 Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Scarlet wrote: |
Hi  !
I have found what seems to me like a good deal (package) to Saas Fee and am considering taking it up.
We've not been to the Alps in summer before, so this will be a new experience anyway, but I'm after any info/opinions on this resort.
What is there to do locally? We won't have a car, but are willing to use the bus/train to get about. I've heard that the glacier is open for summer skiing, but as the other one thinks I'm mad for wanting to ski in summer  this will be a secondary activity if at all, maybe 1 or 2 days tops. We enjoy mountain biking too, so was wondering if there's much of a scene in Saas Fee? Perhaps some gentle walking is an option (dodgy knee)?
Hotel in question is the Ambassador, if anyone has any opinions on that, or which week to go/avoid as we're pretty flexible on dates, though some weeks are a bit more expensive.
Thanks a lot  |
I've only been in winter with the family. However my wife doesn't ski, so we always look for somewhere with other things to do. Saas Fee is great in this regard. So good in fact we're going again next year.
There is loads of walking in the Saas valley. You could probably spend all week doing just that. I don't know much about the mountain biking, but they claim about 70km worth of trails. I could well believe that. There is the sports centre which has a nice swimming pool if the hotel doesn't have one. The Feeblitz, which is a sort of roller coaster thing, is really good and quite cheap as well. I'm sure somebody who has been there in summer can add to that list pretty easily. Saas Fee the town is really nice to wander around and has some nice bars and restaurants. I'm not sure you'll have time to fit in any summer skiing.
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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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We run a training camp in the summer so you can see the conditions here. (old video before i got a decent camera and editor!) There is some video of the football pitch, theres also tennis and beach volley ball, a high ropes course, zip line, spa and pool etc but the skiing can be really good!
https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=421204680107
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Search function is your friend, there have been many repat Saas Fee Summer threads
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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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Scarlet, we went last summer- and the summer before- I think I have done a TR on summer skiing with my them 7 year old son.
We went en famille and it was great- although 2 trips is probably enough.
Scenery- stunning
Village- very very pretty- even the lettuce are planted out beautifully
Eating- excellent places to eat- restaurants very very good (but not cheap)
Skiing- interesting!
Walking- great.
Car- not necessary.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Lager, That sounds like what we're after, maybe we should give it a whirl! All the places I've skiied in winter have been excellent for just that, but tbh don't seem to have that much else going for them...
rungsp, Thanks, but most of the threads are specifically about glacier skiing. I'm more interested in what *else* there is to do. I know that this is a forum for snow lovers, but that's just helpful in that many people will have visited the area.
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Scarlet, I echo the others, it is stunning, amazing, you can't go wrong.
Yes loads of walking as gentle as you like, loads of mountain biking.
As Lager has said there is the Feeblitz Rodelbobbahn an all year round tobaggan on a track, it is great fun. And there is the local leisure centre with pool etc.
There are loads of lovely restaurants to walk/bike to. Lots have animals to see/pet too, like Bodmen on the way down to Saas Almagell, it is a great restaurant with a lovely sunny terrace, great food in a nice spot.
You can go up to feed marmottes (carrots and apples) on Spielboden.
There is a Kneipp facility, basically a bare foot trail with different textures under foot, rock, stones, bark, a stepping stone walk and a kind of adult paddling pool. Supposed to be good for circulation.
There are scooters(trotti) to hire, so you can go up the mountain by lift and come down by scooter, this is at Saas Almagell and Saas Grund.
You can get about easily on the post bus. You can go for a day to Brigerbad which is a superb swimming pool/spa complex with loads of different types of pools.
There is a Via Ferrata and also the Adventure Forest a forest high ropes thing like Go Ape here.
Can't remember what else. It's great. I would happily spend a summer week a year here 
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sarah,
Where's teh Via ferrata ? We're off there in early Aug and daughter sev112 is just getting to teh age where she is well into rock walls etc
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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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sev112, there are a few of them I think, we didn't do it but there was one recommended to us between Saas Fee and Saas Grund called Alpine Gorge. That's supposed to be an easy/family one, then I think there are some more serious ones which the guides office runs trips for.
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sarah, Swiss Ski School in Saas Fee will organize the gorge trip for you, there is also an adventure forest beside the Alpine Express at the end of the bridge that crosses the bridge you will see the signs
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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Scarlet, ...we are across the rhone valle from saas and often go across to lark about there:
- feeblitz toboggan run - surprisingly cheap and huge fun - over the river on the east side of town (already name checked)
- feeding marmots up at the Speilboden restaurant (they indeed like carrots)
- viaF up to jagihorn - but this is a relatively serious undertaking - read the guidebooks and use proper viaF kit - can be hired in Saas Fee - eg petzl zyper brake kit
- skiing on the glacier
- train to zermatt to see the matterhorn
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You know it makes sense.
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Scarlet, ...sorry should have said re mountain bikes, there are a number of places which hire bikes - some are a bit down market for pottling around the town, but half way along the main street you'll find a sports shop selling north face gear - wooden building, double front - which hires up to date downhill and xc bikes - and check with the hotel - they can probably get discounts for you for a few days' hire. If you fancy, drive across to Crans Montana and see Dave in Avalanche in Montana (by the roundabout) and he has EXCELLENT bikes to use on the various routed downhills around CM.
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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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valais2, Thanks for the tip about the bikes - I assume local maps are available there too? Crans Montana might be a bit tricky without a car though. A trip to Zermatt is a good idea too, i'd really like to go there anyway. Does saas fee have it's own train station?
prog99, Are you suggesting we use a bolted route as an alternative to a chairlift? Not sure how well that will be received...
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Poster: A snowHead
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Scarlet, Saas Fee doesn't have a train station. There is a Postbus up from Visp to Saas Fee, but certainly during winter there are organised bus trips from Saas Fee to Zermatt. Maybe they also do something during the summer.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Scarlet, ...you can get a postbus from Saas Fee to Zermatt and then the train up to the Gornergrat, from opposite the main train station, or you can get the bus down the Saas valley from Saas Fee to Stalden, and then join the train to Tasch and then Zermatt. It's a lovely ride in all weathers (apart from the fog which we had the last time we went skiing in June in Zermatt (grrrr)). Re maps, there's a Swiss equivalent of ordnance survey - but in the past it's been cheaper to buy these on line from Stanfords in Long Acre, London, than get them in resort.
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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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| Scarlet wrote: |
valais2, Thanks for the tip about the bikes - I assume local maps are available there too? Crans Montana might be a bit tricky without a car though. A trip to Zermatt is a good idea too, i'd really like to go there anyway. Does saas fee have it's own train station?
prog99, Are you suggesting we use a bolted route as an alternative to a chairlift? Not sure how well that will be received... |
Alas its the gondola or a long steep walk to get to the jagihorn.
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