Thursday, January 17, 2019

The Stoke Is High

Andrea and I arrived in Innsbruck yesterday for the start of my Fulbright Professorship at the University of Innsbruck.  The stoke was high as we flew into Munich and then shuttled to Innsbruck, which allowed us to start in the plains and proceed into the Alps in spectacular fashion.  Thanks to recent storms, the mountains were pasted white and we had about as much fun as you can have crammed into a shuttle bus.

Approaching Innsbruck from the east
We were very pleased to find the apartment we rented site unseen exceeds expectations.  It was recommended by a previous Fulbright professor, but I think he undersold it.  It is surprisingly spacious and has a nice Tirolian flair, especially in the bedroom where there are beautiful wooden built-in cabinets and beams.  We also have some nice vistas from the windows and balcony. 

Looking south at the Patscherkofel ski area, where Franz Klammer famously won the Olympic downhill gold medal in 1976.  North facing, I've watched it as we've run errands today and it's been continuously in the shade all day.  It must be a cold place to ski!  Also evident at right is the Bergisel ski jump, which is a beautiful structure built right in town.  
Looking north toward the Nordkette and Karwendel Alps


Tired and jet lagged, we enjoyed an evening walk into the old town for dinner.  Sadly the photo below doesn't do the evening light justice.      

Nordkette and the Karwendel Alps
We've been running errands and doing a little work today.  We had planned to ski tomorrow (Friday), but Delta sent our ski bags to Amsterdam instead of Munich.  No word yet on when we will receive them.   

Rumors are that the stoke is high in Utah as well with another storm underway.  Enjoy the powder.

4 comments:

  1. Ah, yes, I knew there had to be a reason we were going to get a series of storms here... ;) Have a fine trip.

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  2. I'm not in Utah either, but I sure do miss it...between this storm and the next, seems like the chance of having a Steenburgh winter is actually decent.

    Also, there's a marginal risk of severe thunderstorms today...in January?? https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/day1otlk.html

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  3. Close to an inch of rain today here in SLC area so far (maybe more in places), although I haven't heard any thunder. Lots and lots of snow in the mountains, no doubt.

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  4. A great Steenburg storm coming in now! Well over a foot in the SW flow and likely well over a foot in the NW flow for most of the Wasatch. Not even mentioning the foot+ from yesterday. Console yourself with an Austrian Steenburgh winter! I'm looking forward to the Austrian/Alps mountain weather and skiing posts!

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