This January, Steinmühle once again took part in the eighth-grade school ski trip to the Gschösswandhaus in Mayrhofen in the Zillertal. The group included 69 eighth-graders and 10 chaperones.

At the Gschösswandhaus, the students were greeted by the very friendly Mitterer family, who ran the inn, along with delicious food and rooms with 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and even 15 beds. Living together in these rooms can sometimes be a social challenge for the students, but thanks to the generally positive atmosphere at the lodge, there were hardly any serious conflicts.

In ability groups of 6–10 students, they spent about 2 hours on the slopes in the morning and up to three hours in the afternoon. Naturally, the beginners made the most progress, and many of them were able to tackle their first blue run by the end of the second day of skiing. The students who already had skiing experience were able to improve their technique and explore the expansive ski area. Theoretical instruction was also a key part of the program: adhering to international slope rules, adjusting one’s skiing style to external conditions, and learning about alpine hazards are all integral components of the school ski course.

To mark the 35th visit by a Steinmühlen group to the Gschößwandhaus, the Steinmühlenweg—a trail connecting the ski slope to the lodge — a new sign, which was ceremoniously unveiled on the evening of the last day and will hopefully continue to guide many more generations of Steinmühlen students to the hut.