J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by LOTA

Nice trip report. Been to Arosa many times - the opening up of the link to Lenzerheide was a step-change. One of my favourite destinations in the alps and the final leg of the rail journey is truly spectacular!

Sauze Online do a weekly video snow report, usually on a Friday.

https://www.youtube.com/@Sauzeonline

Finished the 23/24 season off in style with another trip to Saas-Fee. As usual, travel was dead easy - first flight out of Heathrow to Zurich, train/bus combination direct from the airport railway station. In resort at 13.04 and skiing around 40 minutes later. Upgraded from a single room to a double with balcony in the slopeside Bristol Hotel, which was a welcome bonus. The weather was a bit odd on day one with mild temperatures of the previous week continuing. This meant the lower slopes were a slush-fest - not poor man's powder but real knee-breaking stuff. Higher up it was rock hard - so much so that the main slope down from Morenia was closed on one day as there had been a 20-person collision/slide that required two helicopters and eight blood wagons to sort out. The pisteurs were having terrible trouble controlling the sledges such was the icy nature of the slope. But that all changed overnight with a north wind bringing snow down to resort level. Conditions were greatly improved and, despite some periods of poor visibility, there was up to 18 inches of powdery stuff on a very firm base - very flattering conditions. There was snow, off and on, until the lifts closed yesterday. Very pleased to report a new piste has been put in this season under the Morenia chairlift (it was skied to a virtual piste, previously, so it was an obvious move). And I'm told there has been good progress at restoring access to the runs from the tunnel which had been closed due to a mountain slide. Overall, the resort was as quiet as I've seen it at this time of the year - no lift queues, uncrowded runs, plenty of room in bars and restaurants. Journey home, via Geneva, was as painless as ever. Skis and boots put away for another season - roll on January!

Good. Looks like I'm in luck again with a trip to Baqueira on Sunday.

The Ventina red is an alpine classic and a must ski.

I went on the SkiTube back in 1989; it had all the atmosphere of commuting on the Central Line but was a really efficient way of getting to Perisher or Blue Cow. The train was relatively new then but was looking tatty already so I'd say the makeover is long, long overdue!

My 'Magic Pass' season came to a more than satisfactory end with six excellent days in Saas-Fee (16-21 April). It launched with the 0600 flight to Zurich (no passport or baggage delays) and onward travel from the airport railway station to Visp and then the postbus up to the Saas Valley and skiing by 1.30pm. Conditions all week were excellent and there were overnight snow refreshments along with a day of heavy snow down to the resort on Thursday - spring scenes turned back into winter! The resort was quiet although enough people around for a good atmosphere and there were more pistes and itineraries open than on our last visit in December. The often-closed Egginerjoch was superb. Skied until 2.30pm on the Friday and back on the 3.52 bus back to Visp and direct train to Geneva airport in time for the last BA flight back to Heathrow. All in all, a great way to end the season.

Just back from Zinal, which is in the same canton. Very decent conditions up high, pistes very hard lower down. Off-piste marginal.