Snowshoeing the Austrian Alps: from the Holzgau hanging bridge to alpenglow walks

A guide's journal, part 2 of 3

After settling into the rhythm of our Austrian alpine life and those first explorations with snowshoes, we're ready to venture further into the Lechtal Valley's winter landscape. Each morning brings new routes through the side valleys, and with them, increasingly spectacular sights that make our group pause in genuine wonder. 

The fir trees here are particularly magnificent. They stand heavily laden with snow, each branch bent under its white burden, creating scenes that look almost too perfect to be real. Our group pauses repeatedly on the trails to simply absorb these sights, cameras clicking as we try to capture what our eyes are drinking in. 

This is such a different experience from my usual European tours in warmer seasons. The clear white landscape can feel like looking at a black and white photograph, starkly beautiful and simple. Then suddenly, the absence of colour breaks spectacularly when a sparkling blue sky appears overhead, or when the late afternoon 'alpenglow' turns everything a soft pinky-rose colour. These are the moments when the group falls quiet, when we're all simply present in the extraordinary beauty surrounding us.

What I particularly love about this tour is working closely with the local snowshoeing guides to create a programme that genuinely suits each person in our group. It's about taking time to understand what each client hopes for from their week. Some want to push themselves, to discover they're capable of more than they imagined. Others seek gentler exploration, savouring the winter landscape without extreme challenge. 

The numerous side valleys branching off from Bach offer excellent variety. We can snowshoe through snow-covered meadows, venture into spruce woods where the silence is profound, or climb hills that truly do look like they've been covered in icing sugar. Having this flexibility means everyone gets the chance to gain new experiences and stretch themselves exactly as much as they want.

The landscape throughout the Lechtal Valley is genuinely stunning, but one sight never fails to delight our groups. We snowshoe up to the 'Hangebrucke', the hanging bridge suspended above the village of Holzgau. Walking across it offers the most beautiful perspectives, looking down into the side valley below whilst surrounded by mountains on every side. 

The broad glaciated valley cradles several small villages, each with its own character, and the mountains encircling this valley are lovely. Clients particularly appreciate how accessible these views are. We're not elite mountaineers, just enthusiastic walkers willing to strap on snowshoes and venture into the white wilderness.

Beyond our snowshoeing days, we also enjoy late afternoon walks along the valley floor. These are perfect opportunities to explore the hamlets and meadows close to our hotel at a leisurely pace. I always recommend bringing snow grippers for your boots for these gentler explorations. There may even be a cosy bar to visit along the way. 

These evening strolls hold their own magic, especially just before dusk when the alpenglow transforms the sky into beautiful shades of pink. The winter light at this time of day is extraordinarily soft, and after an active day on snowshoes, these gentle walks become moments of quiet reflection and companionship.