Ok, so still a week of work to get through but want to get back on the snow. Any thoughts for the weekend anyone?

Weekend report from Saas-Fee,

Great weekend of skiing with a lot of laughs on my first overnight trip in Switzerland. Weather was fabulous and although the expected 20 cm Friday dump did not materialize, we were able to find some pockets of grade A stuff amongst the tracked out slopes. Longest queue was around 5 minutes! While not everything did go to plan our perseverance paid off with some grade a skiing and boarding.



To get to the summit of Saas-Fee, you need to take the alpine metro, which is well worth the experience. It tunnels underground through the mountain from 3000 m to an elevation of 3500 meters.



The terrain is not ideal for a snowboarder, as you can see the top is fairly flat. However, if you are patient enough to follow the path, stick to the right hand side, there is an awesome run that will keep your legs burning the entire way down the mountain. The bottom half of the mountain has great terrain, but the snow quality is not as good. Strongly recommend if you get there early it is well worth the effort going top to bottom and catching the Alpine Express at the base of the mountain.



The resort itself is starting to show its age with the lifts, but the lack of crowds mean you can still get lots of skiing in. The glacier offers some wonderful photo ops. While it seems to be a more family friendly resort, there is certainly some apres-ski spots to keep the party going. The Hendrix cover band at the bottom of the mountain was playing "The Wind Cries Mary" as we finished the last run and that cemented my return trip next year .

We decided to drive down, and the GPS can get you there multiple ways as we discovered. If you do decide to drive, factor in 60 CH (30 each way) to take the car-train through the mountains. Parking was 33 CH for 2 days and even when you add the gas, it is certainly more comfortable and cheaper that the train if you are traveling with a group of 3 or more. From Zürich assume 3.5 to 4 hours with clear roads depending on how lucky you are with the train crossings.

Keep in mind:

Car free town - remember to arrange pick-you up with your hotel from the parking lot

Overall, well worth an overnight visit.

Edit: Jemma posted a detailed map below. Thanks J!

Had fantastic skiing weekend in Davos Parsenn and Jakobshorn in company of some less known EF'ers and other good folks enjoying their expat's life in CH.

Thanks to experience of some daredevil's I skied with, I managed to test couple of pairs of twin-tip skis and learnt new elements of off-piste technique. The weather, apres skis and night clubbing were awesome and the whole trip nicely budgeted by our resourceful member MariV. Looking forward to more group events like this and hope to see some of you guys on the slopes again.

Davos was indeed lots of fun at the weekend and the weather yesterday was gorgeous

Only skied on Jakobshorn side a couple of times (usually ski on Parsenn side) and both times it's been icy. Is it just me who has noticed this or is there some geographical reason for this as Parsenn usually seems to be much softer and has better powder.... Paging Eire as I'm sure he knows the answer

So you must have been this mystique member of our group who never disclosed her username on the EF, ain't it?

What I noticed about Jakobshorn (have been only twice there though), that evertime I go there regardless the weather, there is always gusty wind on the top were the red and black runs are

Jakobshorn is a killer. Jacek and ToiletDuck can attest to my 2 cracked ribs in my first run. Geography would explain it because I am confident it can't be my technique.

I must get there to reclaim that mountain, but think a carving of Pisha is in order first.

It does depend which hotel you stay in but if you walk over to the tourist office just across the road from the post bus drop off there is a phone/info point outside the tourist office from which you can call some of the hotels for free to arrange pick up.

Yep I was the quiet one in the group

Reports I heard was windy in the a.m., nice in the p.m. Well worth the day.

Sounds like the crew down in Davos had a blast.

I can account for the Saas-Fee peeps that it was a great time on the slopes. With reports still outstanding (paging Natasha, Eire?) sounds like this was a great ski weekend all around. Sounds like we need to plan the official 2009-2010 EF Snow Hound ski day! It will be April before we know it

Could not find the tourist office if my life depended on it. Did find a sign to one on the footbridge towards the alpine express...

http://www.saas-fee.ch/en/dorfmap_pop.cfm?ID=sf

see above map.

Car Park is ref N-O,8
Bus Station K,7
Tourist Information Office K-L,6

Anybody skiing this weekend? Forecast is looking pretty decent weather wise and I'm off to California on Monday so skiing regardless of what happens.

I'm up for day trips or overnight jaunt, but hosting gold medal hockey game on Sunday night Olympic Hockey - Gold Medal Game Paddy Reilly's Zurich - so need to be back in Zurich around 19:00 Sunday.

Let me know as I'm itching for powder and the forecast is dumping!

I'm up for skiing this weekend but only on Saturday as I have social tennis lined up on Sunday. Equivalent of CHF400 Reka cheques have already arrived so cash free S'n'R for at least a whole month.

Sound good, let's assume Sat Snow & Rail. I should last more than 6 runs this time

Depending on where I may chose to spend the night and do the 2 days at the same place. Otherwise Sunday will be local.

2 on board, whose else is hopping on the snow hound express?

I am interested to join as well. have not skied since last 6 weeks or so and its just not happening..hope to break the jinx this time..am ready for some overnight stay over as well..

Let me suggest something guys! Any thoughts on this: http://www.bergfex.com/meiringen-hasliberg/panorama/ which pricewise it looks good by S'n'R standards? Not so far away from ZH and alternative place away from Graubünden Any other suggestions are welcome.

I'm in, open to last minute change if conditions dictate!

Let's observe the weather. In the meantime, I created this mini-event: Mini S&R sports day! Everyone is welcome to join. Just a tad of humour and relatively strong legs will suffice!

Hey hi,

Is anyone thinking going skiing on Sunday?!?! Nothing else to do here on Sundays as everything is closed, so perfect skiing excuse!

Let me know.

Cheers

Quite possibly skiing on Sunday. What is your skill level and where were you thinking of heading?