Not a big resort compared to alot of others in Austria, but is totally awesome in powder.
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For the best glacier based skiing in Europe, head to Pitztal Glacier. The resort is an absolute Powderhounds Playground.

Austria’s highest ski resort, Pitztal Glacier has awesome snow quality, stunning views, wide intermediate piste runs and plenty of powder that the locals and most visitors don’t seem to be terribly interested in – YAY! Three days after the last snow and face shots inbounds plus heliski quality glacier runs outbounds were the order of the day.

The views from the summit of Hinterer Brunnenkogel across to Wildspitze are stupendous. The viewing platform alone is worth the journey to Pitztal.

There are piste trails suitable for all abilities, particularly when combined with the adjacent Rifflsee (same lift ticket, access via a regular bus and then ski back from Rifflsee to the base of Pitztal Glacier resort). Terrain may be limited for advanced riders if the off-piste is cruddy (as if!) or avalanche prone. In powder the terrain is great for new powder skiers on broad gentle terrain, and for everyone else in well pitched bowls. Steeps and chutes for experts can be found off the top of both gondolas. Scoping it out from the gondolas is easy enough before taking the plunge.

The freeride and touring options at Pitztal Glacier are exactly what skiing Europe is all about. Brilliant stuff and we barely scratched the surface. The 10km long Taschachtal variant is sensational, but snowboarders may struggle on the last 4km without a splitboard, skins or at least poles. The skiing was heliski quality minus the helicopter, guides and other people! Have a celebratory drink at the Pitztaler Schihutte near the end. The Wildspitze variant can be added to the start of the Taschachtal but is best done with a guide due to the complexity of the glacier descent. The best fall line descent is the 1400m+ Mittagskogel variant which involves a small climb (boot pack or skins) and then a great ski down nearly all the way to the base of the funicular. Crevasse hazards on the glaciers are real and should not be taken lightly. On a blizzard or poor viz day, head down valley on a bus to Jerzens and ski the fun and relatively sheltered Hochzeiger.

Pitztal Glacier resort is only marred by the truly awful funicular ride up in the morning and the super overpriced and unfriendly cafe at the summit. Funicular trips are generally cramped and unpleasant at the best of times, but when someone decides to place the overnight ski lockers in front of the funicular exit doors, the trip gets even worse & the day starts badly. Such a shame. Thankfully the rest of the hill makes up for it in spades.

On day's end, the best apres ski bar in the area is the Hexenkessl in Tieflehn.

Put Pitztal Glacier on your list of must do Europe ski resorts.
See our video here

Pitzal is a surprise. You get squashed into a funicular with a mass of humanity and are unable to see anything because it is underground. You may come out feeling a bit grumpy about poor manners and lack of respect for your personal space yet when you get out at the top there is this enormous bowl that you cannot possibly grasp the vastness of until you start skiing. There is every range of groomed option imaginable, there is off piste with fresh snow and there are glaciers and a glacier cave that you can ski to. You can skin up and over into another bowl. And you can go out back and do the 15km exit on a glacier which is not only extraordinarily beautiful, it is an adventure where you feel like you are in the European wilderness!
See our video here

Where to start....
Pitzal is the jewel in the Austrian alps crown. We skied here about a week after any serious powder and still found terrific stashes.
The Austrians seem to have a penchant of skiing on the groomed runs irrespective of a wonderful naturally powder run right along side the piste. Any other place in the world would be tracked out within seconds of the first chair opening. Not Pitzal.
Pitzal also hides one of the greatest home runs on earth. The glacier run which meanders through some truly spectacular valleys, crevasses, and steeps back to the car park.
One of the highlights of my Europe adventure 2018
See our video here