This year's GOC ski trip was based at the fabulous Schloss  Rosenegg hotel, in Feiberburnn.  This had been a medieval  castle and although very comfortable and equipped with a swimming pool and two saunas (one being 'nude', in the Austrian style) it was fascinatingly quirky and atmospheric.  A buffet dinner made it very easy for the party of 14 to socialise at the end of the day and with a wide selection of food at dinner and breakfast all tastes were catered to.  The small Tirolean town of Feiberbrunn came into being in medieval times, after the discovery of a healing well that famously cured the plague (translates as 'Fever Well') and was even patronised by the Medici family.  Being well-connected by train to Salzburg, Kitztbuhl and Innsbruck it was easy for those not skiing to take a trip through the beautiful Tirolean mountains and explore the region.  Other non-ski winter activities were also available, such as snow-shoeing and cross-county ski, as one of our number found out.

The ski resort provided good skiing, despite the ominously warm weather that the Alps is experiencing this year, and certainly enough area for a week's skiing.  Sunny weather in the first part of the week made for perfect conditions to orient the group and by the end of the week everyone was cheerfully battered to bits having been challenged by its various runs. Enough time too, for the whole group to meet up on the snow and celebrate the 50 anniversary - then hit the slopes: or hit the slope cafés for Glühwein and Austrian pastries in the case of the non-skiers!!