In reply to boardbagged:
I have been living in Innsbruck for a few years now. You need to be mobile. Regarding ski touring. Last year on the north side of the alpine range we had no to very little snow. But on the northen side there was massive amounts. So if you are willing to be able to sack in one place and move to another you will have a good season. Regarding ice, its hit and miss. The year before last we had ice falls everywhere and the season was nice and long. from jan to end of March in the shade. But last year it was poor with a limited amount of ice. Again if you are will to just say I am out of here and off to chamonix then nothing lost. Ski touring is very good in Austria. But there are alot of people, even mid week. Some of the huts before mid March have winter rooms that are left open but please check first or you will have a cold night. Also if you are the first person there that season you will have to dig out a passage to get to the door. when the huts are all open they are much nicer and cheaper than the french and swiss ones. Any more info just PM me.
