J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by LOTA

Just back from an excellent trip to Zinal and here are a few random thoughts on the ski area, village and travel. We invested in the Magic Pass and this was our second trip of the season and we were 'in profit' after one day's skiing this time around. We opted for Zinal around Christmas as snow conditions in our original destination, Leysin, were awful with the linked areas of Les Mosses and La Lecherette completely closed at that time. Zinal looked a better, higher altitude bet and so it proved. Conditions were sound although the freeride area was closed and the black run link to Grimentz was also out of action. The runs to the valley were also closed for most of the week; little surprise when the black run down was finally opened that the nets at intervals across the piste were in action; steep, rock hard and like skiing on concrete. Elsewhere the snow was surprisingly good given there had been little since 17 January. We did have some light snow on the Saturday and again on Sunday night but this was little more than a freshener. Zinal is a beautiful ski area although some of the piste grading is a little erratic with reddish-blacks and black-ish reds. There's more 'true blue' skiing in lift-linked Grimentz which is an all-together bigger(and busier) area. Lots of long button lifts, not great if you don't like that sort of thing! Mountain dining was underwhelming but the hotel restaurants in Zinal itself were excellent (we particularly liked Le Trift and La Ferme). We stayed at the Pointe de Zinal hotel: good staff, comfortable and the most convenient for the main gondola. Travel was reasonably straightforward, train from the railway station at Geneva Airport to Sierre, than a taxi for the last leg up the spectacular mountain road (not much fun for the faint-hearted!) You can do this bit by postbus but that entails a change of bus at Vissoie. All in all, we had a great time in a new area for us. I liked the small village atmosphere, everywhere was quiet and the skiing on semi-deserted runs and itineraries was pure pleasure!

I'm flying in to Geneva on 16 April; heading to Saas-Fee.

Good plan but be careful if planning to change at Stalden. In December, the 511 bus to and from Saas Fee did not stop at the railway station due to construction work. My understanding is this restriction continues.

The bus from Visp to Saas Fee runs every half-an-hour and takes 50 minutes. The train to Zermatt runs at a similar frequency and takes an hour and eight to 12 minutes. Visp has a reputation of being a pretty utilitarian place but I've only changed buses and trains there.

I was joking about the power-cut refunds!

That's all good to read; the Metro Alpin is looking its age (as is the Alpin Express) and an extension to the Spielboden gondola would be good. However, several people with a vested interest in the success of the ski area have told me the real need is for a major lift from above the Dorflifte and the Felskinn station to the Morenia chairlift. This would, they say, give some bad-weather skiing through the trees etc. From what you say, unlikely to happen in my ski lifetime!

And the lift company's big plan is to renovate the Hannig gondola at vast expense to serve a few walking trails and a toboggan track. Absolute madness when the ski area requires more investment (the travellator is very welcome!).

We do plan to return this season as we have Magic Passes! I will be asking for some money back if the electric goes off!

The only run above Morenia that was open last week was 5a; the rest were closed due to the glacier crack. The Egginerjoch and Mittaghorn lifts remain closed. It's a very limited picture and no-one expects 10 metres of snow to come to the rescue!

Just back from a first blast of the season in Saas-Fee! I've never skied in December before and I have to say I liked it. Snow conditions were good - snowing when we arrived and snowing when we left. Mainly cold but temperatures were rising when we left. Hotels and restaurants were gearing up for the season and there was a fair number of Brits getting some early season snow. The resort was very much familiar territory (last visit April 22) but this time we were taking advantage of the excellent value Magic Pass. There was one major probleme, though. During the summer, a large chunk of glacier fell off below Felskinn, near the tunnels. This has closed at least two lifts and all of the blue runs above Morenia. This has severely limited options with just the village lifts and Panorama for for 'true blue' skiers. I was told this area is unlikely to open at all this season. Disappointing that there has been no publicity about this. There has been one piste improvement with the previously horrible Run 10 redirected down a slightly easier and less narrow pitch.