Action and Adventure in Penken
Snow bunnies and adrenaline junkies are equally at home in Penken, Austria. Situated in the valley of the river Ziller, this is a mountainous region of Tyrol, around 1 hour from Innsbruck. The Penken mountain can be accessed from the local village of Mayrhofen, a picturesque and quiet town that is the beginning of the cable car route. Most people on a winter sports holiday stay in this beautiful and quiet town.
There are actually 2 mountains in this area perfect for winter sports - Penken and Ahorn - with Ahorn being more suitable for beginners and Penken aimed at more advanced adventurers. Penken is famous for having the steepest piste in all of Austria, called Harakiri, which has an impressive average incline of 78% and is not for the faint hearted. It is a must for the more daring sports' enthusiasts though.
In addition to this terrifying piste, the mountain does actually have a very wide range of routes in varying levels of difficulties, so there should be something here for everyone, even if it is your first time skiing or snowboarding. Even freestylers will be at home practicing their tricks at the Vans Penken Park, which has a wide range of jumps and tricks for daredevils.
The best time to go to Penken is in April, when the annual snowbombing festival is held over 5 days, with music and dancing and parting. There is live music from some amazing and world renowned artists and DJs and a club that is made entirely from snow. The drinks are served in glasses made from ice blocks. It is one amazing party and not to be missed by the hedonists of the world.
Penken really is a mountain holiday with something for everyone. Even in the summer it doesn't sleep. Instead there is mountain biking, hill walking and you can even paraglide from the top of the mountain. Winter snow sports and the snowbombing festival top up the winter fun. So what are you waiting for, head to Penken, Austria!
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