We wake up around 8.30am. The mouth is dry, the head throbbing, the body sore, the memory from the night before… limited.
This isn’t a scene from Hangover 3, but another morning waking up at Contiki’s Haus Shoeneck. Like two geriatric men we slowly traverse the stairs to the dining hall. This gives us the opportunity to piece together the laughs from the night before and fuel up for another day on the mountain. We gather a posse of our new found friends and board the ski lift from town to the top of Hohe Salve – the highest mountain on the Skiwelt resort standing at 1829m.
The freshly groomed runs make for an intense morning on the board and the hangover seems to be remedied. Skiwelt is dotted with bars all over the mountain. The sunny conditions work up quite a thirst and as the big hand rolls past midday a collective nod goes around the group. First beer? Why not.
After our quick pit stop we board on back to Middelstation, a meeting point where Contiki are hosting our group’s race afternoon. The group race is at 1pm and by 2pm no one seems to remember who even won. All 50 of the group revel around the mountain top bar, taking in the sunshine and epic views. As the afternoon carries on we return to the board with a heightened sense of courage. We push ourselves until the last chair lift closes at 4.30pm.
Exhausted, we head back to base and regroup for dinner. Tonight we’re being treated to the region’s famed pork knuckle at an authentic Austrian Gasthof. This huge and hearty meal is just what the doctor ordered for a group of famished snow goers. The protein overdose is settled by a few rounds of schnapps to help with digestion. Content, merry and keen for more fun, the group roll out into the street for another night hopping between bars.
This is livin!
Dane & Sam