THE FACTS
- SEASON START & END: Open 365 days a year
- SKI ALTITUDE: Matterhorn Glacier Paradise 2939m-3883mm / Vertical Drop- 944m
- PISTES: 20% Beginner / 70% Intermediate / 10% Expert
- LIFTS: 11 (Gondola-3 / Chair lift-1 / Drag lifts-7)
- SLOPES: 8 Pistes for a total of 21km KM
- SNOW: 75% pistes with snowmaking capabilities
- LIFT TICKET 2019/20 Ski Pass Summer : Adult 96 CHF – 1 day
- LANGUAGE: German
- AIRPORT: Nearest airports are Geneva 236km (2:50 hours) / Zurich 237km (3:50hours) / Milan Malpensa 197km (2:50hours) / Sion 82km (1:30hours)
- TRAIN: Nearest station is Zermatt station
- SKI FACTS: The Matterhorn Glacier Paradise has Europe’s highest cable car.
TOWN
Zermatt burst onto the world map in 1865 when a team of seven were the first to reach the peak of the Matterhorn, sadly only Edward Whymper along with mountain guides father and son from the Taugwalder family survived. Since then the Matterhorn has probably become one of the best recognised mountains on the planet appearing on all sort of paraphernalia from chocolate to crayons! The town attracts a lot of tourism from around the globe alongside the usual snow sports fans. The town really is very beautiful with many classic Swiss chocolate box chalets and hotels, the most beautiful street that is worth checking out is Hinterdorf Street just off the main high street. It is lined with old timber buildings dating back from between the 16th and 18th centuries, stepping down the street is like stepping back in time. The town is free from cars apart from the electric taxis and buses, making the experience even more spectacular.The Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is accessed from Zermatt via several Gondolas which bring you up to the base station of Trockener Steg at 2939m. From this base there are several choices to head straight up the highest cable car in Europe up to 3883m, up the Gandegg T-bar or the Furggsattel glacier chair, all arriving at various skiing areas. Allegedly this is the biggest summer skiing area in the world along with a snowpark. The Glacier sits right on the Italian border and in peak season when Cervinia opens its lifts the area expands even further. With a viewing platform at 3883m one can take in a 360 panorama of 38 peaks and 14 glaciers in France, Italy and Switzerland.
The Skiing conditions outside the main winter season are usually spectacular which is why one will see a lot of professional skiers training from race teams, to mogul teams and ski instructors putting themselves through training in preparation for Winter. Even in Summer at this altitude the weather can turn and one can experience blizzard conditions followed by sun and blue skies in the same hour.BEGINNERS-
For Beginners the snow conditions are usually perfect, with soft gripping snow. Blue pistes like that of piste 73 Gandegg are wide and gentle, perfect for finding your Ski mojo.
INTERMEDIATE –
The glacial reds up here are fantastic, with few people and lots of space to practice those carving skills.
ADVANCED-
The pistes may not be the hardest, but they are a lot of fun. This is where you can practice your GS or your slalom skills.
-OFF PISTE –
This is Glacial terrain, which means crevasses. So pick yourself a mountain guide from here.Matterhorn Glacier Paradise 2939m-3883mm / Vertical Drop- 944m
Total 21km of piste – 3 Blue / 5 Red
Lift system 11 total -Gondola-3 / Chair lift-1 / Drag lifts-7
This really is a winter paradise, for even when it is summer in the valley, time stands still up here. One really has a sense of standing on top of the Alps up here. Though there may only be eights pistes, they are all quality pistes and I can not imagine getting bored up here. As I always say, Glacial pistes usually have a fantastic shape to them, usually wide with a great pitch. It really is a great place to train, several times I have trained for Giant Slalom up here and there is something special about the place, but make sure you stop to catch your breath at times because of the altitude, your muscles will thank you. When you are skiing on red pistes like 83/Plateau Rosa or 71/Theodulgletscher and the sky is deep blue, the sun is beaming and one’s skis are carving through the white gold like a knife through butter, then there really is nothing better in life.
