Standing in front of the hotel in Bregenz Forest late in the evening, I watch the snowflakes fall. Gently and quietly. When I look out of the window the next morning, they are still there. In fact, the snow has become even more. Later, the sun will come out and turn them into a magic wonderland. I am excited as a small child to put on my snowshoes and start hiking.
Jürgen, our guide, awaits our small group of six after breakfast at the hotel. He is a typical countryside guy with tanned skin who also works as a ski instructor. You can tell that he has spent his whole life in the outdoors, he probably knows every pebble in the area. He selects snowshoes for all of us at the hotel, sticks are added in the adjoining sports shop. Afterwards, we hop on his bus and drive a short distance to the Salober valley station.