Brandnertal Intermediate Skiing
The vast majority of Brandnertal’s 55 km of piste are designated red and blue, which is a happy coincidence for intermediate skiers as there is almost nowhere in the ski area which will be beyond their capability.The well groomed runs are varied in pitch and direction, and given the generally uncrowded nature of the slopes, Brandnertal delivers a quality ski experience.
The Bűrserberg side tends to be even less frequented than the Brand side and the long, wide blue run 26 off the Loischkopf lift (1,680m ) is a superb confidence builder and a lot of fun. This run brings you down to the Einhorn chairs, and en route refreshment can be taken at the charming Rufana Alp restaurant. With a dozen or so blue and red runs on the Bűrserberg side, served by four lifts. there is plenty of variety and with three mountain restaurants – Rufana Alp, Fuchsbau and Restaurant Ferienpark – an enjoyable skiing day will soon pass.
There are two ways to get from Bűrserberg to Brand; either ski to the Panoramabahn cable car on the blue run from Loischkopf, and enjoy a scenic ride across the ravine that divided the two parts of the ski area, or from the Faregglift surface lift, ski across on blue run 25. This is a gentle and scenic run (which may require some poling) across the ridge behind the ravine crossed by the cable car. As you ski across, the off-piste terrain on the left looks inviting but eventually leads to cliffs and must therefore be avoided. Once across the ridge, the run drops down to the Gulmabahn six passenger chair and voila – you are on the Brand pistes.
Before you head up the mountain, the run back to the Dorfbahn gondola station in the village is wide and perfectly groomed, and will stoke the skiing ego. Half way down, if you have a change of heart, take the Niggenkopf chair up to the Palud side of Brand. At the top of this lift there are two more mountain restaurants – the Niggenkopfstube and the wonderfully traditional Paludhutte. From here, ski across to the Glattjochbahn 6 seater chair lift which takes skiers to the highest point of the ski area at 2,000m. Here, unlike most of the Brandnertal, skiing is above the treeline and it is easy to pick your own way down, although there are marked pistes to follow as well. For a stiffer challenge, route 15 at the southern edge of the ski area is an unpisted red, that brings skiers back down to the Glattjochsbahn.