– The Backcountry Ski Touring Blog
  • Avalanches
  • Gear Reviews
    • Ski Reviews
    • Boot Reviews
    • Binding Reviews
    • Snowboard Splitboard
    • Book Reviews
    • Avalanche Beacon Reviews
    • Airbag Backpacks
    • Backcountry Electronics
    • Misc Gear Reviews
  • Podcast
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Ski Touring Basics
    • Boot Fitting
    • Fitness & Health
    • Gear Mods
  • Trip Reports
    • Fourteeners
    • Huts – Cabins – Lodges
    • Denali McKinley
    • 8,000 Meter Skiing
  • Stories
    • History
    • Humor Backcountry
    • Land Use Issues
    • Evergreen Ski Touring
  • Resources
    • All Posts Listed
    • 100 Recent Comments
    • WildSnow Ski Weight/Surface Comparison Chart — And More
    • Backcountry Skiing & Ski Touring Webcams
    • Archives of WildSnow.com
    • Ski Weight Comparo Charts
    • Ski Touring Bindings
      • Museum – Backcountry Ski Bindings
      • Trab TR2 Index and FAQ
      • Salomon Guardian & Tracker
      • Naxo Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Silvretta Pure Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Marker F10-12 Duke Baron
      • G3 Onyx Ski Binding FAQ
      • G3 ION Ski Touring Binding
      • Fritschi Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Fritschi Diamir Frame Bindings Mount DIY
      • Fritschi Diamir Bindings FAQ
      • Fritschi Tecton FAQ
      • Atomic Salomon Backland MTN
      • Dynafit Tri-Step Binding 2001-2003
      • Naxo randonnee alpine touring AT ski binding FAQ
      • Dynafit Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Dynafit Binding Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Review 1
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Page Two
    • History
      • Trooper Traverse Intro & Index
      • Randonnee Ski Touring “AT” ski gear — What is Hip?
      • Chronology
    • Backcountry Skiing Core Glossary
    • Gear Review Policy & Disclosures

– The Backcountry Ski Touring Blog

Banner
  • Avalanches
  • Gear Reviews
    • Ski Reviews
    • Boot Reviews
    • Binding Reviews
    • Snowboard Splitboard
    • Book Reviews
    • Avalanche Beacon Reviews
    • Airbag Backpacks
    • Backcountry Electronics
    • Misc Gear Reviews
  • Podcast
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Ski Touring Basics
    • Boot Fitting
    • Fitness & Health
    • Gear Mods
  • Trip Reports
    • Fourteeners
    • Huts – Cabins – Lodges
    • Denali McKinley
    • 8,000 Meter Skiing
  • Stories
    • History
    • Humor Backcountry
    • Land Use Issues
    • Evergreen Ski Touring
  • Resources
    • All Posts Listed
    • 100 Recent Comments
    • WildSnow Ski Weight/Surface Comparison Chart — And More
    • Backcountry Skiing & Ski Touring Webcams
    • Archives of WildSnow.com
    • Ski Weight Comparo Charts
    • Ski Touring Bindings
      • Museum – Backcountry Ski Bindings
      • Trab TR2 Index and FAQ
      • Salomon Guardian & Tracker
      • Naxo Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Silvretta Pure Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Marker F10-12 Duke Baron
      • G3 Onyx Ski Binding FAQ
      • G3 ION Ski Touring Binding
      • Fritschi Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Fritschi Diamir Frame Bindings Mount DIY
      • Fritschi Diamir Bindings FAQ
      • Fritschi Tecton FAQ
      • Atomic Salomon Backland MTN
      • Dynafit Tri-Step Binding 2001-2003
      • Naxo randonnee alpine touring AT ski binding FAQ
      • Dynafit Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Dynafit Binding Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Review 1
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Page Two
    • History
      • Trooper Traverse Intro & Index
      • Randonnee Ski Touring “AT” ski gear — What is Hip?
      • Chronology
    • Backcountry Skiing Core Glossary
    • Gear Review Policy & Disclosures
   

A Walk Around Bad Haering (Häring), Austria

by Lou Dawson January 7, 2011
written by Lou Dawson January 7, 2011

(Several days ago.) After a foggy ski mission to scour the jet lag cobwebs, I figured a day at the European WildSnow HQ (thanks Barthel family) and a short walk would be better for my health than jamming too hard. So I made a short stroll around Bad Häring and snapped a few photos.

Kaiser mountains backcountry skiing.

Kaiser mountains rise outside of town. These peaks are where some of the world's most technical climbing was first developed during the golden age of mountaineering. Names such as Dulfer, Preuss and Buhl are tacked to many of the routes, and you'll see photos and hear stories of those famous pioneers almost anywhere you go around here that has a touch of mountaineering spirit.

More info about Kaiser Mountains.

Bad Haering is located just off the Inn Valley, in the midst of the Austrian Alps. It is a full-on mountain town with its own x-c ski tracks, community ski tow, and world-class skiing and climbing just a short drive away in the Kaiser range and other mountain groups of the Alps (one of the Kaiser range peaks is pictured above.) Still, this is also a valley village, so while Bad Haering lacks the feel of a high mountain hamlet, it has the milder climate and other advantages of living lower down. Kind of the best of both worlds — sort of like WildSnow HQ back in Carbondale, Colorado.


View Larger Map

My friend Fritz Barthel calls the town “smelly fish” when he wants to make sure he gets the name across to first-time visitors. But this place is far from bad. Indeed, Bad Haering is a classic village that’s surrounded by modern development but managed to maintain charm and livability despite the European crowds and truck pollution of the Inn valley (one of the main (if not the main) shipping routes in this part of Europe).

Wood pile

Beyond the mountaineering heritage around here, you get the usual European charm of what began as a farming and mining village and is still much that way. Many people heat with wood, and the town actually has a central heating system that provides hot water for whomever wants it (and will pay for it) from a biomass energy plant located nearby. I don't know how they get their woodpiles so neat looking. Old World secret, perhaps?

XC ski tracks

When snow conditions allow, a beautiful system of X-C ski trails networks the region, with this hub in the middle of town where you can park and start skiing.

Walking track.

A groomed walking track parallels the prepared X-C tracks.

Ski hill

A small community ski tow is located in the northerly forest above the X-C arena. Every day you see dozens of kids up there scooting around on the icy slopes. Growing up like that, you get good fast -- and yeah, it's an understatement to say there are some (thousands, actually) excellent skiers around here. Kitzbuhel is just over the hill, Innsbruck just down the road, and the Alps everywhere. Terrific location for those who like the mountain life -- and no wonder the tech ski binding system was invented here.

4 comments
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
previous post
Perfect Weather on the Tofana de Rozes, Dolomites, Italy
next post
Binge of the white and fluffy

4 comments

Pete Anzalone January 7, 2011 - 9:51 am

Nice!
Careful: Bad herring doesn’t go well mit schlag zanner.
Great post, keep ’em coming.

ScottN January 8, 2011 - 2:35 pm

Nice to see you mention XC skiing over there Lou. Did you take a few laps?

gtrantow January 8, 2011 - 8:12 pm

The woodpile looks like an improvement over local cabins and huts despite the fact that Austrian humidity is higher than Colorado. I would guess the higher airflow on the Austrian model trumps the 80-100% enclosed Colorado model. I will go with the 500 year old Austrian model.

Lou January 9, 2011 - 12:41 pm

Scott, re the x-c laps, I thought about it. Does that count? (grin)

Comments are closed.

Gear Reviews

  • WildSnow Women’s Boot Roundup 2019-20

    November 21, 2019
  • Fritschi (Black Diamond) Xenic 10 Binding Technical Review

    November 11, 2019
  • FutureLight vs. Gore-tex — Ultimate Sweat Test

    October 17, 2019

Recent Comments

  • Ryan C on PNW Snow Report — More, Please
  • Kyle on DIY Boot Fitting Tricks for Ski Touring
  • Brad Nyenhuis on DIY Boot Fitting Tricks for Ski Touring
  • Tom Hoyle on Fritschi (Black Diamond) Xenic 10 Binding Technical Review
  • Dan on PNW Snow Report — More, Please

Trip Reports

  • Trip Report — Early Turns in Jumbo, BC

    November 8, 2019
  • Denali 2019 — What Worked, What Didn’t Part I

    November 4, 2019
  • Early Season Turns and Mid Season Instability

    November 1, 2019

Totally Deep Podcast

  • Blake Gordon Comes Down From the Himal — TDP 69

    November 20, 2019
  • Angus Morrison Splitboard Car Talk – TDP 68

    October 30, 2019
  • Skiing the Lhotse Couloir — TDP 51 & Short Film

    October 23, 2019

Tips & Tricks

  • Field Treatment for Climbing Skin Failure

    December 3, 2019
  • Travel Tips for Your Next Ski Trip

    December 2, 2019
  • Ski Crampons — When To, When Not To and How

    November 26, 2019

Ski Touring Stories

  • Confessions of Snowman

    November 23, 2019
  • A Grand Traverse Gone Awry

    November 15, 2019
  • Who Should Own ‘Backcountry’?

    November 2, 2019

Newsletter Sign-Up

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • About Lou Dawson
  • Authors Page
  • About
  • Contact
  • Copyright & Legal
  • Website Security

@2019 - All Right Reserved. Designed and Developed by WildsSnow


Back To Top

Read alsox

PNW Snow Report — More, Please

December 9, 2019

Trip Report — Early Turns in...

November 8, 2019

Denali 2019 — What Worked, What...

November 4, 2019