@JohnMo, excellent conditions for hiking, yesterday we've done the circular path in the forest above Zermatt after reaching Zmutt the day before.
Where did you go?
For skiing, today the link to Cervinia is open
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
drporat wrote:
@JohnMo, excellent conditions for hiking, yesterday we've done the circular path in the forest above Zermatt after reaching Zmutt the day before.
Where did you go?
For skiing, today the link to Cervinia is open
We did the snowshoe walk from Riffelalp round to Gant then up to Sunnegga. Beautiful walk. It is well marked but we go off piste shortly after Gant and take the summer walk up to Sunnegga. Not really advisable to do unless you know it well.
I saw that the link was open. It looks like they are letting people from the Swiss side down the Ventina (even though the lift closure means you can’t get back up it). That is nice. Just means you need to ski down to Breuil Cervinia then come back up via the chair lifts above Plan Maison.
We are walking again today (wife is a non-skier – other than cross country). Or at least we will be if we ever get our bums in gear.
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?
Same issues everywhere, it seems.
How are the trail conditions? It seems you started on path 146.
Is the snow packed? Are snowshoes a must or can crampons do the work?
I am looking for a trail connecting Findlerhof with Stellisee, like the one in this video
I spent Thursday and Friday (12-13th) skiing in Zermatt, thanks for everyone's advice. I stuck to the Trockener side as I was testing skis at the Stockli test centre. Overall well groomed runs, icy going down to Schwarzsee in parts, and in hindsight, I realised that quite a few instructor-led groups were taking the gondola down from Trockener, alighting at Schwarzsee to ski down to Furi/Zermattt. Really wish I had a few extra days to explore Gornergrat and Sunnegga so can't speak for the conditions in those areas. But blimey when the winds hit on Friday, I was grateful for the respite of the bubble hood on the chairlift! So thank you to everyone that provided advice, the train ride from Geneva was spectacular.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
drporat wrote:
Same issues everywhere, it seems.
How are the trail conditions? It seems you started on path 146.
[edited: found out snowshoes are a must, lucky I rented]
I am looking for a trail connecting Findlerhof with Stellisee, like the one in this video
Same issues everywhere, it seems.
How are the trail conditions? It seems you started on path 146.
Is the snow packed? Are snowshoes a must or can crampons do the work?
I am looking for a trail connecting Findlerhof with Stellisee, like the one in this video
Yes, we mainly walked the marked snowshoe trail 146. The snow is packed in places – particularly at the beginning and end. Those sections and several other sections you could just do with microspikes over hiking boots. However, at present I wouldn’t try to do the whole walk without snowshoes. There are large sections where you would be sinking into the snow and it would be extremely tiring.
There is not really a winter trail that connects Findelhof with Stellisee. There is a walk that goes from Blauherd to Fluhalp that goes past Stellisee. You don’t even need microspikes for that – good hiking boots would be fine. It is a pleasant walk but not the most interesting from a hiking point of view. You could do it following the (unmarked in winter) 5 lakes trail. But I would not recommend that unless you really knew it well. You could get from Findelhof up the hill and join on the snowshoe trail 146. That takes you down to Grindjesee and you can continue on to Grünsee.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
I have some non skiers with our group who are not super fit. Is there a walk in and around Zermatt village that might be a nice stroll for them? Aside from walking the village itself.
After all it is free
After all it is free
These are all nice. 109 in particular seems to meet your description.
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Perfect thanks.
Back to the weather. It looks like a snowy leadup to Xmas day (how much snow is still unclear) followed by sunshine...then temps drop again for NYE.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
We had lovely hikes yesterday combining mountain views, wooden cottages and forest walks.
It was easy and on snow condensed hiking trails but required crampons due to short rather steep descending parts.
Higly recommended for beginners.
We went up Sunnega, took the tunnel then the elevator and descended on 112 towards Findeln.
Finally saw Chez Vrony and Findlerhof.
Then we turned right to 115 and returned to Sunnega through the forest.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Last of the warm(ish) days today. The cold (snow temperature) coming in at same time as tomorrow’s storm. Should fall as snow in the village - will definitely be snow up on the pistes. Next week starting to look exciting.
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.
Why did they remove the stockhorn Drag lift and not plan to replace it.
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
mcg wrote:
Why did they remove the stockhorn Drag lift and not plan to replace it.
So is the idea that if the Stockhorn is open, you can use those yellow itineraries, but have to go all the way down to Gant?
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
I have in my head (might have read something on here a while ago) that you cannot download from Klein Matterhorn to Testa Grigia on the new (ish) 3S lift if you are carrying ski's, it's pedestrians only and the international lift pass doesn't cover it. you have to pay for a special trip, is that really the case even in the middle of winter? I was hoping to take my two little ones up there but they aren't ready to ski down the run from the top.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
A little update from the ground in Zermatt.
Lovely skiing over the past couple of days up on the Klein and Trockener Steg. Excellent snow conditions and fairly empty runs. Particularly impressed with the Furggstattel chairlift and the two reds back down to Trockener. Nice and grippy corduroy runs.
Early morning conditions from Trockener down to Furgg also excellent. A little bit scratchy as you drop down towards the Furgg lift station but that can be expected considering the time of year and limited base.
Lots of good runs on Schwarzsee. Again, great conditions considering the time of year with little to no icy sections.
Gornergrat skiing well also. Limited with only two runs open but again, plenty of snow and nice and grippy. Gifthittli to Gant ok but was getting very worn towards the back end of yesterday. The lack of the black to Kelle causing a little bit of a bottleneck with steeper sections very worn.
Rothorn in fantastic condition. The red past Fluhalp to Gant is one of the best runs at the moment in my view conditions wise. That said, pleased to enjoy Blauherd to Kumme/Pattrullarve a few times and fairly empty.
Thoroughly jealous of anyone arriving after the Xmas week. NY will be pretty special on the mountain!
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Jamo wrote:
mcg wrote:
Why did they remove the stockhorn Drag lift and not plan to replace it.
So is the idea that if the Stockhorn is open, you can use those yellow itineraries, but have to go all the way down to Gant?
The drag lift up to Stockhorn (and the parallel one to Rote Nase) was being repeatedly smashed by rockfalls (a consequence of deglaciation). They had to decommission them. There is a plan to build a new lift from Hohtälli to further over the ridge than Rote Nase. Quite whether it goes as far as Stockhorn I am not sure (I hope it does). See the picture below. I have no idea re timescale. However, it is now the only outstanding project. The Matterhorn Glacier Crossing II, the new Zermatt to Furi lift and the new base station for the Matterhorn Glacier Express were all huge projects but are now completed
In answer to the second question, the answer is yes. Whether skiing from Rote Nase or Stockhorn (or wherever the new lift goes to) you skip all the way down to Gant then get the big gondola back up to Hohtälli. Personally I am fine with that. I love the long run and it is great fun the whole way.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
@JohnMo, thanks for the info, Those are great itineraries runs , spent many a day lapping the Hohtali cable car and the drag lifts. will miss the variety that the drag lifts gave but still plenty to do off Hohtali.
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?
Raptor24 wrote:
I have in my head (might have read something on here a while ago) that you cannot download from Klein Matterhorn to Testa Grigia on the new (ish) 3S lift if you are carrying ski's, it's pedestrians only and the international lift pass doesn't cover it. you have to pay for a special trip, is that really the case even in the middle of winter? I was hoping to take my two little ones up there but they aren't ready to ski down the run from the top.
I am afraid a normal skis pass doesn’t cover the Klein Matterhorn to Testa Grigia lift (see photo below). It is not a matter of not being allowed on with skis. Those of us with annual (or season) passes can use it (I rarely do mind).
It is very unfortunate (to be polite about it). Some of my family are not very confident skiers. They love going over to Italy but find the ski down from Klein Matterhorn to Test Grigia daunting. They would definitely take the lift if they could.
The new crossing is very much targeted at foot passengers. It is open again on Saturday but then closes again from 6 January to 14 February.
Thank you. Most unfortunate as you say. I suppose I could pay the extortionate amount for another adult to accompany the kids in the lift (who to add another twist to this) are free as both are under 10 whilst I ski down.
It is very unfortunate (to be polite about it). Some of my family are not very confident skiers. They love going over to Italy but find the ski down from Klein Matterhorn to Test Grigia daunting. They would definitely take the lift if they could.
The new crossing is very much targeted at foot passengers. It is open again on Saturday but then closes again from 6 January to 14 February
I didn't know about this. It seems particularly bad given the potential difficulty of the descent on skis
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
mountainaddict wrote:
Quote:
It is very unfortunate (to be polite about it). Some of my family are not very confident skiers. They love going over to Italy but find the ski down from Klein Matterhorn to Test Grigia daunting. They would definitely take the lift if they could.
The new crossing is very much targeted at foot passengers. It is open again on Saturday but then closes again from 6 January to 14 February
I didn't know about this. It seems particularly bad given the potential difficulty of the descent on skis
It was not announced until lift opened. A one day international ski pass is CHF106:(subject to dynamic pricing). An “Alpine Crossing” ticket is CHF124. Even if they charged you a CHF18 premium to use it I still think a lot of nervous skiers would pay it.
It is not as though they are keeping their premium foot passengers away from the skiing riffraff. They share the Matterhorn Express gondolas up to Trockener Steg and then the identical Matterhorn Crossing I lift from. Trockener Steg up to Klein Matterhorn.
After all it is free
After all it is free
As well as the desire to get a premium on foot passengers, I think they would anticipate issues with skiers using the tunnel in both directions
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Lifts closed today in Cervinia (winds so far gusting to 140kph!)
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Piste opening seems fairly limited and slow at the moment, although presumably wind accounts for the closure on the Klein Matterhorn today. Is this normal for the period up to Christmas?
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Looks like it is snowing solidly on the mountain and in the village based on the cams...it'll be interesting to see just how much impact this storm has on and off the piste.
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.
Jamo wrote:
Looks like it is snowing solidly on the mountain and in the village based on the cams...it'll be interesting to see just how much impact this storm has on and off the piste.
Are there any udates as to what the storm is delivering.
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
I'd love to hear from those on the ground. The only "actual' data point I saw was that Gornegrat had 59cm in the last 3 days.
I find it difficult to find official actual data.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Jamo wrote:
I'd love to hear from those on the ground. The only "actual' data point I saw was that Gornegrat had 59cm in the last 3 days.
I find it difficult to find official actual data.
The cervinia official website updated its snow totals this morning, but the quoted figures for Plan Maison and town had only increased by 10cm which is a touch disappointing if accurate.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
It is still snowing now and will be doing so for the rest of today. It has been unfortunate so far for those who have booked Christmas week but it looks like they are going to get payback big style for the rest of the week. All that fresh snow, winds dropping and plenty of sunshine.
I would be wary of any numbers like “59cm”. There has clearly been a ton of snow the last couple of days but that is going to impact different parts of the resort in different ways. Last week, after the much smaller storm we left our apartment in Täsch to a light dusting, followed by a decent top up in Zermatt then just the other side of Furi we were ploughing through knee deep snow on what had been a hard packed trail the day before. The winds might mean that the high rocky areas have been stripped but the gullys could be a powder feast (but also high avalanche risk)
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Heading out to Cervinia Sunday 29th - so given the snow has probably been moved around in the high winds a lot, is that still good in that the pisteurs can tap into some big reservoirs and get all the pistes in good shape (optimism mode)!
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
MHskier wrote:
Heading out to Cervinia Sunday 29th - so given the snow has probably been moved around in the high winds a lot, is that still good in that the pisteurs can tap into some big reservoirs and get all the pistes in good shape (optimism mode)!
The pistes will be in superb shape given the amount of snow so far this season. Tiny bit of damage from the above average temperatures coming after Christmas but nothing you will notice on piste. Off piste should be a mixture of awesome and scraping the bases off your skis.
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?
JohnMo wrote:
I would be wary of any numbers like “59cm”.
I think I got that from a snow station measurement from https://whiterisk.ch/en/conditions/measurements/station/IMIS/GOR2 which actually reads 67cm over the last 3 days. I imagine this is just a raw number...whereas the practical impact on piste will be quite different.
Measurements aside, I'm sure we can all agree that this storm sequence has been a huge gift from the snow gods.
Looks like another full day if closures for anything above 2500
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Raptor24 wrote:
Looks like another full day if closures for anything above 2500
Is that Cervinia? Zermatt has lifts open up to 3000m. The winds do look like they are easing this afternoon. Too late for today but means there is hope for tomorrow.
Looks like another full day if closures for anything above 2500
Is that Cervinia? Zermatt has lifts open up to 3000m. The winds do look like they are easing this afternoon. Too late for today but means there is hope for tomorrow.
Yes, pretty much only the main Cretaz chair has opened today and it's carnage on the webcam and yes you're right. Forecasted to die right off overnight so should be set fair for a week then.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
For 5 consecutive days skiing for 3 people from December 29th to January 2, should I purchase lift tickets now online, or just wait until we are in town, in regard to price and convenience? We will be in Zermatt. If it matters, two of the group will be 19 and 17.
How does it work there? Do they use the credit card type thing that just stays in your jacket (like in the Dolomiti Superski and many areas in NA), or something else? If so, and I purchase now would I just be printing them at an unmanned kiosk?
Also, it seems we should just buy the Italian add for those days we will be skiing into Cervinia. Is this correct? If so, can you buy them the day or evening before?
Also, any recommendations for a place to rent skis? We will be bringing everything else. Selva seemed to have a ton of places that were all the same on price and service. Would it be the same in Zermatt?
Thanks to all who respond.
After all it is free
After all it is free
wjrlaw wrote:
For 5 consecutive days skiing for 3 people from December 29th to January 2, should I purchase lift tickets now online, or just wait until we are in town, in regard to price and convenience? We will be in Zermatt. If it matters, two of the group will be 19 and 17.
How does it work there? Do they use the credit card type thing that just stays in your jacket (like in the Dolomiti Superski and many areas in NA), or something else? If so, and I purchase now would I just be printing them at an unmanned kiosk?
Also, it seems we should just buy the Italian add for those days we will be skiing into Cervinia. Is this correct? If so, can you buy them the day or evening before?
Also, any recommendations for a place to rent skis? We will be bringing everything else. Selva seemed to have a ton of places that were all the same on price and service. Would it be the same in Zermatt?
Thanks to all who respond.
Zermatt uses dynamic pricing. They say it is better to buy in advance online but at 5 days out I doubt it makes much difference. There is an advantage in buying in advance if you have a Skidata card, Keycard or Swisspass. Having bought online you can just load your card from one of the machines. Otherwise you need to go to the ticket counter.
The ticket you get just stays in your pocket and the electronic barriers register it.
You can but a Cervinia upgrade on the day – again at the ticket counter – or even at the ticket counter at Trockener Steg. A daily upgrade is CHF52. For you 5 day pass an international pass is CHF58 more than a Zermatt only pass. The weather is looking good for your trip (and the snow is fantastic). Cervinia is sunnier and warmer at this time of year. There is a good chance you will go over more than one day. Even if you only go over one day (which you must) you are only CHF6 out of pocket.
The two lads will get a youth price ticket.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
Old enough to drink but young enough for a youth ticket. The exact opposite of what it is in the states.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Raptor24 wrote:
JohnMo wrote:
Raptor24 wrote:
Looks like another full day if closures for anything above 2500
Is that Cervinia? Zermatt has lifts open up to 3000m. The winds do look like they are easing this afternoon. Too late for today but means there is hope for tomorrow.
Yes, pretty much only the main Cretaz chair has opened today and it's carnage on the webcam and yes you're right. Forecasted to die right off overnight so should be set fair for a week then.
We are here and indeed Cervinia was almost completely closed. After a few hours waiting to see if they would open more we decided to take a taxi down to Torgnon and had absolutely great time there, it was fully open, sunny and enough for a day .. hopefully things should improve in Cervinia from tomorrow
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