PATCH SKI CLUB
When: 27 November - 01 December, 2024
Where: Hotel Berghof Zermatt
TC: Matt Pitzer
TC Email: [email protected]
About Zermatt Ski Paradise. Set against the iconic Matterhorn, Switzerland’s Zermatt is one of the best ski resorts in the world combined with a picture perfect, happening village. Zermatt has some fantastic and spectacular skiing for intermediates and advanced on four distinct ski “sectors.” The four sectors are Rothorn (including Sunnegga), Gornergrat (including Riffelberg and Stockhorn), Matterhorn Glacier Paradise and Schwarzsee. Each has unique qualities and it’s worth concentrating time on each one rather than trying to move around them all each day. Link to Zermatt Ski Map
Kids and Families. Zermatt makes a magical choice for families – after the fun of arriving by train it’s almost Disneyland-like in its charming car-free village, horse-drawn carriages and majestic Matterhorn backdrop. The main drawbacks for families are the expense, and the lack of easy intermediate terrain. If your kids are real first-timers who won’t go much beyond beginner slopes or are competent intermediates or above, and you’re able to cope with the drawbacks then it’s certainly worth considering. The nursery ski area is called Wolli Land. To get there you have to catch the funicular to Sunnegga and then a shuttle. Kids who ski only this area can use a Wolli Pass which costs half the full Zermatt ski-lift pass.
Zermatt-Italy Connection. One of the great benefits of skiing Zermatt is its connection with Cervinia in Italy, whose runs are handily covered on the Zermatt piste map. The south-facing slopes are a great place to ski in the sun and enjoy a delicious lunch. Access to Cervinia is via the Theodulpass (fine for intermediates) or Plateau Rosa (more challenging). If you are planning on skiing to Cervinia for the day, plan your return to Zermatt carefully, particularly if the weather is coming in. The last thing you want to do is get stuck in Cervinia which is a very, very expensive and long taxi ride back to Zermatt (a night in a hotel might even be cheaper). You can ski Cervinia by adding a supplement to your day pass or purchasing a full International lift pass.
About Zermatt Village. A picturesque pedestrian-friendly, car-free village nestled in the heart of the Swiss Alps, Zermatt is 243 square kilometers and situated at 1,620 meters above sea level making it one of the largest municipalities in Switzerland. 22 four-thousand-meter mountain peaks lie entirely or partially on Zermatt territory including the iconic Matterhorn (pictured above). Zermatt has both a small historic old village and large modern "new village." In the old village, there are about 30 buildings built in the traditional style of the Valais mountain farmers. These homes are up to 500 years old and date from the 16th to 18th centuries and have become a symbol for the history of Zermatt.
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