But this year where did the spring skiing go in the Alps – it went from winter to summer skiing? Here in the Tirol I was skiing powder on the 1st April in Stuben and since then it has been close to 20c each day and perfect sunshine here in Innsbruck. The snow pack has assured that patches in the ski areas around Innsbruck are almost entirely absent whilst the glaciers will offer sensational skiing and snowboarding for very many weeks – just pack the sun block !

The Skigloo – check google earth to see it still standing in August – image © ineedsnow.com

One casualty of the warmer temperature has been the Skigloo – still standing and sure to be seen the next time a google commissioned satellite maps the area this summer but starting to take the brunt of the warmer conditions. Not sure if it will be ready to host another bash before the lifts at Axamer Lizum stop running next Sunday but if not, then it has been fun. Time out of the office digging, a back injury, hospital bills, some large entertainment expenses landing on a desk at HMRC and some fairly challenging mornings can all be ascribed to the Skigloo. Was it worth it? Yes!

J & T wos here - image © ineedsnow.com

Following a relaxed if enjoyable Skigloo party on the weekend the dice man and his weapons of mass destruction have now left Austria. Bar owners the length of the Tirol are counting the cost of the departure of a man who has in the past been single-handedly capable of keeping local economies afloat. Whilst the dice may have flown, a love massage reminiscent of UK park benches was sentimentally inscribed on the exterior of the Skigloo.

Skigloo - a bit more digging to be done but the door is open again - image © ineedsnow.com

After repair work and testing of the Skigloo, the famed après ski dwelling is open to friends again this Saturday, 14:00 CET. The meeting point will be the Sonnalm, Axamer Lizum, Innsbruck, Austria at 13:30 CET. See you there.

The severely bowed Skigloo ceiling – image © ineedsnow.com

The Skigloo, appreciated locally for its salubrious properties is back in action high above Innsbruck. With the recent huge snow falls the roof had suffered considerable bowing under the massive weight. The result was a ceiling height that went from 2m to 30cm and the strangest inverted domed ceiling you could imagine. After repair work lasting an entire day the roof has been fully restored and whilst it might not be the work of Michelangelo at the Sistine Chapel it is a whole lot better than at 0900 CET today. The next Skigloo party is scheduled for later this week.

Testing the roof depth with an avalanche probe – image © ineedsnow.com

The almost completed Skigloo bar - Innsbruck, Austria - image © ineedsnow.com

After some delay due to great snow conditions, a back injury and work commitments we have set the opening party for the Skigloo for this weekend, Sunday 15th Feb 2009. Conceived in the days of falling share values, rising unemployment, weak £ and a very dodgy KGB guy with his  hand on the EU’s gas tap, we decided to create a piece of heaven in the mountains above Innsbruck. It is a place where skiers and snowboarders can hang out for an hour or two after skiing to share a few stories and forget about the current (and hopefully temporary) problems with the world. The location of the Skigloo is private as it is an invitation only experience but it is buried deep in the woods of Axamer Lizum. Invitation only maybe but far from exclusive, if you are in Innsbruck and fancy hanging out at the Skigloo on a Friday or Sunday then just drop us a line on the blog and we will let you know when and where we meet – it promises to be a lot of fun. The theme will be serious skiers and snowboarders not taking themselves too seriously – this will be obligatory.