Unforgettable winter holidays in the Free Republic of Holidays Saas-Fee!

by Raúl Revuelta

Those who only associate Saas-Fee and the Saas Valley with skiing, snowboarding and après-ski are missing out. The resort offers a wide variety of other activities that make any winter break in the "Free Republic of Holidays" an unforgettable experience for the whole family.
Those longing for pure mountain air, bright blue skies and a snowy winter wonderland surrounded by lofty mountains will love the Saas Valley. Eighteen 4,000-metre peaks – some of the highest in Switzerland – encircle its four rustic mountain villages, and with sunny days 80 percent of the year, a 100- percent chance of snow in winter and the prospect of ascending 4,545 metres above everyday life, there’s no better place to go on holiday than the "Free Republic of Holidays". Skiers, snowboarders and Telemark skiers can whizz down over 140 km of slopes, while cross-country fans can explore the 26 km route between Saas-Balen, Saas-Grund and Saas-Almagell or glide along Saas- Fee’s 5 km route. But the Saas Valley has plenty more winter activities on offer, both on and off the slopes.

To give you an idea of just how much is on the activity and events calendar in Saas-Fee and the Saas Valley, here are some top tips for the coming winter.
Those who want to take some time out after their exertions on the pistes can enjoy a range of other winter activities. For adventure-seekers there are the sledging runs in Saas-Fee and Saas-Almagell and the 11 km sledging slope in Saas-Grund. Or how about racing down the Feeblitz toboggan run? Those who like even more action can try adrenaline-pumping activities like ice climbing or snowtubing, and sporty types can visit Bielen leisure centre for a swim or to play tennis or badminton. But the Saas Valley also offers plenty for those who are looking to take it easy. For example, guests can stroll along the well-signposted trails though the picturesque winter landscape – with or without snow shoes. The Saas Museum is well worth a visit too, thanks to its enchanting exhibits that bring the valley’s past to life. There is also a variety of wellness hotels where you can let go of all the stresses and strains of everyday life.

To ease the burden of holiday planning, the Saas Valley also offers numerous guided activities. The guided village tours are a great way to familiarise yourself with the resort. They also feature lots of interesting information about the history of the Saas Valley. During magical torch-lit walks through the snowy forests, visitors can enjoy views of the twinkling villages below, and wine-lovers can discover the fruits of Valais vineyards at various tastings.

Thrill-seekers will love the Gorge Alpine, where they can make their way from Saas-Fee to Saas-Grund via zip-lines, ladders, rope "vines" and suspension bridges, kept safe all the while by a mountain guide and via ferrata safety kit. The gorge is particularly impressive in winter when snow and icicles adorn its walls. The particularly bold can even cross the gorge by night. This extremely cool experience is followed by a warming mug of mulled wine and a cheese fondue.
If you’re not feeling quite that daring, you can enjoy a Nordic walking or snowshoe tour and leave your tracks in the snow on the sunny slopes of the Hannig.
Visitors to Saas-Fee and the Saas Valley can also look forward to a variety of concerts and events. Here are some of the highlights from this winter’s programme:

• Ice Climbing World Cup/Ice on Tour, Saas-Fee (14-21 January 2012).

Also in 2012, the Ice Climbing World Cup will take place in the glacier village. The 30 meter high ice wall is located in the parking garage. In a unique atmosphere, guests will experience the world's best ice climbers. In addition, there will be exciting week-long competitions under the title Ice On Tour (incl. the Ice Climbing World Cup): Ice Climbing Youth Championship, nighttime ski touring race, a.m.

• Glacier Bike Downhill, Saas-Fee (24 March 2012).

On the 24 April 2012 the spectacular Glacier Bike Downhill race will be held again in Saas-Fee. At the Glacier Bike Downhill the adrenalin in the glacier village Saas-Fee purely flows. The Downhill Mountainbiker go not like used on land or tar routes, but on ice and snow. On this unusual material, the riders have to master 1800m elevator. After the mass start on 3500m it approaches to the valley in a high speed.

• Migros Grand Prix Final, Saas-Fee (30 March-01 April 2012).

Starts like Didier Cuche and Lara Gut in the biggest youth ski running of Europe! The biggest ski running of Europe for youths between 8 and 15 years offers an unforgettable experience on the ski run for every skier! Whether beginner or ski crack: Completely after the motto "the start is the aim" everyone is welcome to the Grand Prix Migros.

• 15th Schneegaudi at Kreuzboden, Saas-Grund (08 April 2012) .

One of the best parties of the year, surrounded by the mighty Saas Mountains. In the afternoon the keyword is FUN and at night it's PARTY!

• 30th Allalin Races, Saas-Fee, Saas-Fee (13-14 April 2012).

Ski & Snowboard: The Mittelallalin open downhill races are the highest races on a glacier in the world. Participants from all over Europe compete in various disciplines. On the 13 & 14 April 2012 the races take place again in the glacier village.

Zermatt's IDE All Weather Snowmaker in Full Swing

By Raúl Revuelta

Zermatt is playing its trump card – the Snowmaker – so that skiers and snowboarders can take to good pistes in the early days of winter as well. The snow machine produces snow regardless of temperature, even above freezing point. And so a good snow base can be laid in early autumn to ensure perfect pistes in winter.

Zermatt Bergbahnen was the first ski resort to order a new kind of artificial snow system: theIDE’s All Weather Snowmaker. Later Pitztal Gletscherbahnen was the second Company to order, following Zermatt’s footsteps, the snowmaker. IDE Technologies is a world leader and pioneer in water desalination, wastewater concentrators and purifiers. The snowmaking technology comes from the mining industry where it is used to cool the goldmines.

CEO Zermatt Bergbahnen Christen Baumann explains how it works: "To put it simply it works like a freezer. The temperature of the surrounding air is irrelevant. In a closed container with a diameter of 3.2m and a height of 10m, water is exposed to a vacuum without any additives. A small portion vaporizes, the remaining water freezes to snow, which is afterwards expelled at a rate of about 40 cubic metres every hour. The snow produced has the consistency of a wet spring snow".

The technology is based on a principle of physics whereby water placed in a vacuum will immediately partly evaporate – without having to reach boiling point. However, the energy needed for evaporation must come from somewhere. In this case, the evaporating water extracts this energy from the remaining water, which is appreciably cooled and thus crystalizes. This crystalized water is thus snow, similar to spring snow, and is used for piste preparation. A transport spiral shoots the snow out to the waiting snowcats. These then distribute the snow in early autumn, as for example between the Theodul Glacier and the summit station of Trockener Steg.

The Snowmaker is used for around 14 days in early autumn for about two to three weeks. Then it is in operation around the clock. The machine is also used systematically in winter and spring, depending on weather and snow conditions.

Kurt Guntli from the Zermatt Bergbahnen AG is the project manager for the huge machine. "Thanks to the Snowmaker we can guarantee the route from the Theodul Glacier to Trockenen Steg from as early as the beginning of October".

Zermatt and Saas-Fee Win Top Recognition for their Environmentally Friendly Transport Systems

By Raúl Revuelta

Fourteen destinations were evaluated by the VCS (Swiss Motor Club): Adelboden, Arosa, Crans-Montana, Davos Platz, Engelberg, Grindelwald, Lenzerheide, Leukerbad, Saas-Fee, Scuol, St. Moritz, Verbier, Wengen and Zermatt. This new "mobile & ecological" rating by the VCS is intended to assist consumers with decision making on winter holidays. The survey was supported amongst others by the STV (Swiss Tourism Association) and the Federal Office for Spatial Development ARE.
 

Zermatt takes 1st place. In second place was Saas-Fee, also car-free, followed by St. Moritz. The Transport and Environment Association gave the highest ratings to Zermatt and Saas-Fee for their excellent rail and bus connections. The two winter hotspots in canton Valais were also recognised for their efforts in promoting public transport.

"For car-free Zermatt, this award is confirmation that our decades of effort and commitment for a sustainable destination are being rewarded", says Zermatt Tourismus Director Daniel Luggen. He is aware that tourism is effectively a balancing act between comfort, growth and improvement of offers on the one hand and sustainability on the other: "We will continue to be committed to sustainability. We’re staying on the ball!".

The Transport and Environment Association also praised other resorts, such as Davos and Grindelwald where local bus rides are free.

Another resort that received special praise was the Lower Engadine resort of Scuol, where "Holidays Without Your Car" packages - that include free access to public transport, separate transport of luggage and electric bicycles for hire - are available.

Among the criteria evaluated were travelling time to the destination, signage, local buses, frequency of public transport and luggage transport possibilities. 

Zematt's Ski Pistes Online

By Raúl Revuelta

Since 18 August 2011 it’s been possible to ski several pistes with just one mouse click so that in summer you can see how the runs look in winter. All thanks to Street View in Google Maps.

"With the help of Google Street View, our guests can - at least virtually - skim down the pistes and enjoy fabulous views of the Matterhorn between holidays", says Daniel Luggen, Resort Director of Zermatt. Non-skiers or those who have had enough of the heat in a city office, can now cool down with one mouse click - all thanks to Zermatt’s large fan community. With a public vote, in February 2011 the Swiss population selected its favourite ski area from 30 regions and decided which ski region should be filmed first from the Street View snowmobiles. Around 37,000 people cast their vote and Zermatt was chosen as the favourite ski region – thanks to Zermatt fans!

A survey from March 2011 shows that 53% of all people in Switzerland have used Street View at least once. Street View is also an important tool for planning travel inside and outside Switzerland. The 25% access from abroad shows the popularity of Swiss pictures on Google Maps. Some 1000 Swiss companies, including Switzerland Tourism, have already integrated Google Maps into their websites. 

Will Saas Fee Build Europe’s Highest Ski Lift?

By Raúl Revuelta

Skiinfo reports the people of Switzerland’s Saas Valley are voting tomorrow (June 16th, 2011) on plans to open the highest gondola in Europe, and the continent’s highest lift, up to 4,000m on Längfluh.

Projects already planned for the next two years are include the extension of snowmaking facilities on Längfluh and on ski pistes in the Spielboden-Längfluh sector.

A new 8 place gondola from Saas-Fee to Spielboden to Längfluh and a new restaurant at Längfluh are also planned but the local population are due to vote on the lift company’s plan to go further with this gondola, up to 4000 meters.

The current highest lifts in the Alps are two drag lifts reaching 3899m at neighbouring Zermatt. A 4000m high lift would be among the world’s three highest, overtaking lifts at Breckenridge in North America and Gulmarg in India and, following the closure of higher ski areas in the South American Andes, leave only one small ski area at Jade Dragon Snow Valley (over 4500m) in the Chinese Himalayas as higher.

The original Längfluh cable-car was one of the first in Saas Fee and opened on 23rd December, 1959. It was rebuilt in 1977.

Saas-Fee is based at the foot of the Dom, which although not as internationally well known as the Matterhorn, is in fact Switzerland's highest mountain, and one of thirteen 4,000 metre (13,120 feet) plus peaks surrounding the village. These may be viewed at your leisure from the world's highest revolving restaurant on the Mittelallin at 3,500 metres (just under 11,500 feet).