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Telephone, Tourist Office, 34 58 24 91 11 Website, www.tuspain.com/travel/sierra.htm Snow Report 34 58 48 01 53 Season, December-March Lift licket Price (in Euros), One Day, 21; Six Day, 106 Summit Elevation (meters), 3,300 Vertical Drop (meters), 1,198 Terrain Size (kilometers), 61 Beginnerilntermed iate/Expert (percent), 34/53/13 Annual Snowfall, Inconsistent, but has snowmaking facilities. Closest Airport, Malaga (l61km) Closest Train, Granada (31km) ARE Are is overwhelmingly big, It has a labyrinth of 44 lifts and SWEDEN =-= trails. Check with the locals who can show you the best places to ride, otherwise you'll find yourself lost in a huge snow pack all day. Beware, Are is very very cold in January and February. Telephone, 46 647 17 720 Website: www.areresort.se Snow Report 46 647 13030 Season, Early December-Early May Lift licket Price, One Day, 30SEK Summit Elevation (meters), 1,274 Vertical Drop (meters), 890 Terra in Size (kilometers), 100 Beginner/Intermediate/Expert (percent), 57/38/5 Directions, Fly into Stockholm and air t ransfer to Ostersund, a one hour flight. From Ostersund it's a one-hour bus ride to Are. The train from Stockholm to Are takes seven to 10 hours. • e f) o 54 SWITZERLAND C] ANDERMATT Famous for its thick, inviting powder (especially on the north- facing slope), Andermatt is a favorite among extreme riders, and is the training place of the Swiss Army mountain units. Snow falls in abundance and, because the slopes are north-facing and at high altitude, once it arrives, it stays. Its abundance of acces- sible off-piste terrain and its sheer gradient add to the high adrenaline factor. Andermatt is a slightly dilapidated old town which was one of the pioneering ski resorts. Over the years, the town has witnessed many avalanches, testament to the steep terra in and heavy snowfall in the area. Telephone, 041 887 1454 Website, www.andermatt.ch Snow Report: www.snow-forecast.com Season, December-April Lift licket Price, 50CHF (US$33) Summit Elevation (meters), 2,963 Vertical Drop (meters), 1,518 Terrain Size (kilometers), 56 Beginner/Intermediate/Expert (percent), 29/42/29 Annual Snowfall (centimeters), 850 Directions, From Zurich it's two and a half hours by train to the resort. DAVOS Davos is Switzerland's largest resort. Here, one lift pass gets you on to five mountains. If you get cold on the mountain you can use the map as a blanket. There is such a plethora of free- riding terrain that it's hard to classify what you' ll find except to say "a lot of it." The atmosphere is a party and the terrain is far reaching, meaning that you may be worn out by the end of your trip. Telephone, 41 8 1 415 2121 Website, www.davos.ch Snow Report 41 81 4152133 Season, End Nov- End April Lift licket Price, 61CHF (US$38) Summit Elevation (meters), 2,844 Vertical Drop (meters), 2,034 Terrain Size (kilometers), 400 Begginer/lntermediate/Expert (percent) , 27/51/22 Annual Snowfall (centimeters), 538 Directions, From Zurich it's two to three hours by train to the resort. GSTAAD The Gstaad Super Ski Region, at the head of three valleys, includes 11 separate lift operations offering access to 250 kilo- meters of piste, and untold off-piste areas. All the areas are linked by free buses. Because it's so big, it rarely feels crowd- ed. If you're looking for low-key, this is not iti Gstaad counts Roger Moore and Liz Taylor among its winter jet-setters. Still, it does have an underground snowboard scene. Telephone, 41 33 7488181 Website , www.gstaad.ch Snow Report 41 33 74881 81 Season, Winter, December-April; Summer, June- August Lift licket Price, One Day, 49CHF (US$37) Summit Elevation (meters), 3,000 Vertical Drop (meters), 2,050 Terra in Size (kilometers), 250 Beginner/Intermediate/Expert (percent), 48/36/16 Annual Snowfall (centimeters), 449 Directions, From Geneva it's two and a half hours by train to the resort. LA AX Laax is a high-altitude mountain covered by the Vorab glacier. The lower regions are groomed while the higher peaks are left to nature for maintenance and a fine job she does. There is a very core vi be that makes for a close-knit healthy atmosphere. There is a lot of encouragement around the halfpipe and freestyle snowboard scene. Telephone, 41 081 921 4343 Website: www.laax.ch Snow Report 41 081 920 9200 Season, December- April Lift licket Price, 58CHF (US$39) Summit Elevation (meters), 3,018 Vertical Drop (meters), 1,763 Terrain Size (kilometers), 220 Beginner/ Intermediate/Expert (percent), 28/32/40 Annual Snowfall (centimeters), 718 Closest Airport, Zurich Closest Train, Chur LES DIABLERETS Les DiabJerets is a big, steep mountain renowned for its great, deep powder and extreme off-piste terrain . The town is small with limited accommodation and social opportunities, so it's not the place for party animals-the real action is up on the glacier, which offers great skiing and snowboarding year-round. Due to its height, the northern aspect of some crucial parts of the mountain and the glacier, snow conditions are reliable. Telephone, 41 24 4922 358 Website, www.diabl erets.ch Snow Report 41 244922 358 Season, Winter, December-April, Summer, June- August Lift licket Price, 37CHF (US$26) Summit Elevation (meters), 3,000 Vertical Drop (met ers), 1,800 Terrain Size (kilometers), 60 Beginner/Intermediate/Expert (percent), 51/41/8 Annual Snowfall, Reliable Directions, From Geneva it's two hours by train to the resort. SAAS FEE Its height, glacier and long season (all year) make Saas Fee famous. Its accessible terrain is divided by the glacier, which is riddled with crevasses and should never be ridden without a guide. The town is known as the "pearl of the Alps," as the vil- lage is surrounded by mountains in the same way that an oyster shell encircles a pearl. A picturesque Alpine resort, Saas-Fee is car-free (except for electric cars acting as taxis and trade vehi- cles). Telephone, 41 27 957 23 48 Website: www.saas-fee.ch Snow Report, 41 27 9581 102 Season, Winter, December-April; Summer, June- October Li ft licket Price, 60CHF (US$40) Summit Elevation (meters), 3, 550 Vertica l Drop (meters), 1,760 Terrain Size (kilometers), 100 Beginner/I ntermediate/Expert (percent), 25/50/25 Directions: From Geneva it's four hours by train to the resort. SCUOL Scuol is known for its lack of crowds and friendly but snow- laden slopes. This is a sunny place and when the season is kind with snowfall this is a great place to be because the conditions stay excellent and the mood is bright. The off-piste options are endless with some mighty challenges around the top. Telephone, 41 81 8649494 Website: www.scuol.ch Snow Report. 41 81 861 1414 Season, Mid December- Mid April Lift licket Pri ce, 49CHF (US$3l) Summit El evation (meters), 2,803 Vertical Drop (meters), 1.491 Terra in Size (kilometers), 80 Beginner/Intermediate/Expert (percent), 40/35/25 Annual Snowfall (centimeters), 500 Directions, From Zurich it's three hours by train to the resort. • e e o 8 ST MORITZ + PONTRESINA (UPPER ENGADINE) The Upper Engadine region encompasses excellent ski and snowboarding areas based near the main towns of St Moritz and Pontresina. St Moritz lies amidst stunningly beautiful scenery and has a fascinating cultural mix. Pontresina's Muottas Muragl is considered one of the most beautiful views in the world. Split into distinct parts, St Moritz Dort, the old town overlooking the lake, has expensive shops, hotels and glitz, while St. Moritz Bad is a 70s blot on the landscape with cheaper accommodation. Nearby and fur-coat-free Pontresina is known for its mellow, mountain climbing ambiance. Only five minutes from St Moritz, and with only 1,400 locals, its unique charm makes it one of the coolest mountain towns in Switzerland. Telephone, 41 81 8373333 Website, www.stmoritz.ch Snow Report: www.snow-forecast.com Season, Wi nter, December- April; Summer, July-September Li ft licket Price, 57CHF (US$33-US$4l) Summit Elevation (meters), 3,057 Vertical Drop (meters), 1,573 Terrain Size (ki lometers), 350 Beginner/ Intermediate/Expert (percent), 10170/20 Annual Snowfall (centimeters), 300 Directions: From Zurich it's fou r hours by train to the resort. VERBIER Verbier is a huge resort, with over 400 kilometers of piste and seemingly unlimited off-piste. There seems to be a new lift, mountain, or run everywhere you look. It is so well-known inter- nationally, it often gets crowded in the high season. If this is the case, go over the valley to Brusson or Super Saint-Bernard and ride into Italy. The resort town is built up the mountain at an altitude of 1,500 meters and has some of the best views in the world. It's one of the most prestigious resorts in Switzerland, and it's easy to see why. It attracts some of Europe's more pre- tentious skiers, but beneath this veneer there are committed core boarders, skiers and mountain folk who live here because it has some of the most incredible territory in the Alps. There's everything else here you could want-all you need is cash. Telephone, 41 27 775 3888 Website: www.verbier.ch Snow Report: www.sno-forecast.com Season, Winter, Late November- April; Summer, June-August Li ft licket Price , 52CHF (US$35) Summit Elevation (meters), 3,023 Vertical Drop (meters), 1,830 Terrain Size (ki lometers), 400 Beginner/I ntermediate/Expert (percent), 30/50/20 Annual Snowfall (centimeters), 331 Directions, Fly to Geneva and take a train to the resort. ~8LUE.COM Want to avoid crowded lift lines? Check out blues list of the world 's top ten undiscovered ski resorts at www.blueN3N6/undiscovered.