Many people imagine that a mountain hut consists of nothing more than a wooden shack with an outhouse. This preconceived notion is nonsense, of course, as these Alpine Association lodges well demonstrate. Some are so beautiful that they are listed as historical monuments; others inspire with their sustainable and modern construction: in other words, first class architecture.

Meadow lasagne instead of food from the microwave, chamois dumplings instead of fast food and wildflower soup instead of everyday mishmash. These taverns use products from their own gardens, fields and stables for cooking. Some of the innkeepers hunt their own game, while others fish trout to order from the waters behind their establishment.

The T-bar is an endangered species in Tirol. This winter, a new tri-cable gondola whisks skiers up to the top at Stubai Glacier Ski Resort, new border-erasing gondola lines create Austria’s largest ski resort in St. Anton and Giggijochbahn Gondola in Sölden boasts a wheelchair accessible loading area. Somewhat sad for lovers of yesteryear’s T-bars and rope tows, these improvements will completely transform the guest experience for the 2016-2017 winter season.

Nikolaus Niedermoser from Neustift Ski School in the Stubai Valley provides lots of handy tips on improving your skiing technique in his YouTube video series. This blog post sums up Nik's most important pieces of advice. The fascinating thing about skiing for me is that I always learn something new every year. Short turns, carved turns, skiing switch, hitting the kickers in the park or cruising the backcountry powder - whatever you are into, the right technique makes skiing more fun. Check out the following tips and tricks from a long-time ski instructor.

The notion of getting in shape for the ski season is hardly new. Physiotherapists Bettina Sandner and Florian Gastl, our contributing editors for this guest blog post, offer an innovative twist to a timeworn concept. These five exercises are a great way to get a ski-specific workout in your own home. It makes ski fitness so much fun; you’ll forget you’re working out! What’s more, they will take the guesswork out of your ski and snowboard conditioning program: Take a cue from the experts and learn all about super sets and injury prevention.

Obviously, there is very little to do in Tirol. There’s nothing really unique or interesting to see there. Don’t believe us? Let us count the ways.

Pemba Sherpa works at Aldranser Alm over the summer and as a trekking guide in the Himalayas in fall and spring. I met Pemba to find out what he learns here in Tirol — Western-style lodge management, for example. What I found out, indeed, is that we can learn a lot from him, too.

Splish-splash! A sound enjoyed by many hikers. Especially at the end of an exhausting tour, when they like nothing better than cooling off in a mountain lake – an abundance of which can be found in Tirol. The following refreshing walks are highly recommended:

I’m sure plenty of you are thinking about where to spend Christmas this year. In most cases it will be with your family, of course. And for many – if possible – in snowy surroundings. The team at the Central Institution for Meteorology and Geodynamics (ZAMG), Austria’s official weather service, have done the maths and worked out for us where in Tirol where you are most likely to enjoy a white Christmas.