Ski resorts on Christmas Day/Eve in Switzerland
Aug 25th, 2015, 07:17 PM
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Ski resorts on Christmas Day/Eve in Switzerland
Does anyone know if ski resorts are open on Christmas Eve or Day? I've been told that the world closes in Europe on 12/24-25. We would like to ski during this period. I can't tell schedules from the websites. We will be in Grindelwald Switzerland... Thanks!
Aug 25th, 2015, 09:14 PM
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Hi hworth1976,
Christmas time is high season for ski resorts, as tons of folks flock there to get in some skiing. All transportation will be running, and restaurants on the slopes and mountaintops will be open. Most restaurants should also be open in town, but the shops may be closed. You can email your hosts and ask that particular question.
I'll also add that you may not get to ski that early. Because of Global Climate Change, snow is coming later and later to the Alps, and middle and end of December can be uncertain. In fact, one year they had to cancel a ski race in Wengen in January due to lack of snow. When I plan to ski, I usually plan my visit for late January or February.
If skiing is super important, I would say to go to a resort at a higher elevation -- Zermatt or the Upper Engadin.
Have fun as you plan!
s
Christmas time is high season for ski resorts, as tons of folks flock there to get in some skiing. All transportation will be running, and restaurants on the slopes and mountaintops will be open. Most restaurants should also be open in town, but the shops may be closed. You can email your hosts and ask that particular question.
I'll also add that you may not get to ski that early. Because of Global Climate Change, snow is coming later and later to the Alps, and middle and end of December can be uncertain. In fact, one year they had to cancel a ski race in Wengen in January due to lack of snow. When I plan to ski, I usually plan my visit for late January or February.
If skiing is super important, I would say to go to a resort at a higher elevation -- Zermatt or the Upper Engadin.
Have fun as you plan!
s
Aug 26th, 2015, 02:18 PM
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Thanks! Someone else mentioned the same thing. Would Ehrwald, Austria be a better choice for skiing? It's not a main focus of our trip but something we'd like to do for a day or so... My husband would prefer cross country skiing.
Aug 26th, 2015, 09:34 PM
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Hi again,
Ehrwald is the Austrian side of the Zugspitze (I live in a town on the German side, Garmisch-Partenkirchen). So you'll be in a good position for downhill skiing. Ehrwald itself has a good, high elevation of 994m. I don't cross-country, but lots of my friends do, and they all go to Austria for it (we haven't had enough snow locally). I think there are good, snow-reliable cross-country routes all over the area.
Here is a site to get you started:
http://www.zugspitzarena.com/en/acti...country-skiing
Have fun as you plan!
s
Ehrwald is the Austrian side of the Zugspitze (I live in a town on the German side, Garmisch-Partenkirchen). So you'll be in a good position for downhill skiing. Ehrwald itself has a good, high elevation of 994m. I don't cross-country, but lots of my friends do, and they all go to Austria for it (we haven't had enough snow locally). I think there are good, snow-reliable cross-country routes all over the area.
Here is a site to get you started:
http://www.zugspitzarena.com/en/acti...country-skiing
Have fun as you plan!
s
Jun 16th, 2016, 02:28 AM
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Another aspect: Switzerland has become outrageously expensive.
Austria and Germany are much cheaper. Due to very high elevation, the ski slopes at the Zugspitze will probably have enough snow on 24/25 Dec. The slopes will be open because it is high season, but may close on 24 Dec in the afternoon. The cross-country trails are always open, but you can never count on snow so early in winter, because the cross-country trails are in the valleys, so in lower elevations.
Austria and Germany are much cheaper. Due to very high elevation, the ski slopes at the Zugspitze will probably have enough snow on 24/25 Dec. The slopes will be open because it is high season, but may close on 24 Dec in the afternoon. The cross-country trails are always open, but you can never count on snow so early in winter, because the cross-country trails are in the valleys, so in lower elevations.
Jun 16th, 2016, 11:06 PM
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Janis, good that you always check the dates. I, obviously, do not and often wonder why someone brings up those old threads. The post that dug it out and has now being removed was quite reasonable.
Jun 17th, 2016, 05:29 AM
#10
traveller1959: >>The post that dug it out and has now being removed was quite reasonable.<<
I saw the missing post and triangled it. It was an ad - it mentioned a ski area (in Australia which is weird ) that was a link in his profile.
inquest: the thread is <i>still</i> old.
I saw the missing post and triangled it. It was an ad - it mentioned a ski area (in Australia which is weird ) that was a link in his profile.
inquest: the thread is <i>still</i> old.
