Cold Water? It has something!

COLD WATER? INTRIGUING!

For those interested in trying cold and winter bathing, Hotel Hochschober is ideally situated. Rarely elsewhere in the Alps can one find a high plateau boasting three mountain lakes. All three lakes - Turracher See, Grünsee, and Schwarzsee - are suitable for cold and winter bathing. Expert guidance is provided in workshops and, starting from summer 2024, in cold bathing safaris.

Assuming a healthy heart, cold and winter bathing offer numerous benefits: they invigorate the body, strengthen the immune system, and induce feelings of happiness. Hotel Hochschober is the perfect place for those wanting to try it out. Its location right by Turracher See allows for dipping into icy to cold waters throughout the year. Workshops and cold bathing safaris in the summer of 2024 will teach the best approaches.

COLD OR ICE? BATHING OR SWIMMING?

The distinction between cold bathing and ice bathing is not entirely clear-cut. Ice bathing is generally discussed in winter, when water temperatures approach freezing. In Turracher See, the temperature hovers around a chilly two degrees in the winter months, while in summer, it ranges from 10 to 20 degrees.

The difference between cold bathing and cold swimming, or their winter variants, is more distinct. Bathers enter the water and stay there for several seconds to minutes with little movement. Swimmers cover a distance adjusted to the water temperature. In winter, neoprene shoes and gloves help protect feet and hands, and some wear a cap or swim cap to stay warm.

WORKSHOPS FOR ICE AND COLD BATHING

In 2024, workshops titled "The Healing Power of Cold" are scheduled at the hotel. Cold bathing is featured from September 8 to 13, 2024. In these workshops, certified Wim Hof trainers Josephine Worseck and Douwe van den Berg will introduce participants to this method, preparing them with meditations and a special breathing technique for the cold water immersion.

COLD BATHING SAFARIS IN SUMMER 2024

With specially trained Hochschober experts, those wanting to try cold bathing will head to Turracher See, Grünsee, and Schwarzsee. With the right exercises and proper breathing techniques, the cold soon feels pleasant. As a reward, bathers experience a rush of endorphins, the body's natural happiness hormones. The summer months are ideal for getting acquainted with cold bathing, with lake temperatures ranging from about 10 to 20 degrees, depending on the month. Basic "equipment" includes swimwear, a towel, and water shoes, which are handy for entering at the rocky shore of Grünsee and the peaty edge of Schwarzsee.

JUST DIVE IN

Guests at Hochschober wanting to practice their cold or winter bathing routine during their stay can always enter Turracher See. The bay near Hotel Hochschober is ice-free. Water temperatures range from about two degrees in winter to 20 degrees in summer. A platform at the end of the sauna pier and stairs with something to hold onto make the chilly plunge easier. Newcomers should consult with their doctor beforehand and only begin cold training under professional supervision.