Ski vacation with children: Here we stay!
Slipping down the slopes for the first time in your life, as a snail's caravan on skis
"But not such a steep Schlitterstrecke," says Leo in the car. In sight is a runway that runs gently down to the valley station. We are on our way to our first ski holiday. Leo, 4, and Anna, 2, were born in Hamburg, where we can not even sledge, but only sledging due to lack of sloping terrain.
Ski holiday with such small children - is that possible? Recreation included? When we see the mountain village Priesteregg north of Zell am See in front of us, hope comes up. 16 chalets and an old farmyard at 1100 meters altitude. Once the reason belonged to the Salzburg priests, since 1782 it is owned by the family Oberlader. The chalets were put here only in the year before last, ours is called "Schrattenegg".
"All wood, everything only from wood!" The children race through the small hut world, which seems to have fallen out of time. No cars are on the road, but horses and Galloway cattle. And there is a village pond with countless pebbles - the most important attraction for the two small stone throwers. Then the door opens, and inside there's cracking in the fireplace, which is so big that it has two windows. One for each child. "See you," Anna cheers and waves to her brother through the dancing flames, until both succumb to the fire magic and for a few incredibly peaceful minutes are very quiet.
Everything seems possible right now. Even the ascent of the great Asitz '- our local mountain in the endless ski circus of Saalbach-Hinterglemm- Leogang. Or a trip to the neighboring ski area Zell am See-Kaprun.
The next morning, the gnomes wake us up, and we hear a rumble from the corner of the hut where the table and corner seat are. When the children from the four-poster bed dare to go there, the good spirits of the mountain village are already gone. We only have to make the coffee, the candles are burning, the table is set: with organic eggs and cheese from the region, homemade strawberry jam, crunchy bread and freshly squeezed orange juice. The cabin is our own restaurant and our private wellness paradise. In front of the fireplace is a tub with lion's feet, which is on request a massage table, and on the terrace of the hot pot: wooden lid high, plumps into the hot water. The clouds of steam give the view of the valley, on the stone sea at Maria Alm with towering Hochkönigsmassiv. Behind us, the Leogang mountains pile up. We sit until we grow wrinkled, and we are astonished in all directions. So much luxury at once we have not indulged since we are a family.
Enjoy a mother-child massage in the chalet ...
Everyday life has us back when it comes to dressing. It is almost noon when the kids finally storm the ski rental of the valley station in Leogang in snow suits. There you will find skis, ski boots, poles and ski goggles. And because mom and dad have to lug it all away as well, Leo and Anna should wear their own gear. Not far. Only up to the mountain railway.
Without Sherpas the expedition is endangered, especially since we happen to pass by "Leo's Kinderland" - that's the name of the training area of the Leogang ski schools. "Where is Anna's Kinderland?" Our two-year-old gets the first tantrum of the day. The second follows when disembarking. "Hello Kitty", calls a girl and says Anna's helmet, which adorns the notorious cat. Anna understands only "KitKat" - and she wants! Right now, up here on the summit. You can not go far if you want to move forward with a fury on your arm. On skis. Especially not when the strumming child wears it himself.
... and make snow angels with mom
The brother is brave, but rather on the spot. We save ourselves in the "Alte Schmiede", not far from the mountain station. There we sit and forget space and time in view of the Kasnocken and the impending return journey. Until the waitress says: "I have to cash in, the last gondola leaves." And all of a sudden, skiing without quibbling and quite fast. As we sit sweaty in the gondola, the last employee of the mountain station rises.
What would have happened if we had missed the gondola? "Shut down!" Only when the children are asleep, and two of us bobbing in our hot pot in front of our hut, we understand our luck: above the stars twinkle, on the mountain against snowshoe crawlers like fireflies, prepare a part of the 200 kilometers of slopes. No question, somewhere over there we would still be on our way to the valley. How nice that our children love this hut as much as we do. Suddenly everything is as clear as the night sky. Here we stay simple.
Travel Info Leogang
Overnight: "mountain village Priesteregg". 16 chalets for 4 to 6 people. Sauna and hot-pot in front of your own hut.All meals are delivered on request in a wooden box and served in the chalet. Chalet / F for 2 persons from 386 Euro (Sonnenberg 22, A-5771 Leogang, Tel. 065 83/82 55 20, www.priesteregg.at).
Enjoy: "Huwi's Alm". Specialty of the inn: beef broth with vegetables Julienne, loin of Galloway beef from own breeding (Sonnenberg 22, Leogang, Tel. 06 64/180 08 01, www.priesteregg.at/en/gasthaus/huwis-alm.php.).
Info: Salzburgerland Tourismus, Wiener Bundesstr. 23, A-5300 Hallwang, Tel. 06 62/668 80, www.salzburgerland.com.
