not even by the local inhabitants, unfortunatelly, which is a desastrous discrimination in my opinion. In the own country, the local people have no acces to the most wanted product and as the prices are pretty high, many of them can never access some of the most beautiful places where the entrance is subject to be charged.

The Summer Card offers the opportunitiy to see and feel the most corners of this paradise, "it opens the door to sporting, cultural and natural highlights in Zell am See-Kaprun and the surrounding area."

Who has access to the card?

Only the guests in the local hotels and accommodation providers who are partners with the local services provider. 

The Summer Card is included in the accommodation price and the hotel owner pay to the provider a substantial fee per card and day.

The Card is valid from 15th of May to 15th of October and allows you to enter the dream of your life :-) - methaforical speaking.

Due to the modern technology it is possible to download the Zell am See-Kaprun Summer Card APP on your mobile phone and without any internet connection you have the chance to access all needed information directly on your mobile. It is free of charge, of course!

The Features:

# list of all attractions and bonus partners with description, opening hours, address and GPS coordinates;

# off-line maps of the region and attractions (works without internet);

# calculate how much you saved with the Summer Card;

# possibility to rate attractions

# list of all partner accommodation providers. 

Lucky me and happy me I have the chance to own this card being involved in the system. It costs me some money, but for about 120 Euros I get the chance for the next four full months to discover the entire area.

Some examples:

1. Schmitten Zell am See - Saved costs (ascent & descent to 2.000 m): 28,50 Euros

     "Guests glide up to Schmittenhöhe with five cable cars and other lift facilities, including the Schmittenhöhebahn from Porsche Design Studio.

The panoramic hiking path between the Schmitten summit and Sonnkogel offers a varied mountain experience for the whole family. Many themed display boards, viewing platforms, a marmot cave, a beehive and the magnificent 360° panoramic view make everyones's heart beat faster."

I know a little bit the area as I was running up to the mountain and also biking it about one month ago as it was still snow and I had to turn back. 

2. Kitzsteinhorn Kaprun - Saved costs (ascent & descent): 42,00 Euros

And, if I want to climb the peak to 3.203 m I pay additional 70 Euros (instead of ..... no idea how much is the full non-discounted price).

"Top of Salzburg - Panorama Platform: Salzburg's highet panorama platform situated at 3.029 m in the middle of Austria's highest mountains.

3. The WanderErlebnisbus - hiking bus enables summer guests in  Zell am See-Kaprun to be driven up to 1.540 m, the starting point of many fabulous hikes. In fact, it makes the whole hiking area of the beautiful Maiskogel mountain accessible.

I have run all the way up to the top in April, one of the most fascinating runs I had here so far!

 To be followed ..... I will write a little bit after each trip I do with the Summer Card. The next station is on coming Friday, when are organized the first "Gorgeours Lights - Mystical Night of Water" at Sigmund-Thun Gorge in Kaprun (closed over winter, I was running there several times end of March and then in April) - another 10 Euros saved.

How much is this card actually worth? Hm ..... If you are local and live here, so you stay here all the time and you could use the included services at least once per week, the costs per season could be around at least 500 Euros - it is just a rude calculation, I will know more at the end of the season.

If you stay one week - the costs could be around 300 Euros in case you use every day at least one of the services included. 

A pretty smart concept, getting the best from the area and making nice money for the providers and for the community.  
You can also use the public transportation for only 1 Euro per trip per adult and 50 cents for children instead of about 2,50-3,00 Euro per trip, as the public transportation is not cheap at all.