Hochzillertal and Hochfugen today in ice cold yet wonderful conditions

I spent today in the Zillertal where I saw something of a novelty for the last few weeks – complete cloud cover and flat light. Hochzillertal and Hochfugen are linked ski areas at the head of the Zillertal Valley and the area is famous for producing Stefan Eberharter and the day started with poor light. Late morning blue skies swept in and the place was perfect with great hard packed snow, superb views across the valleys and once again bitingly cold temperatures. Zillertal has to be one of the very best ski regions in the Alps. Hochzillertal and Hochfugen offered excellent intermediate skiing and snowboarding and the place was hugely popular. I had expected the crowds to seriously die down after New Year but Hochzillertal and Hochfugen were packed today, maybe with visitors cramming a last day of skiing in, on the end of the New Year break.