 Poster: A snowHead
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| JohnMo wrote: |
| Idb1213 wrote: |
| JohnMo wrote: |
| Idb1213 wrote: |
@JohnMo, can you tell by the graphs what snow will look like around 20-27th? How certain is it?  |
There are people on this website who understand weather way more than me. I follow the GFS graphs and the MeteoSwiss 48 hour projections.
The GFS graphs are pretty good for the next two or three days – particularly if the runs (i.e. the lines) are all showing the same thing. So you can be fairly confident that there is no snow coming before we get to the weekend at the earliest. But beyond that the confidence level drops very quickly. It is still fun to keep an eye on them. But on 8 November you really can’t have any certainty at all about 20 November. |
im wondering tho, can things turn around with a good day or two of heavy snowing?i think that in order for end november to be good, it should be snowing pretty much all month(or at least 2-3days a week)? like, how good can it be? at best we can get by the end of the month another day or two of major snowing(unless it will get a week full of snow which seems pretty unlikely), but how much difference can it really make? |
It really doesn’t take much to keep the pistes in good shape. Relatively small regular snowfall is fine. It is for off piste that you want some big dumps.
Sunday is too far away to have any significant confidence as to what will happen. Those apps that show an amount of snow depth 5 days out are good entertainment but not a forecast. The models are still all over the place. The apps take one model run (which itself might be a complete outlier) then look at tea leaves (or something less scientific I suspect) and convert it into a snow depth.
Even for the next two days the model runs are all over the place. It is currently raining in the Med. That precipitation looks like it is going to push north past Turin and into the Aosta valley and possibly over the ridge into Zermatt. The GFS models however are not agreeing with each other at all – and that is in the range where you would expect some confidence. That is because the precipitation is not one big band but “bitty”. So you could be fortunate and find a lump of precipitation sits over you and dumps. Or it could all pass you by completely. |
Thanks! So one could hope that by end of the month things could change entirely? By the way, how likely is it to see the town snowy by that time?(not pistes but the town itself). For some of our group it is the first time and they want the full experience (we’re talking 30th november)
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Idb1213, yes. Things could change completely by end of the month. You should look at Polo’s post on the weather thread this morning
https://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?p=4849249#4849249
He is very good at looking at slightly longer trends.
The village was very white at the beginning of last week but most of that has melted. The one thing the GFS models are agreeing on is that temperatures are staying high for the next few days. So snow could return to the village but I wouldn’t bet on it. Even if we get that precipitation in the next 48 hours it might well be rain in the village.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| JohnMo wrote: |
@Idb1213, yes. Things could change completely by end of the month. You should look at Polo’s post on the weather thread this morning
https://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?p=4849249#4849249
He is very good at looking at slightly longer trends.
The village was very white at the beginning of last week but most of that has melted. The one thing the GFS models are agreeing on is that temperatures are staying high for the next few days. So snow could return to the village but I wouldn’t bet on it. Even if we get that precipitation in the next 48 hours it might well be rain in the village. |
Thanks a lot!fingers crossed. For the village, i meant by early december, can it be white? Or often temps are too high for village to be snowy at that time?
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@Idb1213, it depends, mountain weather can all change within a day or two, it might be all white it might not or somewhere in between. If you want a white winter wonderland in the village/town Lapland is your best bet for end of November early December because it’s within the Arctic Circle.
Last edited by You need to Login to know who's really who. on Tue 9-11-21 13:07; edited 1 time in total
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Even after all of John's detailed explanation on why we can't fully trust long-term forecast, I'd still like to add Bergfex's optimistic outlook (which just changed today I reckon):
I know it's uncertain, but how great would this be! I'm planning on going the weekend after (20/11) so I'd be happy with half of that amount already!
Also, another quick update: Zermatt's website now says 34km of piste open (it was 24km till last week), and I called the Cervinia lift company and they said there's approx. 10km of pistes open at the moment (I don't know if Zermatt's 34km include these 10km or if it's 44km in total).
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@Gustavo the Gaper, 10km of pistes in Cervinia? Yikes glad I went to Hintertux this week then as planned!
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| VolklAttivaS5 wrote: |
| @Gustavo the Gaper, 10km of pistes in Cervinia? Yikes glad I went to Hintertux this week then as planned! |
For sure, I was also under the impression there would be more open in Cervinia. I read Sölden was amazing last weekend (https://www.wintersport.nl/weblog/07/11/2021/live-geweldige-condities-in-solden). How was Hitnertux?
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| Gustavo the Gaper wrote: |
Also, another quick update: Zermatt's website now says 34km of piste open (it was 24km till last week), and I called the Cervinia lift company and they said there's approx. 10km of pistes open at the moment (I don't know if Zermatt's 34km include these 10km or if it's 44km in total). |
I am pretty sure that the Zermatt website figure includes Zermatt and Cervinia combined when the connection between the two is open (as it has been this week).
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@Gustavo the Gaper, it’s been very nice thanks, 43km in excellent conditions and they are planning on opening more soon looking at the piste basher activity yesterday. They also had the snow cannons running. I went for a walk today so I will see what they’ve done up there tomorrow. I’ve been meaning to start a Zillertal/Hintertux thread as there’s not one.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Thanks for that Robin. Great stuff. I liked the early bits as the places were just to the west of Täsch. If you walk up the west side of the valley you get to Arigscheis which has a good view of them. The walk is pretty much a direct 820m ascent and can be strenuous in places. The wife and I often walk it in the summer.
From a skiing point of view the closest an ordinary skier would come to doing any of those come later on in the video when they do the Breithorn north face and Castor.
The Breithorn is just north of the Klein Matterhorn lift station. If you skate then skin round the east side of the Breithorn you get to the Schwarztor to the north of the Breithorn and a reasonably competent off piste skier can ski down the glacier from there.
Castor is a bit further north heading towards Monte Rosa (the highest mountain in Switzerland and second highest in the Alps). That is a popular spot for Heliskiing. It is a little more hairy than the Schwarztor as there is more skiing between gaping crevasses. But it still within the capability level of a competent off piste skier. Obviously the vast majority of skiers should only do it with a guide.
I have done both of those. While perhaps not as mind blowing as what those guys were doing they certainly have enough exhilaration for me.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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I’ll stick to Ober-National 
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The Swiss lift company have confirmed that they are opening the runs down from Trockener Steg down to Furgg from Saturday.
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You know it makes sense.
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@JohnMo, oh good
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Latest gfs looks good for the 14th Nov or thereabouts
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Poster: A snowHead
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New visitor to this site, and I apologize if the info I seek is elsewhere, but this is clearly a Zermatt-expert community, so I hope you will indulge me. I am looking for, as snowinginbaltimore said earlier, a "Zermatt for dummies" ski guide. We are a group of six who will be visiting mid-January, all expert skiers with lots of experience in Utah and Colorado. 4 adult children will seek out the steeper and off-piste stuff, while the wife and I have reached the "boomers on groomers" phase of life and are getting a bit risk-adverse. Planning on hiring a guide for a day, but probably not for our hypoxic first day (coming from sea level), and I'd like to get oriented. Also appreciate any recommendations for a rental shop. Thanks!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| drbeier wrote: |
| New visitor to this site, and I apologize if the info I seek is elsewhere, but this is clearly a Zermatt-expert community, so I hope you will indulge me. I am looking for, as snowinginbaltimore said earlier, a "Zermatt for dummies" ski guide. We are a group of six who will be visiting mid-January, all expert skiers with lots of experience in Utah and Colorado. 4 adult children will seek out the steeper and off-piste stuff, while the wife and I have reached the "boomers on groomers" phase of life and are getting a bit risk-adverse. Planning on hiring a guide for a day, but probably not for our hypoxic first day (coming from sea level), and I'd like to get oriented. Also appreciate any recommendations for a rental shop. Thanks! |
Morning, welcome to the forum!
The ‘Zermatters’ team in Zermatt are a good starting places for off-piste guides. They can arrange touring, heli etc and can get you to some amazing places off the beaten track. It would be worth enquiring prior to your arrival.
In regards to hiring why don’t you look at Julen Sport - always top quality up to date equipment and an impressive shop to walk around!
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@drbeier, Welcome to Snowheads. I assume you know about the difference between off-piste safety in Europe vs. N America, but just in case make sure you fully understand it. In particular, I expect that in mid January there will stiil be crevasse risk in some off piste areas.
JohnMo is the expert here and I'm sure he will be along shortly.
Have you booked accomodation yet? My preference is to stay near the Sunnegga lift as its the quickest way up the ,oumtain and still fairly central. Others prefer to be near the base station for the gondola up to Klei Matterhorn.
You can just squeeze 6 into one of the electric taxis which make it a pretty effective way of getting to the lifts first thing and back at the end of the day.
If worried about altitude, go up Sunnegga first thing and then the second stage from where there are quite a few great runs to warm up on. Your adult children will enjoy the yellow itineraries.
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DCG
super-snowHead
Posts: 447
@drbeier, Welcome to Snowheads. I assume you know about the difference between off-piste safety in Europe vs. N America, but just in case make sure you fully understand it. In particular, I expect that in mid January there will stiil be crevasse risk in some off piste areas.
What a load of nonsense, crevasse risk is always there, out of the resort, and the last time I was on the summit ridge of the Breithron, 2 years ago, the crevasses seemed a bit worse, that was in late December. If you are in resort, off the glacier, there is no crevasse risk.
I know a good Swiss guide who worked in Colorado until recently but he's but back in Zermatt now. The marked itineraries in Zermatt are a good place to start, generally safe if you keep off the steeper bits after heavy snow, threat from above not withstanding.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| nevis1003 wrote: |
What a load of nonsense, |
Well, excuse me for existing!
The OP is from N America and says his children would be going off piste but didn't indicate that he knew about the lack of Avvy control etc off-piste in Europe. Hence my post
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| nevis1003 wrote: |
| the last time I was on the summit ridge of the Breithron, 2 years ago, the crevasses seemed a bit worse, |
Well you're obviously an accomplished off-piste skier. Glad you let us know that.
| Quote: |
| If you are in resort, off the glacier, there is no crevasse risk |
Amazing insight there.
I assume you have skied down from Furgstattel and seen the wide powder fields to skiers' left that attract numerous powder hounds (but also hide crevasses with weak snow bridges as has been covered on here before
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Amazing insight there.
I assume you have skied down from Furgstattel and seen the wide powder fields to skiers' left that attract numerous powder hounds (but also hide crevasses with weak snow bridges as has been covered on here before
I don't think that is in the resort though is it? Which was my point, maybe have trip to spec savers. Obviously, if you climb the east face of the Matterhorn you will see crevasses too.
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@drbeier there are a number of rental shops in Zermatt, all have generally a very high standard of equipment available. Many of the hotels and accommodation providers have arrangements with particular shops whereby you get a discount of about 10%. So I suggest you contact the hotel or wherever you are staying first and ask them if they have such an arrangement and if so, with which shop. Once you know that you can get in touch with the shop direct if you have particular skis or whatever that you prefer and see if they have them in which case you can usually reserve in advance.
If your hotel doesn't have a discount arrangement then if you can let us know where you are staying you can get a recommendation for somewhere close by. As I say, the standards are high everywhere so you are pretty safe just going to your nearest shop.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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OK, guys, really didn't mean to start a flame war. Avalanche risk is something we are very familiar with (even inbounds!) but crevasses, not so much. Always appreciate the insight of experienced skiers. What are the "itineraries" you speak of? I have looked at some trail maps but they seem sparsely annotated. Perhaps the colored and numbered pistes on the something like this: https://www.zermatt.ch/en/Lifts-pistes/Panokarte-Ausflugsberge/Piste-map-Winter-panorama ?
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Scotsgirl, thanks. we are staying at an apartment at Luchernstrasse 24, so no discounts. Looks centrally located, and I'll try to get equipment the afternoon we arrive.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@drbeier, It's ok, you didn't start it!
In line with most of Europe, Zermatt has blue, red and black pistes in ascending order of challenge (and also some easier greens). A number of resorts also have runs that they call either itineraries or ski-runs and these are mostly marked yeloow or amber on piste maps. Wheras the pistes have marker poles on either side of the run, the itineraries tend to have a pole in the middle with no absolute boundary to the run, but you are expected to stay within about 20-30 metres I think. They tend to be ungroomed, but patrolled and there is some variation in whether they are made avalanche-safe - I think Zermatt's are but not so for all resorts.
Quite a few of these runs were once maked as blacks on the piste map but have been "upgraded" to give more challenge particularly for those who don#t like over-grooming
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Ok, Luchernstrasse is just a bit beyond the Church in Zermatt. You have a choice then when it comes to renting - slalom sport is probably the nearest, but your location, though central, and very convenient for shops, bars restaurants etc, will involve a bit of walking to lift stations or the bus stop to the lift stations, or alternatively short taxi rides in the morning to the lift stations.
This may or may not be an issue for you.
Alternatively, Flexrent opposite the Sunnegga funicular entrance has a ‘depot’ where you can leave skis and boots every night and change to walking shoes to head back to your accommodation. Then in the morning you just walk down, change into your boots and off you go. They will also transport your gear to the Klein Matterhorn base station in the morning if that’s where you want to start the day. I think Dorsaz sports offer a similar service and others may do too, but I’m not sure - Flexrent is the one we are familiar with. Perhaps worth looking into?
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| nevis1003 wrote: |
I don't think that is in the resort though is it? Which was my point, maybe have trip to spec savers. |
A few things:
First, the statement above seems to fit with the NA concept of inbounds and out of bounds, which isn't really relevant to Europe. You can be "in resort" but "off-piste" and that is the point. The area we are talking about has several pistes below it that head off to skiers' left and tend to get further afield later in the season. 69 is one, I think and maybe 70 another. One is called the Matterhornpiste. You can ski through the danger area I referred to in order to "cut the corner" to access the further reaches of 69/70. But some people may only be able to do this once....
I would say it was definitely regarded as "in resort".
Second, you referenced itimeraries and warned to watch out for the avvy risk on steeper bits after heavy snow. That really goes back to the point I made about whether itineraries were made avalanche-safe. The OP should check with the Tourist Office on arrival to confirm the position but be aware that if the itinerary is closed then there is a good reason which might be avvy risk. I think skiing a closed itinerary is as dodgy as siing a closed piste.
Third, I had a quick search on your prior posts and see you have form for being gratuitously offensive to others. Can i suggest we just calm it down and leave this thread to sharing useful information about the area.
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You know it makes sense.
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Flexrent looks pretty good - we can even stop there on our way from the train (if we are not hallucinating from the 20 hr trip from Seattle). And DCG thanks for the trail info. Jeez I love travel forums.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Gosh that will be quite some trip for sure! Only a suggestion, but if it’s snowy in the village by then you might that find trailing luggage to Flexrent, though not far from the station, then all the way to your accommodation might prove a little too much after all that travel. There are electric taxis at the station, it’s a flat rate and as has been said they take 6 so in your shoes I would be tempted to go straight to the apartment, drop bags, then wander down to check out skis. I don’t know how much if any cooking you are planning to do but there are a couple of good size supermarkets, a Coop in the centre opposite the main station, a Migros on Hofmatstrasse (half way between the main station and your apartment) and a small but useful convenience store on the corner of schluhmattstrasse and kirchstrasse (closest to where you are).
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Poster: A snowHead
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@DCG, leave it, it’s not worth it 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I do all the time, we have a lot of ‘look how good I am off piste sorts’ rather than people who simply want to be helpful and enjoy the sport!@drbeier, at least you have booked to come to one of the best resorts in the worl. You will love it
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Meanwhile, the reason for the thread, Snow.
A decent event for around the15th!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Dr bier
Third, I had a quick search on your prior posts and see you have form for being gratuitously offensive to others. Can i suggest we just calm it down and leave this thread to sharing useful information about the area.
I think that is a slightly ironical reply. I rarely post on here, but it's great to have an on line stalker. I agree that I have been gratuitously insulted several times when pointing out nonsense on posts like yours. But the forum does have seen to have a lot of commercial bias from several posters, and a lot of internet weirdos who cant ski much because they must spend all day posting nonsense. WTF is a super snow head? I would be profoundly embarrassed to announce myself as that anywhere....
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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| JohnMo wrote: |
| Gustavo the Gaper wrote: |
For the more experienced Zermatt visitors: I'm planning to go skiing again in 2 weeks (19-21/11) but I'm very afraid of getting to the Alps just to see the lifts close again. What do you think are the chances of Zermatt (and Saas-Fee) being completely closed? I mean, now they're opening more pistes, so even if it's very windy at the top of the mountain, I assume the chances of closing the entire resort are lower than earlier in the season (because the lower pistes should also have sufficient snow)? Or not? Does that make any sense?
Thanks a lot! |
I appreciate that getting to Zermatt (or Saas Fee) from the Netherlands is much easier than getting to Breuil-Cervinia but the Italian side will still be much better at that time. Weather conditions allowing, on the Swiss side the pistes up on Klein Matterhorn, the pistes from Furggsattel and the pistes from Trockener Steg down to Furgg and the link over to Italy should be open. But as you have experienced this time does see a lot of storms. It would not be surprising if Klein Matterhorn and the link to Italy were closed. Furggsattel is less likely to close but the top lift station is perched right on the ridge overlooking the Italian basin (in fact it is actually on Italian soil) so it too is vulnerable to southerly winds in particular. It would be a long way to come simply to ski Trockener Steg down to Furgg. There is no chance that any of the other areas will open. They could (like the Italians do) but they simply don’t.
I am out there for a few days in 10 days time. Like you I am hoping for more snow before then (looking unlikely on GFS) but then calm sunny days for 3 days – then back to storms! |
Booked! Found a nice alternative to fly to Bergamo and drive to Cervinia instead of taking the train to Switzerland (and found a friend willing to join last minute and share the costs heheh). Will be there next Thursday night, and this time hopefully I'll be able to get back with some proper snow updates...
Many thanks for the tips once again!
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| twoodwar wrote: |
| @DCG, leave it, it’s not worth it |
I agree. I just felt some of what he said needed challenging as it was potentially dangerous advice.
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@drbeier, welcome! 4 post in and already mistaken for DCG, you are doing well as a 
I think google maps is your friend for equipment - you will be ( I think!) 5 mins walk from the Matterhorn cable ways - that being the case I being cheap and lazy would do 1 of too things:
- cheap - go online and book with intersport in advance (it was cheapest I could find and is a short walk from the station - Bahnhofstrasse 19 - but it was great service a kit last time I used). Trudge up the main street get kit and then taxi to accomodation (they will book one for you!)
or
- lazy - book with Dorsaz sport which is right next to the Matterhorn direction lifts where there are lockers too I think (I wasn't so keen on selection but it was good for the lazy)
I would prob think to walk to the cable car every day being so close - you don't have to go up to 3842 on your first day, there is plenty of skiing and you can get to Sunnega, Riffelalp on skis from their
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| drbeier wrote: |
| OK, guys, really didn't mean to start a flame war. Avalanche risk is something we are very familiar with (even inbounds!) but crevasses, not so much. Always appreciate the insight of experienced skiers. What are the "itineraries" you speak of? I have looked at some trail maps but they seem sparsely annotated. Perhaps the colored and numbered pistes on the something like this: https://www.zermatt.ch/en/Lifts-pistes/Panokarte-Ausflugsberge/Piste-map-Winter-panorama ? |
Regarding crevasses, there is not a lot of danger unless you break a simple rule.
There are no crevasses on piste (they are well and truly filled in by the lift company). If you want to go side piste skiing then anywhere there might be crevasses the piste markers have a rope tied between them. To go off piste there you would have to go under the rope. Lots of people do. Some of them know exactly what they are doing (e.g. guides); some are being reckless. Stay the piste side of the rope and you will not go down a crevasse. Once the rope ends there is no longer a risk of crevasses: now you “just” have the normal off piste risks.
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Hi @drbeier. Some good advice above (amongst some strange stuff). I will try to give you my personal overview.
Zermatt is a very rocky resort. Much of the skiing is on recently deglaciated terrain. Up until the peak of the little ice age in the mid-19th century the glaciers extended almost all the way down to town. They are now nowhere near there. This has created the exciting skiing terrain we love but does bring challenges off the groomed pistes – particularly early in the season or in a poor snow year. You are a little early for the best off piste experience (Feb/March/April). For example the best itinerary run area (monitored off piste basically) of Stockhorn/Rote Nasa/Triftji does not open until last week of January usually (this year for some reason it is first week of February). That is because they need sufficient snow cover over the rocks.
From town there are three ways up to the mountains. They lead to the three (plus one) Swiss areas and the last one leads over to the Italian area. I’ll summarise each. I gave a summary of the itinerary runs (shown yellow on the piste map) for someone a few years back. I will copy and paste that in a separate posting below). I think you’ve already made reference to the piste map (the pdf link in this link):
https://www.zermatt.ch/en/Lifts-pistes/Panokarte-Ausflugsberge/Piste-map-Winter-panorama
In the North East of town is the Sunnegga furnicular. This is an underground train that links up with other lifts to the Rothorn area. A lot of beginners take this train because the Blauherd to Sunnegga blues are great for them. Don’t be deceived by that: from Rothorn there are excellent runs in all directions, including back down past Blauherd and on to black piste 8 (the Oberere National) which is the Swiss side’s signature run. If the snow is good there are plenty of opportunities for side piste and between piste fun. Going beyond the piste markers like this tends to create a lot of emotion on Snowheads: many people do it; but some consider it dangerous to do. You can make your own judgements when you are there.
Not just in this sector but in the resort generally I wouldn’t ski back to town (except at the end of the day). The home runs are not that great and are not worth the time it takes to get back up.
From Rothorn the runs down to Gant are also nice. From there you can take a chair back up to Blauherd and continue to enjoy the Rothorn area. Alternatively if you want to move on you can take the big cable car up to Hohtälli and come back down to Gant on Run 28 – one of the best runs in the resort and again plenty of scope for side piste fun. If you want to move on further take run 44 over to the Gornetgrat sector.
In the centre of town is the Gornergrat railway station from where you take the train up to Gornergrat. It is the slowest way up in the ski areas from town but one that you must do at least once as the views are spectacular. Try to sit on the right hand side in direction of travel as that gives you the best views.
The pistes just below Gornergrat (strictly Gifthittli, where the chair lift ends) are mainly used by beginners, although the reds are not bad. However, if the snow is good there is a surprising amount of side and between psite fun to be had here. For the better skier the run further down from Riffelberg to Furi is actually better. From there you can head back up to Riffelberg and continue in the Gornergrat sector or hop on the gondola to the upper side of Furi and connect with the Matterhorn Express going up to Schwarzsee and Trockener Steg.
In the South of town is the Matterhorn Express. These gondolas take you up to Schwarzsee (sometimes simply grouped with the Klein Matterhorn sector). Hop off here first and enjoy the reds and side pistes. Make sure you take the Hirli lift as the black, reds and side pistes from there are great and tend to be a bit quieter.
Back on the Matterhorn Express you continue on up to Trockener Steg. From here you can: take the chairlift to Furggsattel; ski down to Furgg and connect with the black 62 down to Furi; or hop on the snazzy new cable car up to Klein Matterhorn.
Klein Matterhorn is the highest list station in Europe. The views from there are spectacular. The pistes are nothing special but the experience of skiing from there is. Coming off the Klein Matterhorn pistes you can either bear right to Trockener Steg or bear left over Plateau Rosa to Testa Grigia and into Italy.
You must go into Italy on at least one occasion. You need either to have an International Pass (personally I recommend that to people coming out) or, if you just buy a Switzerland pass, you can buy a daily upgrade at any of the Swiss ticket offices.
At Testa Grigia there are three ways into Switzerland. One is straight down the Ventina (number 7 and Cervinia’s signature run). This is a great piste for an expert skier (and good fun for intermediates). Alternatively you can keep slightly right at Testa Grigia and ski down piste 6. You will feel like you are heading back into Switzerland but there is a fork where you take a left and cut through the Theodulpass and into the main Cervinia basin. When there don’t miss out skiing down to Plan Torrette (the central lift station) and take the lift up from there. For the expert skier the skiing there is excellent. The third way into Italy is to head down the Ventina (7) but bear left whenever you can. That takes you into Valtournenche. A lot of visitors to Zermatt never make it over to there. Personally I go there quite often and enjoy it – but I get to Zermatt regularly so have the time to do so. It wouldn’t be a disaster if you didn’t do it.
The two runs I insist that you and your kids do are the iconic “high to low runs”. And it is compulsory to do them non-stop.
For the Swiss one you come off Klein Matterhorn and head down the reds and bear right. That you will have you heading towards Trockener Steg but keep right and bypass it. You are now heading down to Furgg, keep right and swing round the far right lit station onto the black 62 to Furi. As you are approaching Furi don’t ski up towards it but ski under the road and join the red down to Zermatt. Almost seven and a half thousand feet of drop.
For the Italian one you come off Klein Matterhorn but as you come down the reds, bear left over Plateau Rosa to Test Grigia to drop onto the Ventina (7). Not quite as big a drop but just as exhilarating and a quite different experience consider it has the same starting point.
Generally if your kids are experts and want to enjoy off piste, if you can afford it you need a guide. The side piste stuff is good fun – and the itineraries are great. But you shouldn’t go “proper” off piste by yourself unless you are really good at reading a mountain and mountain maps or you take a guide. Even once you are off the glacier (with the risk that involves) the rocky nature means you can suddenly find yourself at a cliff face (or worse obviously).
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