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Austria skiing

Trev

Trev

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T6 Ocean 150
12B29AE7-4E3D-4242-AEA0-2C5C5F9C8C18.jpeg Juat arrived in Pettneu nr St Anton. Will post some more things as we go along in the hope it may be helpful for others considering winter camping. First thing we learned is that petrol stations on German autobahns can be a long way apart. 65m warning light came up and no service stations for 55m. Bottom clenching moment as we pulled off at Kahrlsruhe and through the wonder of google maps found a a self service station open at 5:00am coasting in on vapours!

Campsite at Pettneu is geared up for winter camping. Just hope we are!

UPDATE:

So we are now back home. Great trip. Thought it might be helpful to share a few random thoughts which may be of use to others. Some may think they are obvious, but they weren't all to us!:

If you are ski camping and get a bus to the lifts investigate storing boots/skis at a hire shop near the lifts - saves lugging them about at the end of each day. Also means you can go for drinks/dinner at the end of the days without luggage.

In terms of comfort/warmth (-15 over night) the diesel heater on L1 was perfect. Used less than quarter of a tank over 5 nights. We also had an electric oil filled rad which we left on all day to keep the Cali above freezing.

Didn't use water/waste tanks. Just used water from the tap in en suite bathroom (shed) as needed.

Did more 'cooking' than expected. One/two pot meals, but nevertheless enjoyable. Gas cooking also provided a bit of extra warmth.

If you are cold/damp at end of day's skiing dive into a bar for a drink/dry out/warm up before going back to your Cali.

Be organised/tidy. I know that's how most people operate in a Cali, but it's even more important in this case when you have extra gear, etc to consider and no outsider space.

Fill up with diesel close to resort - local diesel is designed for the more extreme temperatures you may endure.

If it snows sweep off roof/screen daily. Looks lovely left on but you don't want to be digging out from a drift just before you leave!

Hope this helps someone. Would throughly recommend a ski camping trip. We were going in to the unknown. Would DEFINITELY do it again.

One other thing we learned - the VW roadside assistance service is very prompt. Had to call them out 60 miles from home. Given we had travelled overnight from Austria the AA man took pity on us and rather than call a low loader (3-4 hours wait) followed us as we limped home! Top man!

EE63A9CD-1492-4C7F-B938-A2A3BA04F8DF.jpeg
 
Last edited:
Having your own shower, toilet etc next to each pitch is quite nice.
 
Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!

;)

Have a great time - looks awesome. :thumb
 
Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!

;)

Have a great time - looks awesome. :thumb
Thanks Max Felix. We are. Diesel heater is up there with the wheel as one of man’s greatest inventions.
 
Having your own shower, toilet etc next to each pitch is quite nice.
Yep it makes all the difference. And it’s waem w ouch in there to be a sauna. Plan b would be sleeping in there!
 
View attachment 29939 Juat arrived in Pettneu nr St Anton. Will post some more things as we go along in the hope it may be helpful for others considering winter camping. First thing we learned is that petrol stations on German autobahns can be a long way apart. 65m warning light came up and no service stations for 55m. Bottom clenching moment as we pulled off at Kahrlsruhe and through the wonder of google maps found a a self service station open at 5:00am coasting in on vapours!

Campsite at Pettneu is geared up for winter camping. Just hope we are!

UPDATE:

So we are now back home. Great trip. Thought it might be helpful to share a few random thoughts which may be of use to others. Some may think they are obvious, but they weren't all to us!:

If you are ski camping and get a bus to the lifts investigate storing boots/skis at a hire shop near the lifts - saves lugging them about at the end of each day. Also means you can go for drinks/dinner at the end of the days without luggage.

In terms of comfort/warmth (-15 over night) the diesel heater on L1 was perfect. Used less than quarter of a tank over 5 nights. We also had an electric oil filled rad which we left on all day to keep the Cali above freezing.

Didn't use water/waste tanks. Just used water from the tap in en suite bathroom (shed) as needed.

Did more 'cooking' than expected. One/two pot meals, but nevertheless enjoyable. Gas cooking also provided a bit of extra warmth.

If you are cold/damp at end of day's skiing dive into a bar for a drink/dry out/warm up before going back to your Cali.

Be organised/tidy. I know that's how most people operate in a Cali, but it's even more important in this case when you have extra gear, etc to consider and no outsider space.

Fill up with diesel close to resort - local diesel is designed for the more extreme temperatures you may endure.

If it snows sweep off roof/screen daily. Looks lovely left on but you don't want to be digging out from a drift just before you leave!

Hope this helps someone. Would throughly recommend a ski camping trip. We were going in to the unknown. Would DEFINITELY do it again.

One other thing we learned - the VW roadside assistance service is very prompt. Had to call them out 60 miles from home. Given we had travelled overnight from Austria the AA man took pity on us and rather than call a low loader (3-4 hours wait) followed us as we limped home! Top man!

View attachment 29940
View attachment 29939 Juat arrived in Pettneu nr St Anton. Will post some more things as we go along in the hope it may be helpful for others considering winter camping. First thing we learned is that petrol stations on German autobahns can be a long way apart. 65m warning light came up and no service stations for 55m. Bottom clenching moment as we pulled off at Kahrlsruhe and through the wonder of google maps found a a self service station open at 5:00am coasting in on vapours!

Campsite at Pettneu is geared up for winter camping. Just hope we are!

UPDATE:

So we are now back home. Great trip. Thought it might be helpful to share a few random thoughts which may be of use to others. Some may think they are obvious, but they weren't all to us!:

If you are ski camping and get a bus to the lifts investigate storing boots/skis at a hire shop near the lifts - saves lugging them about at the end of each day. Also means you can go for drinks/dinner at the end of the days without luggage.

In terms of comfort/warmth (-15 over night) the diesel heater on L1 was perfect. Used less than quarter of a tank over 5 nights. We also had an electric oil filled rad which we left on all day to keep the Cali above freezing.

Didn't use water/waste tanks. Just used water from the tap in en suite bathroom (shed) as needed.

Did more 'cooking' than expected. One/two pot meals, but nevertheless enjoyable. Gas cooking also provided a bit of extra warmth.

If you are cold/damp at end of day's skiing dive into a bar for a drink/dry out/warm up before going back to your Cali.

Be organised/tidy. I know that's how most people operate in a Cali, but it's even more important in this case when you have extra gear, etc to consider and no outsider space.

Fill up with diesel close to resort - local diesel is designed for the more extreme temperatures you may endure.

If it snows sweep off roof/screen daily. Looks lovely left on but you don't want to be digging out from a drift just before you leave!

Hope this helps someone. Would throughly recommend a ski camping trip. We were going in to the unknown. Would DEFINITELY do it again.

One other thing we learned - the VW roadside assistance service is very prompt. Had to call them out 60 miles from home. Given we had travelled overnight from Austria the AA man took pity on us and rather than call a low loader (3-4 hours wait) followed us as we limped home! Top man!

View attachment 29940
NOW UPDATED POST TRIP.
 
Been to that campsite to check it out. Its in the valley/village yes next to the swimming pool?
 
Been to that campsite to check it out. Its in the valley/village yes next to the swimming pool?
Yes just the other side of the railway line by the spa.
 
Great stuff! How did you cope with wet clothes, condensation etc - remembering my skiing days it was bad enough in a hotel room with wet things draped everywhere! Did they have a drying room?

Sadly we've not been skiing for 15 years or more now and do miss it - need to go soon while the rapidly aging joints and bones can still take it!
 
Great stuff! How did you cope with wet clothes, condensation etc - remembering my skiing days it was bad enough in a hotel room with wet things draped everywhere! Did they have a drying room?

Sadly we've not been skiing for 15 years or more now and do miss it - need to go soon while the rapidly aging joints and bones can still take it!
The hut to the side was warm and there was space to hang up clothes. Reality is that any snow or rain was Shawn off and they simply needed “airing”. Give it a go. At worst it’s a one off that you decide never to do again.
 
The hut to the side was warm and there was space to hang up clothes. Reality is that any snow or rain was Shawn off and they simply needed “airing”. Give it a go. At worst it’s a one off that you decide never to do again.
Correction snow or rain was *shaken* off.
 
Went there a few years ago those heated huts are amazing. Site so geared up for winter. I was lucky not to need my snow chains especially as you have to take them off and back-on for the tunnels!
 

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