Skiing the Alps: Home of the World’s Widest Slopes...and Much More
By: Helga Brenner

The winter sports season in the Alps starts in mid-December and lasts until mid-April. Visitors from the United States can schuss down legendary runs and enjoy the festive atmosphere of the holiday season in the Alps even before the winter solstice. Many skiers combine their trip with a visit to culture capitals such as Basel, Munich, Zurich, Salzburg, Bolzano, or Milan in order to enjoy world-class performances. A visit to the traditional Christmas markets brings back heartwarming memories of childhood. Mt. Pilatus holds its holiday market as early as November 20. Among all the Christmas markets, this two-day market is at the highest elevation - 7,000 ft above sea level. Hand-carved toys, ceramics, ornaments, chocolate, and gingerbread are some of the gifts you can buy for the near and dear ones at home. Fortunately, Alpine gateways and cultural centers are only an hour or two away from the worlds widest powdery runs.

Switzerland
Located in the center of the European Alps, Switzerland has 29 resorts with skiing areas above 9,184 ft. Visitors looking for great scenery, exciting downhill slopes and authentic Alpine ambience feel very much at home in Grindelwald, a village in the shadow of the Eiger North Face, at the foot of the Jungfrau. The Jungfraujoch has the worlds highest train station. The Aletsch, the Alps’ longest glacier, is visible from the top of the station. The Mönch, Männlichen, and Schilthorn mountains are also close by. Grindelwald’s ten superb descents are easily reached by ski bus and transfers are free for ski pass holders. The longest descent in the Jungfrau region is the Schilthorn-Lauterbrunnen run: 3 miles. Grindelwald is one of the Best of the Alps resorts that have retained their authenticity and Alpine charm. This village is not only a haven for the young and hip, but has much to offer to skiers of all ages and all levels of skills. The International Lauberhorn Race, one of the world’s most famous skiing competitions, will be held for the 75th time in nearby Wengen, from January 14 to 16, 2005. The International Inferno Races will take place in Mürren (at the Schilthorn) from January 19 to 22, 2005. Ski passes, available online at www.jungfrauwinter.ch, cover the entire region. A two-day pass is priced at Euro 65 for adults and Euro 32 for children. The Jungfrau, Eiger, Mönch Mini Break is a two-day offer for USD $148, and includes accommodation of your choice in a mountain hut or luxury hotel! For more information, see www.grindelwald.com

From St. Moritz to Zermatt and from Adelboden to Saas-Fee, Switzerland has a great variety of ski resorts to suit every taste and budget. Château-d'Oex in the Lake Geneva region is one of the villages which offer serious skiers excellent runs and winter fun for the whole family. Located near Gstaad, Château-d'Oex offers 7 nights in a three-star Hotel for USD $798, including a six-day ski pass and other benefits such as a hang glider flight. The package is valid from December 18, 2004 to January 1, 2005. reservation@pays-denhaut.ch. An extensive network of trails for Nordic skiing traverses the pastures. State-of-the-art ski lifts connect various areas and skiers can travel effortlessly from one summit to the next. www.chateau-doex.ch; www.MySwitzerland.com

Germany
In winter, the Alpine regions of Germany turn into a snow-covered fairytale land, dotted with castles and Alpine chalets. Modern ski lifts, cozy hotels, and charming restaurants with Alpine ambience make your vacation a truly enjoyable experience. Protective avalanche barriers ensure your safety. Alpine skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, tobogganing, ice-skating, winter hiking, curling, and skating are pursued in Germany's picture-perfect resorts ranging from Garmisch-Partenkirchen, the country’s winter sports center, to Berchtesgaden on Lake Königssee.

In the middle of the Bavarian Alps, and only an hour’s drive south of Munich’s international airport, lies 1,200-year-old Garmisch-Partenkirchen, an Olympic ski resort. As a classic Alpine town, which has evolved naturally over the course of time, it is a member of the Best of the Alps group of resorts. Garmisch-Partenkirchen is situated at the foot of the Zugspitze, Germany’s highest peak (9,715 ft). Alpspitze, Wank, Eckbauer, and Hausberg are the other ski mountains surrounding Garmisch.

The International Winter Sports Weeks will be held from December 26, 2004 to January 6, 2005. Highlights include the International Ski Jumping Competition and the traditional Bavarian Sleigh Ride Competition on January 6, 2005. The Men’s Alpine World Cup Races (Downhill and Super G) will be held on February 19 and 20, 2005.

Garmisch - Partenkirchen’s most challenging run is the Kandahar. Its Fun Park on Zugspitzplatt, featuring a permanent Half-pipe, attracts snowboarders from near and far. For more information, see www.garmisch-partenkirchen.de

Oberstdorf (literal translation: “Uppermost village”) has long been sought after by German skiers and is gradually becoming popular with skiers from the United States as well. The year-round resort is presided over by Mt. Nebelhorn and Mt. Fellhorn, featuring an exciting downhill run into the Austrian Kleinwalsertal valley, which is in fact more easily accessible from Germany than from Austria. Kleinwalsertal enjoys a special status as a custom-free zone. Oberstdorf’s first-class hotels and restaurants, well known for their Alpine charm and hospitality, offer excellent value for your money. The highlight of the coming winter season will be the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, from February 16-27. Participants will compete for world championship medals in a combination of cross-country skiing, ski jumping and Nordic skiing. Before the start of the 4-Hill-Tournament in December, the Schattenberg World Championship ski-jumping stadium will be converted into one of the world’s safest and most modern ski-jumping facilities. The stadium’s seating capacity will be increased from 18,000 to 24,000 seats. For more information, see www.oberstdorf.de.

Lenggries is dominated by the areas most prominent mountain, the Brauneck. It is located about two hours from Munich. Its slopes are snow-sure throughout the winter because of its altitude (5,576 ft at the peak) and state-of-the-art snowmaking equipment. Lenggries is a popular German winter vacation spot with a world cup slope attracting expert skiers like Hilde Gerg and Martina Ertl as well as beginners and families with children. Mt. Brauneck has 90 brand-new cabins, three chair lifts, and 16 draglifts. There are six ski schools in Lenggries, which offer courses in snowboarding and carving. Thirteen hospitable Alpine huts, offering food and drink and sunny terraces, dot the area. Cross-country skiers are enthusiastic about the 69 miles of trails in the Isar Valley. A two-day lift pass costs Euro 44 for adults, Euro 24 for children. www.lenggries.de; For more information, see www.visitstogermany.com

Italy
Visitors to Italy's northwestern Alps arriving at Malpensa airport will have a chance to enjoy the cultural offerings of Milan, the southern gateway to the Alps, before hitting the slopes of Courmayeur, Cervinia or Sestriere. Milan has a plethora of events in the festive season, including a Christmas Market on the Piazza of Basilica di san Ambrogio. The Andy Warhol Show - Milan Triennale will continue until January 9. With 200 paintings on display, it is one of the largest shows of the late American artist’s works ever held in Italy. For more information, see www.triennale.it.

Courmayeur, the popular ski resort on the Italian side of Mont Blanc, is easily reached from Milan by train. The highest elevation of the ski areas above Courmayeur is 11,355 ft and the vertical drop is 4,845 ft. The main action takes place on Plan Checrouit and on the Cresta D'Arp. Experts enjoy skiing off-piste on Mont Blanc to Chamonix, a Best of the Alps resort. Grand Hotel Cour Maison is one of Courmayeur’s four-star hotels. The motorway exit to the Mont Blanc Tunnel is just a few minutes from the hotel. For more information, www.courmayeur.com.
At the eastern end of Italy’s Alpine arc, the Dolomites beckon. Bolzano, the capital of the Alto-Adige province, is the starting point for bus and car rides to ski resorts such as Alta Badia and Corvara, from where you have access to the Dolomiti Superski area (464 lifts and 734 miles of slopes). Alta Badia boasts 80 miles of prepared runs and is part of the Sella Ronda, the famous ski circuit around the Sella Group. Alta Badia has ski links to Arraba, Marmolada, Val Gardena and Val di Fassa. For more information, www.altabadia.org.

Cortina d’Ampezzo, the most famous of the Dolomite ski villages is located at 4,395 ft. The Dolomiti Superski area is easily accessible from Cortina, a Best of the Alps resort. A shuttle bus from Venice Airport is available for guests staying at Cortina hotels. Skiers have the choice of five different skiing areas: Faloria-Tondi, Cristallo-Mietres, Tofana, Socrepes-Pocol and Falzarego-Cinque Torri. All five areas are connected via ski lifts or ski buses. Cortina has runs for all levels of skill - 33% are blue, 62% red, and 5% black. The Faloria skiing area has a new four-seat lift “Plan de Ra Bigontina.”

This year’s ski passes allow automatic and hands-free access to all lifts and can be booked on the Internet. The new “Skitour-Olympia” includes all the slopes used during the 1956 Olympic Games. The new “Skitour-Romantic Views” is a wonderful tour on moderately difficult slopes in the Lagazuoi-Cinque Torri skiing areas. Visitors arriving at Venice’s Marco Polo Airport now have helicopter service to Cortina at their disposal. From November 27 to December 23, Cortina offers “Early Snow 3+1” - one fun ski day is free for guests staying three nights. The Dolomiti Classic 2005 will take place from January 8 to 16 and The Ladies Alpine Ski World Cup from January 14 to 16, 2005. For more information, www.cortina.dolomiti.org

Austria
The sparkling, cozy Austrian ski villages, including St. Anton, Lech-Zuers, Sölden, Seefeld, and Kitzbühel, have a loyal clientele skiing the Austrian slopes year after year. In December the charming Christmas markets and festivities in Vienna, Salzburg, and Innsbruck are special attractions. Winter visitors staying over the New Year holidays may want to attend the festive balls in Vienna. From the world-famous Opera Ball to dancing in the streets, Vienna never fails to entrance its New Year’s revelers. But what skiers are most interested in are the vertical drops and the wide slopes. Big verticals mean long runs and less crowded lifts. Here are some examples of vertical drops - Innsbruck: 5,547 feet, St. Anton: 4,970 feet, and Sölden: 6,181 feet.
Skiers will find perfect snow in all major resorts and the snow season is long and lavish. Packed powder prevails on the groomed runs, and deep powder off-piste. Above the timberline you will find mid-run markers. Orientation maps are to be found at lift stations. Non-skiers have just as much fun tobogganing or snowshoeing on Alpine trails. Sunny outdoor cafes attract visitors who savor their strudel or Linzer torte.

Innsbruck, the capital of Tirol, is situated at a junction of ancient Alpine trading routes. Twice host to Winter Olympics, Innsbruck attracts winter visitors from around the world. The city is defined by interesting architecture, such as the Golden Roof. A newer attraction is the Bergisel Ski Jump, a stunning architectural masterpiece. “Super Ski Pass” is the skiers key to 310 miles of skiable terrain and 200 lifts. The pass also covers the Stubai glacier, which offers intensive downhill skiing, carving and boarding at elevations ranging from 5,740 feet to 10,496 feet. Even St. Anton am Arlberg and Kitzbühel are covered by this pass.

Kitzbühel is a picture-perfect Tirolean town, which plays host every year to the world-famous Hahnenkammrennen, a challenging ski race. The 65th Hahnenkamm-rennen will take place January 21 to 23, 2005. Kitzbühel is home to 99 miles of manicured pistes and a top-notch Fun Park for snowboarders. Like St. Anton, Lech-Zuers, and Seefeld, Kitzbühel is a Best of the Alps resort. After an invigorating day on the slopes, skiers and snowboarders enjoy the après-ski scene in these lovely resorts.

MONTAFON is a valley in the Vorarlberg province. It is easily reached from Zurich. The most popular among the valley’s eleven villages are Schruns, Gaschurn and Gargellen. Montafon valley offers excellent skiing and snowboarding. There are 66 ski lifts and mountain railroads and 122 miles of marked downhill runs. Ski tours on the glittering glaciers of the Silvretta are a special treat for the experienced skier. The ski pass is valid on the valleys mountain railways and ski lifts, the Bludenz-Schruns Montafon railway and post buses. For more information see, www.austria.info/us.

The Alpine Tourist Commission (ATC) website has convenient links to Picasso Tours, offering a “Germany Winter Special,” a “Switzerland Winter Special” and tours to Italy, including Venice, as well as Fly&Drive programs. Globus is represented on www.alpseurope.com with Globus Journeys. Adventures on Skis offers exciting packages to the best-known ski resorts in the Austrian, German, Italian, and Swiss Alps. These well-known tour operators are just a mouse click away on the ATC website, www.alpseurope.com.

< Current Issue | Top ^