Skiing on the glacier: There are a few places in the world where you can ski on the eternal ice. There are five of these places in Tyrol: Stubai Glacier, Hintertux Glacier, Ötztal Glacier (Rettenbachferner), Pitztal Glacier and Kaunertal Glacier.
The location high above the surrounding mountains gives skiing an extra flair. The sight of the surroundings is breathtaking. Also the altitude, sometimes over 3000 meters above sea level, can take the breath away of some skiers. Regular breaks are recommended for inexperienced glacier skiers.
Depending on where you are, it is best to choose the glacier that is closest to you. The Hintertux Glacier is in the Zillertal, the Stubaier near Innsbruck in the Stubaital, the Rettenbachferner in the Ötztal near Sölden, the Pitztaler at the end of the Pitztal and the Kaunertal Glacier in the upper Inntal, in the Landeck / Ladis region.
The Stubai Glacier is the most famous of these glaciers because of its location near Innsbruck. It can get very crowded on sunny winter days. In that case, it is advisable to arrive early in the morning, otherwise parking can be difficult.
Due to climate change, glaciers are increasingly visited by winter sports enthusiasts because of the certainty of finding good snow conditions. However, conservationists warn that the overcrowding of glaciers and the massive use of snow groomers and snow shovels are endangering these unique natural areas. Now that virtually all of Tyrol's ski slopes are artificially snowed, you have the option of visiting lower-lying ski areas even when there is little snowfall.
External links:
Pitztal Glacier www.pitztaler-gletscher.at
Hintertux Glacier www.hintertuxergletscher.at
Stubai Glacier www.stubaier-gletscher.com
Rettenbachferner www.oetztalergletscher.com
Kaunertal Glacier www.kaunertaler-gletscher.at