Poster: A snowHead
|
I'm off there for a weekend at the end of January.
It's for a work conference so I didn't get to choose the resort - I'm thankful that we're not going to Leeds or something!
That said, I plan to get the best from the 2-3 days I'll get on the slopes.
I'm most interested in challenging skiing and offpiste opportunities. Are there any? Does anyone have recommendations? (whether bowls, trees, couloirs, etc)
(I'll find it hard to get a guide as I may be the only one heading offpiste)
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
I did have a look at this place for one of our Swiss road trips but the only thing I can recall is the trip over to Lenzerheide which will probably be a bit much if you are on your own and just looking for 'stuff'
so sorry, looks like you'll have to 1st report it..!!!
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
I boarded there two years ago but did not look for off piste, that said I did nip in to the trees to avoid a piste back down to the resort and I recall that the pistes were more spread out over a few mountains (rather than just a vertical climb) which meant that there was a bit of trecking from one piste to the next, and I am sure that means a bit of off piste linking the runs. Also lots of walking tracks that suggest a bit of off piste maybe??
Arosa is a real gem of a resort though, great train ride up to the resort that stops at the main gondola in the middle of town, and lots of 'horse and carts' around
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
horizon, please report back on your trip. I'm wondering about Arosa as a base for a family Christmas this year. I'm not sure how practicable (i.e. affordable) the train is going to be, with loads of people. Can you get group tickets on Swiss railways? Is the car journey up there fairly horrendous?
We want something quaint, traditional, something other than skiing. Thanks.
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
I went to Arosa a few years back.
It is a pleasant resort, if memory serves it's more Swiss sanatorium look than Swiss chocolate box, but not unpleasant in the manner of French purpose built resorts. It's set around a lake which at this time of year will probably have skating/curling options.
The skiing is not particularly challenging as I recall though I had my (then) 6 year old with me, so I didn't do anything harder than a blue. Can't remember stacks of off piste, but as before I wasn't really looking for it. There are two main ski areas and I think you need to get a bus to get from one to another, but it may be possible to get across using harder runs than I was on.
The train ride up is fab. You pick it up from outside Chur mainline station - it goes from what looks like a bus stop and indeed, for the first mile or so the tracks go up the roads rather like a tram. After that it climbs into the hills and wends it's way though Heidi country. Station is in the middle of town.
Regarding affordable trains for families, the best option if you fly into Zurich or Geneva is to get a Swiss Transfer ticket. This gets one adult and as many accompanying children under 16 as you can manage from the airport to the resort for around £50. Zurich airport to Chur is quite regular and you might even be able to avoid changing. Not sure about Geneva - it's right at the other end of the country so probably quite an epic trip.
d
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
pendodave, thanks for all that. Very useful.
|
|
|
|
|
|
pam w, the trainride from Chur is a classic and had it's own episode of Swiss Railway Journeys. They do do groups. In fact one time I had to stand up the whole hour up because all the seats were reserved for a group. Unlike Davos/Klosters it is immune to weekend crowding thanks to the tortuous route up from Chur.
|
|
|
|
|
|