Saas Fee and Zinal

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 18:34:35 GMT

Flights: Flew Easy Jet Glasgow-->Geneva GBP170 with ski hire. No issues and managed 2 pairs of skis and all my kit. Slight issue at Geneva on the return but they let me away with 5 kilos extra.

Transfers: Bought individual tickets from Geneva -> Visp 160CHF. 2nd class on the way out, 1st on the return. Trains were perfectly on time and I much preferred them to a coach transfer. Painless and perfectly on time. Very quiet. On the return trip 2nd class was packed out so I was pleased I had booked 1st. There was only about 6 folk in the carriage and for an extra GBP25 quid it was well worth while.

Saas Fee

Lift pass: 346 CHF for 6 days

Lifts:

I didn't particularly like the lay out of the lifts at Saas Fee although I didn't have to wait in a queue all week. They were very disjointed and mass transport cable cars and gondolas rather than the chairs I prefer.

Terrain:

The terrain is varied and the top half of the mountain is heavily glaciated. This meant that you had to be careful when venturing off the pistes. Luckily there had been plenty of fresh snow so the trees lower down were fun. The groomed runs are long and varied. Could easily spend a week here working on my piste skiing. About 1800m vert so it feels like you are skiing all day (especially compared to Glencoe). The snow was ok...

Scenery wasn't too bad...

3rd highest mountain in Switzerland

Saas Fee spends a lot of time in the shade which makes it bloody cold, but also keeps the pistes in top condition. Would recommend for intermediate skier- perfect runs. Beginner terrain limited as with off piste unless you want to get on glaciated terrain.

Eating and drinking:

4CHF for a coffee, 6-8CHF for a beer. 26CHF for lunch on the hill including a beer.

Zinal

Lift pass: 49CHF for 1 day

Lifts: Cable car for access to the main area and return from the free ride zone. Couple of chairs and a couple of drags. Ideal really.

Food: Tartifliette about 18 CHF.

Terrain: Varied and fun. Plenty of easily accessible off piste as well as cruisey groomers

Long and winding road

Busy carpark

Plenty fresh tracks

La Marmotte

And if you've made it this far, a short video:
http://vimeo.com/35051237

Would recommend Zinal for all but you'd have to put up with a reasonably quiet town. Great beginner terrain, varied intermediate stuff and it's an off piste dream :D

Happy to answer any Qs.

Re:Saas Fee and Zinal

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 20:08:04 GMT

Very nice Pabs 8) , but I feel I should point out that your timing is pants cos you missed me, and there are freshies due here at the latter end of this week :D

Re:Saas Fee and Zinal

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 21:24:04 GMT

Going to try and get out again when my dissertation is in!

Re:Saas Fee and Zinal

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 22:18:30 GMT

Thanks for the report Pablo - lovely photos (as usual) :D

Best of luck with your dissertation,

Ally

Latest posts for the topic "Saas Fee and Zinal"

Saas Fee and Zinal

Re:Saas Fee and Zinal

Re:Saas Fee and Zinal

Re:Saas Fee and Zinal