[net.rec.ski] Cross-country skiing in Switzerland

upshaw@ttidcb.UUCP (Doug Upshaw) (12/13/85)

We are leaving for Switzerland on Dec. 18 to cross-country ski and eat.
Recommendations and information on current snow conditions would be
appreciated.  We will be staying in St. Cergue near Geneva but we will
have a car and are willing to stay overnight elsewhere.

Doug Upshaw, Citicorp/TTI

hejira@hound.UUCP (R.PRESTON) (12/19/85)

Some of the best X-Country skiing in Switzerland is right where you're going
-- near Geneva.  The Jura Mountains are especially nice -- as they're not 
as crowded as the areas in the Valais and are better suited to X-C.  

Unless you really want to do both downhill and X-C, the Juras would probably 
be your best bet.  If you want downhill, try Val d'Isere, FR (near 
Grenoble) or Zermatt and Saas Fee in Valais.  Also, some of the resorts 
in the Berner Oberland are pretty nice (Lenk, Gstaad).  Avoid St Moritz
and Davos (Grisons) though, as they are merely playgrounds of the rich 
and sport only mediocre skiing.  You will find the prices in France 
much cheaper though, and the skiing at Val d'Isere cannot be topped in 
Europe.  Other areas in the French Alps (closer to Geneva than the Swiss 
alps) worth considering are:

	Avoriaz
	Morzine
	Flaine (TERRIFIC skiing; unknown to tourists; but not much in 
	        the way of a town)
	La Clusaz
	Les Contamines

Also, if you're advanced downhill skiers, you might consider doing the 
Vallee Blanche with a guide .. you won't regret it (unless you fall into
a crevasse).

Have fun!!

	- Rob Preston	<ihnp4!hound!hejira   -- AT&T Bell Labs>

hejira@hound.UUCP (R.PRESTON) (12/20/85)

Well, I got a snow-report for the Juras and Valais (Switzerland) and 
it is not too encouraging.  There was some snow when I was there in 
November (around the 7th), and it snowed the following week, but 
things haven't been so good since.  I doubt if the X-C ski conditions
in the Juras will be too good.  If they are, go up to Mollendruz and
ski to the Marche' Ruz (can only drive to the Mollendruz in winter).

Otherwise, take off for the haute-Valais (alpes) and ski the glaciers
(Zermatt or Chamonix).

Good Luck...

	- Rob Preston	<ihnp4!hound!hejira   -- AT&T Bell Labs>