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Zermatt Skiing
Overview
Zermatt is a resort where skiing visitors are
really spoiled for choice.
There is skiing everywhere, and literally for everyone. Zermatt skiing is
divided into a number of primarily unconnected areas, each with
its own selection and personality.
Most likely the most well used slopes are those located just
under the "beak" of the Matterhorn. Serviced by the
lift leading to the "Klein Matterhorn" this sector
provides the most consistent skiing in the area
(365 days per year), but not necessarily the best.
In fact the skiing in this area is mostly easy on the higher
slopes,and more demanding on the lower regions, where one challenges
the valleys and chutes of the Schwarzee.
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From the higher elevations you will find the connection to the
Italian resort of Cervinia on the Italian side of the Matterhorn
(this will cost you a supplement on your existing ticket), and
you really should take a passport. All that having been said, do not be mislead
into thinking that the skiing in Zermatt begins and ends on the
glacier. The Sunnegga, at the end of town closest to the Bahnhof
(train station), and the Gornergrat in the middle of the village
are superb skiing sites too. |
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| The Sunnegga is serviced by a mountain railway
which dates back to the last century. It provides good skiing
for intermediate skiers and those of a more accomplished standard.
There is too, some limited beginner's terrain here, but for the
most part you should have at least some experience before getting
on the train for the purpose of skiing. |
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The Gornergrat area is reached by an "Alpine
Metro" which bores through the mountain at an amazing rate
of speed. You'll find plenty of terrain diversity up here, with
slopes for almost every standard of skier, including the very
inexperienced among readers.
The Stockhorn, at three thousand five hundred meters or so, provides
the highest skiable point, and the Riffelalp at about a thousand
meters lower, provides the easiest.
There is everything in between, from the steep drops off the
"Rote Nase" to long "ego cruises" from Gornergrat
to Riffelalp. Ahh, these are areas which will make one feel like
a star.
Combine all this with some of the best "off piste"
skiing in the Alps and you have a most impressive skiing picture.
Space-or more accurately lack of same-allowed here prevengs real
in-depth description of the skiing. Get yourself a "piste
map" for that.
Suffice it to say that Zermatt has all the peaceful skiing any
weekender could ask for, whilst providing all the challenge a
true expert could dream of. A skier's paradise.
Zermatt is described in its tourism brochures, and in the countless
articles written about it as a car free village. Well, yes, and
no.
Yes, there are no cars belching out their putrid perfumes into
the rarefied mountain air. And no, it is not really car free
if you get my meaning. After all, electric cars qualify as cars,
do they not?
And here's something else I have a problem with, the tendency
of bikers, both mountain and otherwise, to slalom through the
pedestrians in the street. Just a bit more control and courtesy
might be in order here. Buy hey, there's no utopia.
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