Sledgehammer - the soft version

For Saturday we have planned a day on the ski-slopes and/or on the sledge-track on the Semmering, a mountain 70km from Vienna. Unfortunately the flu-epidemic hit the Bella Familia and thus instead of a group of 25 people it was only Max & Bruno as well as Maria, Mirko & Valentin who met with us on Saturday to drive south. While it was relatively nice in Vienna with sunshine and only a few clouds the Semmering was all cloudy and due to a strong foehn wind the temperatures were as high as 10 degrees when we arrived. As a result the snow was quite wet and slushy, but therefore soft and any crashes did not hurt much.

We started off on the beginner's sledge-hill in order to get used to the conditions and give Valentin and Max a chance to also do some sledge runs and it we all enjoyed the short runs a lot. Valentin, though getting snow-spray in his face upon each attempt to slow down, was all smiling and laughing. After an extensive lunch break – sledge-racing makes everyone very hungry – the sun came out and the joy increased even more. Once Evi & Christoph as well as Manu, Robert & Moritz arrived early afternoon we wanted to go for the long sledge track down the Zauberberg, but we were warned that due to the high temperatures the track is extremely wet and it was not recommended to go for it. Slightly disappointed we returned to the beginner's hill and did a few races there before having a refreshments and returning back home late afternoon.

Anyone available to pull me?

The fun factor was high (see the pics and videos), the little ones enjoyed it a lot and if we listen more carefully to the weather forecast us adults might also be challenged on the 3km long tobogganing track next time. We will be back - ideally with the larger group of people once the flu is over.

Kerstin & Markus