Skiing Early October Saas Fee and Zermatt

The OH and I are off to Switzerland with our caravan in September and have time to head for Saaf-Fee and/or Zermatt in early October to do some skiing.

We could park the caravan by either Saas-Fee or Randa and travel to both, or spend a few days at one and then move to the other. The lift pass, I understand, covers both resorts, allowing you to buy a flexible 6 days pass which you can use a day at a time with days off if you like. Is one area better than the other, what's "summer" skiing like? We just want to cruise and carve. We're not park users. The OH is also concerned about reports of crevasses and the risk of falling into one - is this a serious risk?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Dixie

Summer skiing means early starts as the slopes go too soft by mid afternoon. I've skied Zermatt in Sept and had fresh powder on piste,it was really nice.
As you are cruisers, you have no opportunity to fall into crevasses as the pistes are clearly marked. Do not go beyond the markers, and ignore others that do, it's that simple.

You will likely be sharing the glacier slopes with national teams, usually they train in reserved lanes. Lots of skin tight race suits around.
You will need to dress for skiing as it's high and can be cold, though very warm at village level.
I expect you know that you can't drive up to Zermatt, you'll need to take the train from Tasch.

Enjoy :D

Thanks Bandit, would you have any thoughts as to how many days at each, i.e. more at Saaf-Fee and less at Zeematt or vice-versa?

Saas-Fee is smaller than Zermatt, and has a smaller glacier ski area. Both are prone to weather closure, though Zermatt has invested in a snowmaking factory at Trockner Steg, so there is "lower down" skiing at 2900m. It can still be very windy and bleak though! I would not buy a 6 day ticket just in case the weather is poor. Plenty to see and do in both resorts, Zermatt is well geared up for tourism activities.

Thanks again Bandit )

Hi Dixie, I would reccommend doing more time in Zermatt, as Bandit says it's bigger. There is also more going on and you can hike if the weather is bad. However do go to Saas Fee, I snowboarded there the first weekend in August last year and it was great fun. The town is also very beautiful. Be aware that although you ride cable cats to glacier in Zermatt and funnicular in Saas Fee, once on the glacier it's all drag lifts in both resorts.

Enjoy. !

Thanks for the info, much appeciated.