Swiss confederation just confirmed that all ski resorts can open from 22.12 with cantonal authorisation. Those like Verbier which are already open can remain so, but must receive authorisation by 22nd.
Closed lifts must operate at 2/3rd capacity, otherwise all restrictions same as those currently in force in Verbier or required by the confederation (max 4 to a resto table etc).
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Steve Sparks wrote:
Swiss confederation just confirmed that all ski resorts can open from 22.12 with cantonal authorisation. Those like Verbier which are already open can remain so, but must receive authorisation by 22nd.
Closed lifts must operate at 2/3rd capacity, otherwise all restrictions same as those currently in force in Verbier or required by the confederation (max 4 to a resto table etc).
Good news!
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?
Steve Sparks wrote:
Closed lifts must operate at 2/3rd capacity, ....
Reading that rather confused me, initially I thought to myself "if they are closed lifts then they are not operating"? Then I realised that you were referring to enclosed lifts like gondolas or cable cars...
Not at all - that was a 10 minute skin from the top lift, and we didn't see a track in the whole valley. La Grave road run type descents with couloirs into the valley. Some survival skiing after a route finding error on my part though.
The terrain here is unbelievable and so untapped if you look beyond the obvious freeride routes. I had no idea before, but we are staying at Basecamp Lodge, and the owner has given us some great beta. I had previously written Andermatt off a bit, but I was very wrong. Worth a visit!
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.
JackSkier wrote:
Not at all - that was a 10 minute skin from the top lift, and we didn't see a track in the whole valley. La Grave road run type descents with couloirs into the valley. Some survival skiing after a route finding error on my part though.
The terrain here is unbelievable and so untapped if you look beyond the obvious freeride routes. I had no idea before, but we are staying at Basecamp Lodge, and the owner has given us some great beta. I had previously written Andermatt off a bit, but I was very wrong. Worth a visit!
Sounds great. Only done a day there many years back. Would love to go again...
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
[img]https://imgur.com/a/an75lyp[/img]
Nothing like a +45 degree exposed couloir to start the day.
Then bumped into an ex-racer from Holland on the lift. It is rare, as a 22 year old, that my legs are skiied off. That definitely happened today! I think possibly some of the best technique I have ever seen in person.
Switzerland has just closed all shops and limited groups to 5 people (kids included) because of UK skiers who brought the new variant into Wengen. They traced the cases to Wengen but have not been able to stop the spread and have therefore clamped down early to prevent the numbers going crazy.
The reports of people fleeing Verbier were proven by the NZZ (Swiss broadsheet) to be massively exaggerated and misleading but the Wengen situation is confirmed.
I work in CH and heard the news this afternoon.
"the British tourist should have gone into enforced quarantine, but failed to do so and was only isolated from the rest of the community after a positive test."
From https://reut.rs/39vVx22
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
@jamesbrocklehurst, I hope the Swiss authorities are able to impose a big fine on the British tourist who deliberately ignored the mandatory quarantine!
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?
You’ve got to admire the Swiss priorities. From Monday literally only supermarkets, pharmacies and ski lifts will be open.
Shops open for rentals but as you can imagine they aren’t exactly heaving with people!
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
@Alastair Pink,
Quote:
@jamesbrocklehurst, I hope the Swiss authorities are able to impose a big fine on the British tourist who deliberately ignored the mandatory quarantine!
+1 It disappoints me that anyone could be so selfish as to go to Switzerland from UK at Christmas for a holiday and winter sports. We all love it otherwise we probably wouldn't be on this forum, but some things are bigger than skiing......there's a moral obligation to protect others, they chose to interpret the rules to suit themselves, they've done themselves and the rest of us who seek an early return to Alpine travel no favours.
After all it is free
After all it is free
I continue to be surprised at the unwillingness of the Home Office to impose sensible controls over Britons departing the UK. I suppose it's the Libertarian zealots in Parliament, on both sides, who'd scream and shout about it. Why shouldn't people be expected to produce proof - in advance - of the necessity of their journey, then receive an exit visa to leave? Few people with a valid reason will have any problem in doing that. By all means have the public discussion about the rights/wrongs - but it just doesn't seem even to be on the table as a potential policy. For some time, it's been the law that you can't leave the UK except for business or essential personal reasons: this would just be enforcing that. What's annoying is that estimates of compliance are pretty high according to independent research, so we're dealing with a very small minority of people who would genuinely resent such constraints. If I was a conspiracy theorist, I'd say that this works well for apologists of government incompetence by making out that 'it's all the fault of so many people not adhering to the rules' when in fact it's nothing of the kind. An exit visa requirement, reviewed monthly, would actually affect very people people and hugely improve the willingness of other countries to re-open their borders to UK travellers.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
I agree. I had an "argument" with someone on Facebook about this. They blamed Swiss ski lifts being open as the reason for the outbreak in Wengen and subsequent cancellation of the World Cup races and got cross when I suggested that person(s) undertaking unnecessary travel and failing to quarantine are the reason. People need to take some responsibility for their actions.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
I feel the Covid safety is better on the ski hills than in towns and shops.
Avoiding big cable cars is a sensible precaution and I have always avoided big resorts like Verbier etc.
People are obeying the rules, wearing masks in lift queues and on the lifts (even chair and drag lifts.)
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
@jamesbrocklehurst, Its the stuff they are doing when not on the slopes, and getting to/ from that's the issue surely?
Quote:
People need to take some responsibility for their actions.
@queenie pretty please, Agree 100%, that's the main aspect that's annoyed me in all these so-called UK lockdowns, people are just looking to see how much they can bend the rules for their own benefit, and therefore get away with rather than having a social responsibility towards their fellow human beings. Scandinavia, Germany, CH-land or Austria are where i'd rather be right now, the people in general know how to behave, and have a greater social conscience ime.
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.
LaForet wrote:
I continue to be surprised at the unwillingness of the Home Office to impose sensible controls over Britons departing the UK. I suppose it's the Libertarian zealots in Parliament, on both sides, who'd scream and shout about it. Why shouldn't people be expected to produce proof - in advance - of the necessity of their journey, then receive an exit visa to leave? Few people with a valid reason will have any problem in doing that. By all means have the public discussion about the rights/wrongs - but it just doesn't seem even to be on the table as a potential policy. For some time, it's been the law that you can't leave the UK except for business or essential personal reasons: this would just be enforcing that. What's annoying is that estimates of compliance are pretty high according to independent research, so we're dealing with a very small minority of people who would genuinely resent such constraints. If I was a conspiracy theorist, I'd say that this works well for apologists of government incompetence by making out that 'it's all the fault of so many people not adhering to the rules' when in fact it's nothing of the kind. An exit visa requirement, reviewed monthly, would actually affect very people people and hugely improve the willingness of other countries to re-open their borders to UK travellers.
Its typical of Govt approach going back to Blair et al - create a law, but make the law almost impossible to enforce. The Lockdown rules in the UK have been horribly enforced, they all sound great in a news conference, but short of bringing in the Army and imposing martial law most restrictions of civil liberties are hard to enforce.
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
jamesbrocklehurst wrote:
"the British tourist should have gone into enforced quarantine, but failed to do so and was only isolated from the rest of the community after a positive test."
From https://reut.rs/39vVx22
The facts do seem to be unclear at present, but my information from Wengen is that the alleged British ;super-spreader' arrived prior to 10 Dec (so no quarantine required) & was diagnosed positive on 23 Dec (so presumably contracted in resort from someone else)
We'll see, but this could be another case of Brit bashing to deflect from the main issue (not locking this down earlier)
@iainm, Agreed. Well said. Lots of misinformation. Situations/requirements/regulations change. Depends when you came out, what you had/have to do.
Coming from a (then) tier 1 area out at an appropriate time in Dec. meant we had to quarantine for (IIRC) 6 more days ( i.e. after 21st) - which we did absolutely to the letter. Downloaded Swisscovid App. Notified the authorities & received friendly/polite/helpful reply.
All went well & eventually was 'released'. Queues for Gondalbahn worst bit, but most keep distance, pretty much all wear masks. Not been near anyone. Slopes almost empty - such a shame for locals - but same at home I guess. Talking of which - keep getting messages from friends saying for goodness sake (or stronger!) stay where you are - it's safer! Wish we could - would do, except for urgent medical procedure - if it is still going ahead! We have feared 'Brit bashing' - only heard one comment (Why are they here - thought they were banned?') - but that was again from ignorance of the rules & the facts of the individual case.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Am I right in thinking that travellers from Italy (not the Veneto region) don't have to quarantine on arrival in Switzerland?
For business reasons, I have been living in Italy, under quarantine, for since the end of December. I have to travel back to the UK in a few days time, and I thought I might go via Switzerland and get a week or so skiing in. Although I think that there is no legal impediment, I can foresee trouble with the Swiss border police when I try to enter the country in my GB-registered car.
We are not escaping Blighty for several months so it makes little difference unless you are in the EU.
Let’s pray for 21/22
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?
Contrarian wrote:
Although I think that there is no legal impediment, I can foresee trouble with the Swiss border police when I try to enter the country in my GB-registered car.
I'm sure that you'll be allowed to transit. I suppose it depends on whether they give you a timescale to cross the country and a time/date by which you should exit into France or Germany. I'm not aware as to whether you can legally stay over on the way. I understood you couldn't but can't say for sure.
Just had the weekend in Villars, staying at an apartment a friend was borrowing as their friends can't travel to use it from London
The combination of sunny weather and fresh snow earlier this week made conditions great, but it really brought out the crowds, coupled with the fact that there are many Swiss with second homes there and it is on the Magic Pass too. At one stage on Saturday morning they closed the link between Gryon and Villars to help manage the long lift queues. It was also a 3 hour drive there from Lausanne on Friday evening, normally about an hour, as I imagine the forecast conditions really brought out the crowds on top of the normal rush hour traffic
I can't say social distancing was particularly well observed, although masks were being strictly enforced by queue monitors and it was well respected in the lift queues, which was good to see.
Previous weekends spent in Les Crosets & Verbier were very quiet in comparison, although the weather conditions were optimal this weekend so they may well have been much busier than before perhaps
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Also busy in Verbier this weekend, particularly Saturday morning. I have a few mates who go regularly to Villars due to its proximity and Magic Pass aka Tragic Pass
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