• Here is the incredibly simple official site that tells you under what conditions you can enter Switzerland given your current situation:

  https://travelcheck.admin.ch

• Here is a handy online booking site for COVID tests:

https://www.onedoc.ch/en/covid-testing-center/riddes 

• Switzerland’s Federal Council today made the following announcement, reversing the quarantine requirements brought into force over the last week (see below):

https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/en/home/das-bag/aktuell/medienmitteilungen.msg-id-86260.html

Entry into Switzerland: Quarantine rule lifted, stricter testing requirement
With effect from Saturday, 4 December, there will be no countries on the quarantine list.

In order to continue to prevent the new Omicron variant from entering the country as far as possible, a stricter testing regime will now apply for all arrivals into Switzerland. This testing requirement also applies to those who have been vaccinated or have recovered from the disease. In addition to taking a PCR test before travelling, a second test (PCR test or rapid antigen test) must be carried out between the fourth and seventh day after arrival. This test ensures that infected persons who have contracted the virus shortly before or during travel are detected.
Test costs must be borne by the traveller.

Non-vaccinated third-country nationals wishing to enter the Schengen area from countries or regions at risk will be refused entry to Switzerland for short-term stays without gainful employment of up to 90 days within a period of 180 days – apart from certain exceptions (hardship cases). This primarily affects tourism and social visits. The list of high-risk countries and regions is set out in Annex 1 of COVID-19 Ordinance 3. It is updated on an ongoing basis, taking into account the recommendations for the Schengen states issued by the European Commission.

Here is the current list set out in Annex 1 of COVID-19 Ordinance 3, from Page 13 of this document:
https://fedlex.data.admin.ch/filestore/fedlex.data.admin.ch/eli/cc/2020/438/20201008/en/pdf-a/fedlex-data-admin-ch-eli-cc-2020-438-20201008-en-pdf-a.pdf 
List of high-risk countries and regions
All states outside the Schengen area, with the exception of:
– Andorra
– Australia
– Bulgaria
– Canada
– Croatia
– Cyprus
– Georgia
– Holy See
– Ireland
– Japan
– Monaco
– New Zealand
– Romania
– Rwanda
– San Marino
– South Korea
– Thailand
– Tunisia
– Uruguay

Once inside Switzerland, here are the updated measures that are in place:

28/11/21

• A number of countries were recently added to Switzerland’s “List of countries with a variant of concern”. The list can be found here:
  https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/en/home/krankheiten/ausbrueche-epidemien-pandemien/aktuelle-ausbrueche-epidemien/novel-cov/empfehlungen-fuer-reisende/liste.html#858610174
  Anyone entering Switzerland from these countries must present a negative test result and quarantine for 10 days. This also applies to vaccinated and recovered persons. 
  If you are impacted by these new government restrictions and you are no longer able to take up your reservation, please get in touch.  We are very sorry to hear that your holiday plans could be impacted, and our generous cancellation policy allows for a full refund in these circumstances. Should you prefer, we are happy to transfer your balance to a future booking.
• The canton of Valais (which includes La Tzoumaz) has made masks compulsory and restricted the number of non-vaccinated adults who can meet together to 10. This restriction remains in force until December 17 2021:
  “The State Council reintroduces the wearing of masks from the age of 12 in all public events held indoors, markets and public places closed, with a few exceptions. The mask will be compulsory in particular in cinemas, theaters, auditoriums, restaurants, tea-rooms and other similar or similar places, even if the COVID-19 certificate is required there. The mask must also be worn in confined spaces of workplaces, as well as in vehicles when traveling for business. Private meetings that take place indoors are limited to ten people, unless all participants over the age of 16 have a COVID-19 certificate. Children and young people up to the age of 16 are not counted among these ten people. This last measure, applied from November 29, will be in effect until December 17.”
• No change to the federal rules in place across Switzerland (see below)

01/11/21

• Visitors need a Swiss COVID Certificate or an EU COVID Certificate to enter into bars, restaurants etc.  British NHS certificates can be converted into the Swiss COVID app. Any other non-EU certificates can be converted for 30 CHF here:  https://www.covidcertificate-form.admin.ch/foreign . Please note that the process may take 24h or longer.
• Like last year, ski resports in Switzerland are planning to open for business as usual.  A Swiss-validated COVID certificate may not be a requirement, according to the Ski Lift Operators, but the government has suggested that this may change if the COVID statistics  develop > 200 cases per 100,000 people.

CURRENT HYGIENE RULES

• Private gatherings and parties

  The number of people allowed to attend events among friends and family (for example gatherings and parties) that are not held in publicly accessible establishments and businesses is limited. The numbers include ALL children and babies.  

  Rule indoors: A maximum of 30 people is allowed.
  Rule outdoors: A maximum of 50 people is allowed.

OFFICIAL INFORMATION

• Here’s some information in English on the latest situation in Switzerland: https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/covid-19_coronavirus–the-situation-in-switzerland/45592192
• Find out the conditions for traveller entry into Switzerland here: Online check: Travelcheck
• You can also follow the latest updates from the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (in English) here: https://foph-coronavirus.ch/
• Here’s a summary in English from the Verbier Tourist Office of the latest on the official situation here in the 4 Valleys: https://www.verbier.ch/winter/inside-winter/useful-info/information-about-the-health-situation-covid-19/
• Official information from the canton of Valais is only available in French and German: https://www.vs.ch/web/coronavirus/home

HISTORICAL COVID UPDATES

22/03/21

12/03/21

24/02/21

11/12/20

04/12/20

Is the ski resort open?

Yes! TeleVerbier has been running the ski lifts throughout November as usual, which has given plenty of opportunity to allow them to put in place and perfect their strategies to minimise skier interaction with each other.  The eyes of the Swiss authorities and of the general public across Europe are watching very closely and holding them to account.

• 07/11 Lac des Vaux ski area opened for weekend operation
• 05/12 the telecabin link from La Tzoumaz opened for weekend operation (to reach the open slopes in Verbier) 
• 12/12 the ski area is scheduled to be open daily

TeleVerbier has a detailed and user-friendly FAQ on what to expect in the resort and all the different measures applicable. Scroll down to the bottom of this page: https://www.verbier.ch/winter/information-about-the-health-situation-covid-19/

Measures in place at 4vallees4saisons

– We have a system of screens and social distancing in place at the agency and our staff will be wearing masks. To protect our team and other guests, hand sanitizer is provided for you to use on entry and you are requested not to enter in groups.
– We have implemented an enhanced cleaning protocol during the pandemic, although we cannot guarantee that your property will be virus-free, so you travel at your own risk. The previous clients may only have left the property in the morning of your arrival, and a number of our team members may have entered the property during the day to carry out essential cleaning, inspection and maintenance tasks.
– We ask anyone who has recently tested positive for COVID-19 or suspects that they may test positive, not to travel to our resort or stay in our properties
– We will alert you if anyone has recently entered your property and since tested positive for COVID-19
– Masks are required while queueing for and travelling on ski lifts and all other forms of transport. We will provide your group with 2 free “ski-friendly” fabric face coverings, and you may purchase additional masks on arrival or during your stay. We aim to have sufficient stock of both adult and child sizes available for your stay.

Our cancellation conditions

Cancellation Policy

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Summer coronavirus archives

05/06/2020

Hooray!  The news we’ve all been waiting for!

Coronavirus: Switzerland to reopen its borders with all EU/EFTA states on 15 June

WHAT’S OPEN?

• Open 365 days per year – the well-stocked village supermarket
• Already open – Trappeurs Cafe/Restaurant, Auberge La Tzoumaz Restaurant, Le Blanc Cafe/Restaurant, Les Fougeres Hotel/Restaurant, Domus café
• Already open – All the local playgrounds: the summer playground / rope frame / water park in the main square, les Defis de la Riviere by the river, the large playground & climbing crag in Domus, the drive-to playgrounds in Riddes, Saxon and our all-time favourite playgrounds in Saillon and at the Parc des Iles (a fabulous green space with a large lake, playground with miniature steam train, and plenty of other attractions: trampolines with elastic harnesses, a climbing wall, mini golf and even a high-rope park with 160 features, some of which are accessible to children from age 4).
• Already open – the Bains de Saillon thermal baths (www.bainsdesaillon.ch)
• Already open – Barryland (St Bernard Dog Museum and Kennels) (www.fondation-barry.ch)
• Already open – The indoor softplay centre in Martigny (www.monstrofun.ch) 
• Open from 20th June – The Maison de la Foret (tea shop and exhibition rooms)
• Open from 4th July – La Poste Hotel/Restaurant, TShop Bike Shop, TBar, and the La Tzoumaz Telecabin
• Not yet confirmed – the village swimming pool

There are three separate slides, swings, wobbly things, and plenty of space to run around.

FOR HIKERS & TRAIL RUNNERS

We’ve spent hours and hours out on the trails, and here is one of our all-time our favourites – a 2-hour steep hike up to the summit of le Fou:

23/05/2020

Wow.  Spring has fully sprung and watching it unfurl has been such a pleasure!  The mountains have gone from white to brown to vibrant green, there is an explosion of alpine flowers springing up at every turn, and the birds and butterflies are here in abundance.  The village has been quite busy with Second Home owners escaping from the nearby cities, and there is a good influx of Swiss tourists to our rental chalets.  Our 12 chalets with an outdoor jacuzzi are in particularly high demand as people seek to embrace the fresh mountain air and abundant sunshine.

SHOPS – The village shop remains open daily and is always well-stocked.  Down in the valley we noticed that the shops have started getting a bit busier as more and more Swiss residents come to Valais to enjoy the sunshine.  There are occasional queues outside places like the big Lidl in Conthey due to the restrictions on the number of people allowed inside.  Most people are respectful of the 2m social distancing requirements as we all try to get used to the “new normal” and make a habit of leaving room for other people.  A few people are wearing masks and it is more noticeable with the warmer temperatures that some people are still wearing gloves to do their shopping.   

RESTAURANTS & OTHER SERVICES

• Already open – Trappeurs Cafe/Restaurant, Auberge La Tzoumaz Restaurant, Le Blanc Cafe/Restaurant, Les Fougeres Hotel/Restaurant
• Already open – All the fixed village playgrounds, the summer playground in the main square, the large playground in Domus, the playgrounds in Riddes, Saxon and our all-time favourite playgrounds in Saillon and at the Parc des Iles (a fabulous green space with a large lake, playground with miniature steam train, and plenty of other attractions.  There are trampolines with elastic harnesses, a climbing wall, mini golf and a high-rope park with 160 features, some of which are accessible to children from age 4).
• Open from 4th July – La Poste Hotel/Restaurant, TShop Bike Shop, TBar, and hopefully the La Tzoumaz Telecabin (TBC end May)

HIKING & BIKING – As the snowline recedes up the mountain, the hiking routes and trails are opening up for us to enjoy, but a lot of fun can be had following the bisses and trails around and through the village.  There are more and more bikers (easy riders in jeans as well as professionals in Lycra) cycling up and down through the village, and e-Biking is definitely the way to go unless you are a hardcore mountain enthusiast.  We’ve spotted Sebastien Reichenbach (Tour de France pro rider) on his road bike as he hacked his way up the Croix de Coeur, reportedly fighting his way through the remaining snowdrifts, and there is a red tandem in the village that often rides up and down the roads.

FEATURED HIKE – Past the Defis de la Rivere and up to the Newt Pond

This is delightful short hike for children of any age, ideal for a picnic lunch or a lazy day by the water, or perhaps an evening hike to see the setting sun.  You can park at the Maison de la Foret, the Cremerie, or even further up by the Marteau if you don’t have much time.  Take spare shoes and a change of clothes for any little ones who enjoy getting wet but don’t enjoy staying wet!  The Defis de la Riviere is a brand new development for 2020 (scheduled to officially open at the end of June) and targeted at kids of any age, challenging them to use their agility to cross the course and indeed the river without getting wet.  Our toddlers had the most fun throwing sticks in the river and getting tangled up in the cargo net 🙂  Nearby is a swing set and a picnic area with shade and tables.

The sounds of the rushing river and the cacophony of birdsong was so fantastic that I tried to capture it here:

Turn left after the Defis de la Riviere and follow the yellow signpost marked “Le Fou”. This takes you up a short steep hike through an enchanting forest (around 10 minutes, with 100m of vertical gain) and then you arrive at the pond.  It has plenty of baby newts at this time of year. It’ a nice spot for a wild picnic in the grass overlooking La Tzoumaz if there are too many people at the picnic area by the river down below. 

10/05/2020

WEATHER – We’ve had some fabulously warm and sunny days and we even got out the barbecue for a nice lunch in the sun. Midday still remains the best time to have a barbecue here as once the sun goes behind the mountain in the early evening the temperature can drop quite sharply. The snow has gone from the lower pistes so we have stopped ski-touring and started to explore the footpaths further and further afield. The annual explosion of flowers across the mountainside is beginning to take shape, especially in the lower sections of the village. In the valley below the apricots are progressing well.

 

RESTAURANTS & OTHER SERVICES – everyone is getting excited about the first phase of de-confinement that starts tomorrow. As a family the thing we are most excited about is the playgrounds reopening! At a meeting of the local Accommodation Providers Committee we were given the following opening dates:

• Open from 11-15 May – Trappeurs Cafe/Restaurant, Auberge La Tzoumaz Restaurant, Le Blanc Cafe/Restaurant, Les Fougeres Hotel/Restaurant, all the fixed village playgrounds and the seasonal summer playground in the main square
• Open from 23rd May – Domus playground
• Open from end of June – Opening of the new playground “Defi de la Riviere” at the bridge/beach area of the Fare
• Open from 4th July – La Poste Hotel/Restaurant, TShop Bike Shop, TBar, and hopefully the La Tzoumaz Telecabin (TBC end May)

VILLAGE LIFE – Everything continues pretty much as it has over the last 8 weeks. There is a slow and steady increase in the number of people mowing and strimming as the greenery responds to the fine weather. Most of the people in the village are residents and second home owners. Most of the tourists are small Swiss families looking to escape the confines of their city life. We are interested to see how this demographic changes with the schools reopening tomorrow. It’s Mother’s Day today here in Switzerland so I’m off out to enjoy some hiking with the girls in the warm sunshine 🙂

30/04/2020

WEATHER – Like much of the rest of Europe we’re having a few days of rain, which is great to start turning the grass greener, and help start the fruit trees to bloom in the thousands of local orchards down the valley. We’ve had a few inversions when we’ve been either above the clouds, or in the middle of the swirling mist. We also managed to get clear skies earlier in the week to clearly see the amazing sight of the latest batch of StarLink satellites charging across the sky like a bright chain of shiny stars (See here for the next viewing possibilities: https://james.darpinian.com/satellites/?special=starlink). After an overnight flurry there was a clear snowline yesterday morning, sitting prettily over the Tracouet but it should warm up again after the weekend however, so we’re not really very motivated to get the skis back out right now.

HIKING TRAILS – we’ve been doing some gentle hiking with our baby girls, and some hardcore hiking with the older boys. Around the village level, the Vieux Bisse is lovely, and so is the Bisse de la Chapelle. The Sentier des Fables is mostly passable (you may get wet feet in the remaining snow patches) and there are plenty of marmottes (and the occasional black kite) to see.

The Bisse de Saxon is starting to clear (direction Verbier) but some sections are definitely too risky to enjoy due to large piles of snow still present at some very exposed sections, and the NO PEDESTRIANS barrier is still up at the La Tzoumaz end. We haven’t yet tried this bisse from the Maison de la Foret in the direction of Iserables and the Chalet des Alpes – maybe next week – but we know from experience that the huge snow-piled avalanche gully halfway round is normally complicated to cross until much later in the spring.

The best hiking at the moment is still on the lower path that runs from the Som de Pro bus stop (see SNOW MELT /SPRING below), winds around the mountain and goes through the three tunnels to the Crossette. There are still some “wet feet” sections but these are slowly melting and getting shorter. From La Crosette there are many different options, with plenty of fun to be had lower down (see SAXON below), and the path up to La Vatze being clear (just don’t come back along the Bisse de Saxon for another week or two – instead loop back down a different trail to regain the main footpath).

SAXON – The Trail de la Pierre Avoi has been postponed to August 15th, but we went for an early race-route-recce of the first 1000m climb and it was very pleasant with no wet feet until we reached the home trails near La Tzoumaz. We started in Saxon by the new start line at the Casino, and tried to follow the old race markings. There were a handful of other trailers training in the hills too, and we came across a couple of hikers about once or twice an hour. There were lots of people working in the vineyards and the orchards and most seemed happy to wave and chat. In Saxon village we even said hello to an archetypal tourist, complete with map, hawaiian shirt & shorts and a camera round his neck.

VALLEY FLOOR – If you drive down to Riddes and park by the river or the canal there is a lovely footpath long the river. It’s a great place to go for a long easy run or cycle, but beware the headwind that often blows from the Martigny end as this can massively slow you down on the way back. The footpath is flat enough to take small wheeled vehicles for toddlers (yep – our baby turned into a toddler last week by taking her first steps!) but keep an eye out for the occasional car (they usually slow right down) or cyclist (they sometimes go incredibly fast). You may even catch sight of one of the local Tour de France pros, such as Sebastien Reichenbach who does a lot of his training rides around here.

CHALETS – There is a steady trickle of (mostly Swiss) bookings coming in for the summer, and a steady trickle of (mostly overseas) booking cancellation. We’re still looking after a trickle of clients who are coming up to stay in our rental chalets. Many are choosing to extend their stay once they settle in and realise what a pleasure it is to be confined up here in the mountains. We are progressing with a lot of minor chalet maintenance, and seasonal tasks such as climbing on the roofs to clear the meleze needles from the guttering.

19/04/2020

HOLIDAYS – five weeks have now passed since the ski resort shut down and (nearly) all of the remaining winter clients cancelled their bookings. Easter came and went, much like any other day… but with a little more chocolate 🙂 It was sunny and warm and there were a lot more second homes occupied than there had been the week before – there were small groups of people sitting on quite a number of chalet terraces and patio spaces enjoying a meal together in the sunshine. We also had a few clients in the resort over Easter – it’s only a governmental recommendation to stay at home, not a requirement, so some couples and small families came to celebrate a calm and quiet Easter.

The Swiss Federal government has proposed a 3-phase relaxing of the lockdown rules, starting with a few businesses able to re-open on April 27th, and then (most concerning for our boys ) perhaps the re-opening of schools on May 11th, followed by lifting of further restrictions on June 8th.

We are starting to see a gentle increase in enquiries and bookings for next winter, as people start to believe in a brighter outlook for the future, with talk of different countries taking steps to return to normal. Summer bookings are also trickling in. We are still offering generous cancellation conditions to anyone who wants to book (see details here)

SHOPS – The village shop remains open daily (mornings only) and remains well-stocked, including freshly-baked baguettes every morning. The Monnet Sports “Tshop” is hoping to be allowed to rent out bicycles this summer, with the bikes expected to arrive sometime in mid-May. We’ll keep you posted on how to obtain your 4v4s discount.

VILLAGE CENTRE – The ice rink has been dismantled for the year, but the fixed playground is closed and the summer playground has obviously not yet been installed. Playgrounds are also closed in Domus, Saxon, Saillon, Nendaz and Parc des Iles. We’re hoping that the ban on playgrounds will be lifted with the opening of schools on May 11th. That doesn’t mean we can’t have fun in the big open square in the village centre though – we normally take scooters and other ride-on toys for the girls to enjoy as this is one of the biggest flat spaces in the whole of La Tzoumaz 🙂

PUBLIC TRANSPORT – The Post Bus runs between Iserables telecabin and La Tzoumaz Telecabin as usual. We hiked around the Route de la Foret Verte to test it out. This wide, flattish forest road is now driveable again since the snowploughs ran through it a week ago. We admired the stunning views of La Tzoumaz from the other side as always, and took the opportunity to see what the snow line looked like. Arriving in Iserables, the locals we spotted were mostly at home in their gardens or driving around, and seemed happy enough to wave at us. Any benches or play areas were cordoned off, and we saw one rainbow banner thanking the people on the front line of the battle against COVID-19, in both French and German. It’s difficult not to feel like intruders when you are a large group of two adults, two pre-teens and two babies, but the bus driver seemed pleased to have such a full minibus after so many empty journeys. The front rows of seats are cordoned off to protect the driver, and no payment is allowed on the bus. We had to plan carefully as there are only a handful of buses a day and you need to buy your ticket online in advance (instructions here or on the bus door).

SNOW MELT / SPRING – We’ve been eagerly waiting for the snow to melt on our favourite hiking paths so that we can enjoy them properly. In the early evenings wen La Tzoumaz is in the shade we like to explore the Rhone Valley side of town and enjoy the late sunshine. The flat road that leads away from the “Som de Pro” bus-stop near Villy is one of our favourites due to its steep-sided plunging views over the Rhone Valley and its adventure and surprises along the way – As you round each corner of this vertiginous route as it winds round the mountainside, you could be greeted by one of the last few heaps of snow slowly melting, a pile of rocks that have crumbled and slid onto the path, little streams that cross the footpath, tunnels carved into the rocks with curtains of water raining down, or even piles of rabbit/chevreuil droppings (much to the delight of toddler Katie). Here it is clear that the trees are blossoming and that spring is in the air. Little clusters of white or purple flowers (sylvie?) are starting to line the footpaths and the trees are covered in fresh green shoots and catkins.

VILLY – Another lovely place to enjoy in the early evening due to the late sunset and the stunning Rhone Valley views, Villy very much has a village feel. Thanks to the year-round sunshine, many of the chalets are occupied year round, and due to the acoustics you can hear laughter and chatter coming from distant gardens and balconies. Not enough to make out the words, but enough to really feel that this is a warm and friendly community. We stop and chat to quite a few residents, who seem pleased by the variety of our presence, and most take delight in the antics of our little babies. The central farm is still hard at work and there are a number of vegetables growing in the occasional vegetable patch between chalets. A number of the second-home chalets have ski-touring skins hanging up to dry next to their cars with their out-of-town Vaud plates.

02/04/2020

HOLIDAYS – We are now in our 3rd week since the ski resort shut down and (nearly) all of the winter clients cancelled their bookings. We have very few clients in the resort at the moment but we are getting a steady trickle of people booking Easter holidays up here – they are already situated within the Swiss borders so they are allowed to travel to the mountains. It’s only a governmental recommendation to stay at home, not a requirement, so families are looking for somewhere relatively remote and isolated to celebrate Easter. We are offering generous cancellation conditions to anyone who wants to book (see details here)

SHOPS – The village shop remains open daily (mornings only) and remains well-stocked. There are normally only around 4 or 5 other people inside at the same time and they are offering deliveries to anyone confined to their home. The only thing we are having difficulty to find is yeast (either in cubes or in sachets) and despite scouring all the shops down the valley we have still had no luck. I guess we’re not the only ones thinking now would be a good time to try some home baking! Coop, Migros, Lidl and Aldi are all well stocked (apart from yeast). Lidl in Conthey now has a big sign up saying “One person per trolley” and “No families” so we are going to have to stop shopping there – normally one of us goes out with the two girls as the activity for that day and now we are running out of ideas where to take them. Our toddler loves pushing her own mini-trolley round and our nearly-toddler really enjoys sitting in the big trolley. Most shops are struggling to enable people to keep their distances as people frequently cross each other in the aisles instead of walking around or waiting, so we try to minimise the number of shopping trips that we make, despite shopping for an extended family.

WEATHER – The sky is blue and the outlook is for at least a week of glorious sunshine! Sadly the local public playgrounds are now closed, and the village ice rink has been dismantled. At least this means there is now a flat space in the village centre where we can take the girls to enjoy their summer locomotion toys as they transition from sliding on snow to rolling on tarmac.

SNOW – Down at the lower resort level, below the main street, most of the snow has already melted but in the top of the resort it has barely started to disappear from the fields. The snow on the pistes is definitely spring-like now, crispy in the mornings and soft by lunchtime so small moguls are starting to appear near the bottom. Around the resort it is easy to sink into the soft wet snowdrifts up to mid-calf in the afternoons, but in the forest or up towards the croix-de-coeur we are using running spikes to get a good grip on the frozen snow. The pistes are criss-crossed with footprints, paw-prints, ski and snowshoe tracks and the occasional skidoo track (left behind by the owner of our favourite isolated restaurant). Of course standing on the Croix-de-Coeur there is no snow at all on the Verbier side because it basks in the sunshine, unlike our protected side where the sun only gently grazes the pistes.

PEOPLE – Out hiking in the snow with the girls it is almost deserted – we only come across another person about once per hour or so, maybe skiing past us after skinning up the piste, or coming back from a snowshoe hike to the top, or out sledging with a child. We are allowed to be in groups of up to 5 if we respect the 2m-distance rule, so we stop and chat to anyone we see, not quite shouting. I’ve been outside tramping round the back gardens quite a bit on my own, taking new external photographs of some of our chalets, and I find that quite a few (usually older) ladies seem to be tucked away in nearby chalets on their own and they leap out onto the terrace or into the garden and have a pleasant chat with me. I guess we are all reaching out for some reassuring human contact in these strange times.

Skinning up the deserted piste by starlight, with nothing but the sound of an owl hooting in the distance, is pure mountain pleasure. Reaching the top and peeling the skins off our skis as we catch our breath we reflect on just how unique this whole situation is. Skiing down is exhilarating and the lights of the villages twinkle in the distance. With 57 years of skiing between the two of us and during that time only one visit to hospital for a skiing injury we feel the risk is very low, but still we ski down very gently and with bright head-torches to minimise the risks.

23/03/2020

It’s now been a week since the ski-lifts closed, and the village is settling into a quiet version of the inter-season. A number of second-home owners came up for the weekend to close down their chalets after winter, and there were lots of windows thrown open and vacuuming sounds echoing across the valley before they all retreated back to wherever they live. Now the majority of the cars in the village have the local VS numberplates.

Out on the footpaths we crossed a few people, fathers out sledging with their daughters, older couples out for a walk. One gentleman with a group of four others that was walking up to the Maison de la Foret hastily pulled his mask over his face when we got within 10m. It’s the first person I’ve seen up here wearing a mask and I wish him good health.

The playgrounds are deserted, up here and down in Saillon. The La Tzoumaz playground is covered in snow but the Domus area is lovely and sunny in the afternoons. The donkeys there are almost as chatty as the climbers slowly making their way up the rock crag. The rabbits look a bit grumpy but the Japanese bantams are happily pecking at the ground unaware of how much the world around them has changed.

The footpaths and pistes are in excellent condition, considering they have been closed for a week. The snow is solid and crispy underfoot, which makes it a very pleasant surface to walk on, even when carrying a wriggling backpack full of toddler. The sledge run has only about 4cm depth of snow as it winds up through the trees, so we need to make the most of it before a few days of warm weather spoil our fun. There are many footprints and a few snowshoe marks, some sledge tracks and of course the skidoo tracks of our favourite local mountain restaurant owner.

Skinning up to ski down by starlight was a wonderful experience, with the head-torches just picking out the few small moguls that are starting to form in the otherwise hard and slippery surface. We didn’t see any wildlife but that may have been because we were chattering too loudly to each other…

There’s an inversion today so we are just in the cloud-line, with the view below obscured in thick fog. We resort to the webcams when we need a fix of sunshine:

http://www.verbier.ch/en/webcams/webcam-croix-de-coeur.htm http://www.verbier.ch/en/webcams/webcam-savoleyres.htm

19/03/2020

We have completed the set up of our remote office facilities and the resort team is busy fixing outstanding defects in the chalets and completing the standard post-season check and close of all the chalets. There are a couple of chalets still occupied by rental clients and owners. Our agency remains closed to visitors but we are still working, as are the local tradespeople (carpenters, plumbers, dishwasher repair etc).

The village is very sunny and fairly quiet. All bars and restaurants are closed. The tourist office is closed. The supermarket is open daily in the mornings. Some people are out walking with their children, others are running or cycling. People are greeting each other but keeping their distance from one another by crossing the road etc. A few people are enjoying the ski pistes by using skis de randonnee to climb up and ski down. We might try it later by torchlight when our toddlers are in bed so we can see what’s happening to the snow quality 🙂

17/03/2020

The Federal Council has annulled the decree issued by the Valais Cantonal Council and therefore we no longer have to close all hotels and holiday homes from midnight tonight.

Our teams are up and running and all services are functioning as normal, with the exception that we will not receive clients in the agency. If you are a chalet or apartment owner you may rest assured that we plan to maintain our Property Services as usual and continue to take good care of your property.

16/03/2020

Valais has decreed an Extraordinary Situation for the entire canton until further notice. From Tuesday 17th March 2020 at midnight, they have mandated the closure of all hotels and holiday homes, including those managed by people such as 4v4s, who use online booking sites like airbnb. As such we will close as a Holiday Rentals Agency from Tuesday at midnight. We will be directly contacting all affected holidaymakers as soon as we can.

If you are a chalet or apartment owner you may rest assured that we plan to maintain our Property Services as usual and continue to take good care of your property.

Here is the full text of the official communication (in French):

15/03/2020

Switzerland has mandated the closure of all ski domains and so TeleVerbier has closed all of the lifts in the 4 Valleys until the end of the season. At this time we do not know if they will open for the summer season in mid-June. The supermarket remains open every morning and is currently well-stocked. All other commerces (bars, restaurants, hotels) are closed, including the Tourist Office.

You can follow the latest updates from the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (in English) here: https://foph-coronavirus.ch/

If you have a 2019/20 winter booking with us

We are in the process of contacting all of our confirmed clients to discuss cancellation and refunds with all clients who have booked holidays and skipasses with us. We consider that the early closure of the ski domain represents a change in the product we have offered our clients versus what was booked, and so based on Swiss law we are offering every direct client a 100% reimbursement if the cancellation is not covered by travel insurance. Please contact us at holidays@4v4s.com if you have not yet heard from us.

Some of our clients are choosing to retain their booking if they are still able to travel to the resort, eg Swiss residents. It is a very quiet village now that the ski season has ended so it is perhaps easier here to manage social distancing and self-isolation. The mountain views are still beautiful, and the footpaths remain open for snowshoe hiking and walking.

If you would like to make a new booking

We are offering “free cancellation until 30 days before, and 90% refund at any time” for any new bookings made from now for travel dates before 30th September 2020.

If you have a 2020 spring/summer booking with us

We have updated our cancellation conditions and all existing bookings up to 30th September are now eligible for “free cancellation until 30 days before, and 90% refund at any time”

Feel free to contact us at holidays@4v4s.com if you already wish to cancel under the standard conditions. Your travel insurance may be able to cover any cancellation fees for you. Otherwise, we recommend that you take a decision as close to your departure date as possible.

If you wish to stay in Autumn or Winter 2020/21

For any cancellations made before September 30th 2020, a full refund is available for any Autumn or Winter 20/2021 bookings.

Also for any non weather-related closure of the entire ski domain for a prolonged period during winter 2020/21 we will offer a full refund. This also applies if the ski resort is open, but either your own government or the Swiss government blocks international travel to/from Switzerland.

Our standard cancellation conditions still apply in the following circumstances: Bookings for Winter 2020/21 that are cancelled after 30th September 2020 in the event that the ski domain is operating normally, and international travel is possible. As a reminder, these are our standard conditions: “For cancellation up to 2 months before arrival (or upon resale) the fee is 15%. Up to 1 month / 80%, thereafter / 90%.”

12/03/2020

There is a lot of uncertainty right now in lots of different parts of the globe, and there are starting to be impacts to many people’s daily lives and to their holiday plans. Here’s where we are today:

Swiss governmental advice

We expect a significant update on decisions affecting Switzerland after an emergency meeting of the Federal Council that will take place on Friday 13th March. Here is the link to watch the press conference live at 15h30 (Swiss time): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFI7vQU-YnY&feature=youtu.be

There is no current travel restriction on travel to/from Switzerland issued by the Swiss Government.  People travelling on routes from or through Italy will, however, face restrictions.  The general advice from the Swiss government is to avoid greeting people by shaking hands or kissing and to practice good personal hygiene, avoid touching your face and wash hands frequently. Recently they have also advised people to keep their distance from each other.

You can follow the latest updates from the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (in English) here: https://foph-coronavirus.ch/

Your governmental travel advice

The dynamics of this situation are such that we are unable to monitor advice from every country.  Please consult your own government website for information on travel advice.

Current situation in La Tzoumaz/Verbier

At the moment there are no special precautions in place in our resort as there are no confirmed cases, and people (including me) are skiing, socialising, and working or attending school/kindergarten as normal. Except for hand sanitizer and masks, shops are well-stocked and no-one here seems to be panicking.

Standard cancellation conditions

Just as a reminder, here are our standard cancellation conditions:

“For cancellation up to 2 months before arrival (or upon resale) the fee is 15%. Up to 1 month / 80%, thereafter / 90%.”

“Advance-purchase skipasses are non-refundable once issued.”

Travel insurance

We recommend that you check the cancellation terms and conditions in your travel insurance for accommodation and skipasses, and also for any transfers or flights etc that you have booked.  There may be a difference if you choose to cancel based on government travel advice against travel to/from Switzerland or your home country, versus if you cancel based on your own risk assessment.

New bookings

For any new bookings made between now and September 2020 we will offer free cancellation of those bookings if you cancel before September 2020

Stay safe and protect your communities by washing your hands, coughing into your elbow, not touching your face, and staying home if you are unwell.

Wishing you and your family good health over the next critical months.

From Anna, Percy & the whole team here at 4v4s

The post Coronavirus update appeared first on 4vallees4saisons.com.

Percy had new boots.  And new skis.  And new skins.  And then he remembered that he had snapped his ski poles at the end of last season, but his hiking poles had no baskets.  Surely this was a recipe for disaster…?  There’s surely not enough snow.  Perhaps when we get to the top there will be more?  We can always walk if it’s too rocky.  And buy new skins if we ruin them.  And get the skis serviced if we wreck the bases.  And do 5 weeks of rehab before Christmas if we injure ourselves…

Enough excuses and we were on the piste, fighting to click into our Dynafit bindings.  Even after 32 years skiing, I find the first ski of the year is always exciting as it feels so unfamiliar after the long summer.  There’s a thrill that rushes through me when I first slide over the snow, hearing it squeak underfoot, trying to remember how to balance.  The skis felt heavy as we pushed them uphill, our legs conditioned to the easy life of summer hiking in light trail shoes.  The clouds that had swirled around us all day were settling into the valley below, looking like a sea of fluff filling the valley, with a delicate sprinkling of city lights here and there.  I chuckled as I thought of all the city people, blanketed below and unaware of the magic above.  The sunlight played on the last few mountain peaks, giving us a stunning display of mountain panorama, then it was gone.  We had head-torches in the rucksack just in case, but we chose to rely on our night vision as dusk overcame us.

Percy was struggling with his new equipment and grumbling about his bindings so we had just about decided to head back down again, when we noticed our shadows in front of us…  Is that the moon?  Is it full??  Wow isn’t it beautiful!!!  The snowy scene came back into view in an almost unearthly light.  The moonlight caught the ice crystals in the snowdrifts, making them sparkle and twinkle in a dizzying manner.  The tree branches glowed eerily, laden with the new snowfall, and struggling to deal with the extra task of shedding the snow along with their autumn needles.  There were one or two tracks from earlier in the day, where winter walkers had passed by, and these were illuminated like the emergency exit lights on an airplane, guiding us ever upwards.

Before long, we were at the summit  of our climb, the Croix-de-Coeur restaurant on the ridge, with its altiport, heli-ski meeting point and its view over both La Tzoumaz and Verbier.  The Verbier side also had a blanket of cloud, but here it glowed orange, tinged with the lights from the densely-packed resort.  There was an icy cold breeze, but it made no sound and we looked around in wonder, each quietly confirming that our move to the mountains a year ago had been an inspired decision.

  We gently peeled off our skins and stowed them in our rucksack, glad to pull out helmets and jackets and gloves, goggles and head-torches from the seemingly tiny daysack we had taken out on our impromptu outing.  Clicking our bindings into “ski” mode and snapping our boots shut in the soft fluffy powder seemed a very strange thing to be doing in early November, a world away from the mountain-bike ride we did up here a mere three days ago.

Heading off down the mountain, I made a mental note to wax my skis before my next outing.  The snow was grabbing at them, begging me to stay at the top, but I pushed on.  My balance was uncertain, my style was not pretty.  The 18-month-old reconstruction work in my right knee complained bitterly at every twist and turn.  We gathered speed as we wound our way down the mountain, often choosing to stick to the smooth snowy roads rather than the unpredictable rocks and shrubs of the wilder terrain.  The moon was still watching over us, and I reflected on how natural the first day back on skis can feel when you are in glorious sunshine on a freshly-groomed resort run.  Here I was on a random Thursday night, laying down the first tracks of the season and I was butchering them!  When you’re skiing on the first snowfall, there is no base layer and the grass pokes through.  We had 6 – 10 inches of fresh powder sprinkled on top of a full autumn regalia of bilberry bushes and azaleas that were red and gold.  Autumn was not yet ready to be finished.  Luckily for my embarrassingly awkward track marks, the locals round here say that when snow falls before the meleze have shed their leaves, it will not stay for long.

The post Full moon ski touring in November appeared first on 4vallees4saisons.com.

Choosing a holiday was very exciting, as there was so much choice between resorts and different chalets, so many tour operators and packages and independent offerings.  We used the Sunday papers, teletext and the telephone like weapons to find the best deal, frantically watching the prices change as the snow began to fall around the Alps.

After 10 or 15 years of memorable family holidays, we decided to buy our first place in the Alps, and spent a summer cruising around the resorts and wading through the hundreds of options available.  The first ski trip over brought a whole new dimension to the pleasures of a skiing holiday: we were now part of the village!  Now that we could come out several times during a season, we started getting to know the locals and making friends in the lift queues.  We had our favourite routes and circuits, challenging ourselves to find the best route to “Ski All the Black Runs in One Day” or “Get to the Furthest Mountain Restaurant for Lunch and Back without Missing the Last lift Home”.

As time went by and I got more involved in different outdoor sports, I discovered the Alps outside the ski season.  A whole new world of breathtaking experiences opened up to me!  I had no idea that the mountains could be so beautiful when they weren’t covered in snow!  My world changed overnight.  Now I could go hiking along mid-altitude trails in the ever-changing colours of a larch forest in autumn.  Now I could struggle up the last hundred metres of a 4000m peak at sunrise as a 360º mountain panorama opened up before my very eyes.  Now I could ride a mountain bike around the valleys and paraglide over the mountaintops.  I took up rock-climbing and via ferrata, canyoning and mountaineering, road cycling and trail running.  I spent my holidays ice-climbing, glacier-walking,  and swimming in refreshing mountain lakes.  I was mesmerised every time I saw a grazing herd of bouquetin, or a fleeting glimpse of the shy chamois.  I grew thirsty for knowledge of alpine flowers and high-altitude birds, wanting to name them all and capture them in macro photographs.  I quizzed the mountain guides on the names of the peaks, on the formations of the rocks, on the changes and developments that they’ve seen over the last decades.

I now live with my equally-mountain-mad husband in the incredible resort of La Tzoumaz, a secret well-kept from mass-marketing and tour operators, nestling on the back of  Verbier’s Mount Savoleyres and directly linked into the huge and world-renowned 4-Valleys ski area.  It doesn’t have Verbier’s night life.  It doesn’t have Verbier’s chic bars and restaurants.  It doesn’t have more than 200 residents year round, or more than 6,000 visitors in the high season.  But it does have the magic of the mountains.

We will never tire of our ever-changing view across the huge expanse of the Rhone valley, looking up to the peaks of the Haut de Cry, and over to Gstaad’s Glacier 3000, or looking down to where the clouds sometimes sit, hundreds of metres below us, with the Swiss Air Force F18s skimming over the tops.  The expanse of vineyards and fruit trees below bears testament to the long hot summers and provides a stunning multi-coloured vista from every window.

As La Toumaz is ideally situated on a T-junction of two valleys, we also have a view across to the narrow-streets of Iserables, listed on the Swiss Inventory of Heritage Sites Worthy of Protection, its public transport cable car up from the floor of the Rhone Valley, and the 4-Valleys ski lifts of Tracouet and Plan-du-Fou.

Sometimes, I sit on the balcony of our chalet and watch the Savoleyres telecabin gently bumping over the pylon as it carries another group of skiers up to the 4-Valleys, and I smile to think what has become of the summer dreams from my childhood sofa.

Click here to see our range of chalets and apartments for sale in La Tzoumaz

The post Mountain Dreams and Chalets appeared first on 4vallees4saisons.com.

Top 7 gorgeous and affordable chalets for your next self-catered ski holiday

… all starting with the letter “C”

More photos, descriptions, prices and reservations here:

#1              Chalet Champagne

http://4vallees4saisons.com/chalet/chalet-champagne/

Admire the stunning mountain views from the huge feature windows with a glass of bubbles, or relax in the sauna area. Sleeps up to 7 in three bedrooms.

#2              Chalet Chocolat

http://www.interhome.ch/en/ch1914.141.1/?partnerid=CH1001016

Indulge yourself in rich and chocolatey luxury at this picture-postcard chalet with sauna and outdoor jacuzzi.  Sleeps up to 10 in five bedrooms.

#3              Chalet Chapeau

http://4vallees4saisons.com/chalet/la-tzoumaz-chalet-le-chapeau/

Imagine the long, fun-filled evenings, tucked away by the snow-topped forest, with the log fire roaring in this huge living area.  Sleeps up to 13 in five bedrooms.

#4              Chalet Coeur

http://www.interhome.ch/en/ch1914.124.1/?partnerid=CH1001016

Unwind in the sauna or soak in the outdoor hot-tub after a day on the slopes.  This real « coup-de-cœur » sleeps up to 10 in four bedrooms and a mezzanine.

#5              Chalet Calon

http://4vallees4saisons.com/chalet/la-tzoumaz-chalet-calon/

Treat your loved ones to a stay in this gorgeous new chalet with sauna, named after the Welsh word for « Heart ».  Sleeps up to 10 in four bedrooms and a mezzanine.

#6              Chalet Cornalin

http://www.interhome.ch/en/ch1914.81.1/?partnerid=CH1001016

Escape to the mountains in this delightful chalet and bask in the incredible views from the outdoor jacuzzi, as the evening Alpenglow lights up the mountain vista around you.  Sleeps up to 6 in three bedrooms.

#7              Chalet Celeste

http://www.interhome.ch/en/ch1914.131.1/?partnerid=CH1001016

Admire the starry skies that watch over this chalet from the snowy terrace or soothe your aching muscles in the sauna.  Sleeps up to 8 in four bedrooms.

The post C is for Chalet – Top 7 gorgeous & affordable chalets appeared first on 4vallees4saisons.com.

FATMAP is our favourite app for detailed off-piste / backcountry skiing data and informed decision-making.  It is only useful if you know how to read and interpret the avalanche bulletin (see here and here), can work with slope angles and exposition to minimise the risk of provoking avalanches, are familiar with avoiding terrain traps and equipped with ARVA/shovel/probe and maybe an airbag and are trained and practised in using all of the above (see here or here).

 Links

• Download the FATMAP App here
• Avalanche bulletin
• Avalanche bulletin & information app
• International Snow Training Academy
• Avalanche avoidance skills for amateurs

FATMAP in their own words

Welcome to FATMAP

Welcome to FATMAP – a new mapping technology for outdoor environments – a map, guide book, terrain toolkit and local insider all in one. We created FATMAP when we realised that current ski maps – on or off the piste – don’t give people the information they really need to know to make the most of their skiing.

At FATMAP’s core is an ultra-high resolution 3d model of the terrain to which we have added the essential information you want as a skier.

Whole ski areas have been mapped together with descriptions and detailed information to help you make better decisions about where to ski. Want to know where to find the moguls, which runs will be in the sun or where to find the steepest black runs? Looking for a restaurant with a nice sunny terrace for lunch? It’s all here in FATMAP.

Check out user comments and ratings for every line and use 3D fly-throughs to help you see and experience your chosen line virtually before you set out. Locate yourself with precision on the map and share your location with your friends so you never get separated again. And record your performance to keep track of your stats throughout the day.

For people wanting to venture off-piste, FATMAP gives you detailed information about the lines plus a whole terrain intelligence toolkit to understand gradient, aspect, altitude, avalanche and crevasse zones.

It is important to note that FATMAP is designed as a tool that provides you with information to make your own decisions. We are not suggesting or encouraging you to cross the safety barriers of the ski resort. Off-piste skiing is a dangerous sport which requires a great deal of expertise. There is no such thing as zero risk. FATMAP will never replace the knowledge and experience of a professional. You always ski at your own risk.

FATMAP is the manifestation of a lifelong-obsession with maps, a mis-spent youth with computers, a friendship founded in the mountains, and a shared ski addiction. We’ve worked with pro skiers, Mountain Guides, Mountain Rescue Associations and skiers everywhere to create FATMAP. We hope you like it and that it will help you to explore further and push your limits, safely.

Technical Details

FATMAP uses two different 3d models and a texture map.

Terrain Model – DTM

The base data for FATMAP is an ultra-high resolution 3d model of the terrain. Our model has the average height of every 2m2 area of terrain. The terrain model (DTM) shows the ground surface. It does not account for trees, rocks or buildings. It provides an accurate representation of the terrain to calculate gradient and other information. Our terrain models are created using aerial and satellite imagery. Whilst extremely accurate they have an error margin of +/- 3m.

Surface Model – DSM

In addition to the DTM we have a surface model which provides information about the surface of the terrain – including trees, buildings, large rocks and other objects. This provides a true-to-life view of the world as we see it. In Swiss areas we only have a surface model up to an altitude of 2000m so trees and other objects above this altitude do not appear in 3d on the model.

Texture Map

To bring FATMAP to life and show the terrain as it is in real-life, our terrain model is overlaid with the latest winter satellite imagery. Different areas use different satellites based on availability. Imagery is either 40cm monochrome or 50cm colour imagery which means each pixel of the image covers an area of 40cm or 50cm on the ground. The imagery has been ortho-rectified to the terrain model (DTM) so that it provides excellent GPS positional accuracy. The imagery is not live but provides a useful indication of the typical snow cover during the winter. You will need to inform yourself about the actual snow cover in the resort before setting out.

Verbier

As one of the largest ski areas in Europe, Verbier exists as both a top-class ski resort and cosmopolitan get-away. This combination has drawn many a skier and snowboarder, regardless of their experience level, as well as those looking for a relaxing holiday and lively nightlife. Its location on a sunny plateau at the heart of the 4 valleys grants easy accessibility to those coming from Britain, Netherlands and the Scandinavian regions, giving the area a vibrant and diverse culture.
It’s known as a premiere off-piste ski area with infamous runs like the Back-Side of Mont Fort, Stairway to Heaven and the Couloir de la Banane. Perhaps the most intimidating run is the Bec des Rosses. This run hosts the annual Freeride World Tour which ends its exhibition of the world’s most adventurous athletes on Verbier’s excellent slopes. This massive area joining Nendaz, Veysonnaz, La Tzoumazand and Val de Bagnes all create the 4 Vallées. With 94 lifts and over 400km of piste, all which can be serviced by one lift pass, offers endless opportunity of exploration.
From the resort at 1500m, heights of more than 2700m can be reached by two consecutive gondola rides that take under 11 minutes in total. There, the high altitude guarantees abundant snow. A regular, free shuttle bus links the Médran gondola with the lifts for the other, smaller ski areas via different routes among the chalets – it also provides the majority of people with access to the central area and its slopes.

Off Piste Skiing

Off-piste skiing outside the safety of the marked pistes carries with it significant risks. There are many routes detailed in each area, of varying seriousness and technical difficulty. There are routes just by the side of the piste, others far away from the resort in alpine terrain including glaciers and everything in between. Each route will necessitate a different approach. One which is solely your responsibility.
Whether it is avalanches, crevasses, cliffs, steep terrain, navigation or other hazards, know that the dangers involved in off-piste skiing can kill you.
It is important to note that FATMAP is not something that will make decisions for you. It will not tell you where and when to go, where is and isn’t safe, guarantee outcomes or your safety in any way. It is not the only tool you will need and it definitely does not replace your eyes, ears or brain.

Know the conditions and weather forecast – and keep track of them throughout the day

Read the avalanche bulletin carefully

Learn about avalanche safety – take a course.

Have the right equipment and know how to use it (e.g. transceiver, shovel and probe).

Never follow tracks blindly

Ski according to your ability

Tell people where you are going and what you are planning

Always ski in a group and never venture off on your own

Always be prepared to turn back

Avoid the steepest sections of a given slope

Always travel with a good distance between you and descend key passages one at a time

Ski within visibility of each other. Stop and regroup on islands of safety.

Ski in small groups of similar ability

More experienced skiers should be both at the front and at the back

Avoid steep slopes at the sides of gullies, slopes with roll overs and slopes where wind-slabs form.

Avoid long traverses – or if one cannot be avoided, stay as high as possible.

FATMAP also includes some marked itinerary runs. These are runs which are marked and avalanche controlled by the ski resort. They are still considered off-piste runs which are not maintained or controlled. Whilst avalanche controlled, all the other dangers of off-piste skiing exist and they should not be underestimated.
If you don’t feel that you have sufficient expertise, or don’t feel comfortable with taking on the full responsibility of decision making off-piste, we strongly recommend hiring a UIAGM/IFMGA mountain guide.

Glaciers

Some of the terrain in FATMAP is glaciated. This terrain can be identified using the Crevasse Zone feature available with a FREERIDE subscription. Skiing on glaciers carries additional risk and demands a level high level of experience and skill.
Crevasses are the principle danger when skiing on a glacier. In the winter, crevasses are often covered by snow bridges that can give way under the weight of a single skier. Glaciers are moving all the time and it is not possible to ‘map’ crevasses accurately on a map. Whilst different ‘risk zones’ are defined in FATMAP, you ski at your own risk and with the understanding that crevasses may form anywhere on a glacier. Crevasses are a serious danger that carry the risk of death.

Find out about conditions on a glacier before setting out

Ski in a controlled manner

Always wear a harness and carry safety equipment (rope, pulley system / crevasse rescue kit etc.) when skiing on a glacier

Never take your skis or board off

Cross snow bridges with some momentum – don’t stop in the middle

Rope up if necessary

Equipment

Essential equipment for off-piste skiing

Avalanche transceiver

An essential item for off-piste skiing. You should wear a transceiver whenever you ski off-piste. The device transmits a signal/digital beacon which allows a buried person to be found using another transceiver. It is essential to practice using a transceiver regularly. Statistics show that there is 95% chance of finding a victim alive if they are found and dug out of the snow within 15 minutes. Make sure you check all the transceivers in your group are switched on and working.

Avalanche probe

Essential to locate a buried person precisely during the final stages of a transceiver search. Carry a sturdy probe and know how to use it.

Snow shovel

The last of the absolutely essential three items. You need a shovel to dig for a buried friend. Carry a shovel with a metal blade and a long, sturdy (preferably extensible) handle. Learn shovelling techniques and practice – it’s not as straightforward as it might sound!

Airbag

Recent research and statistics show that airbags increase your chances of survival in an avalanche and are quickly becoming standard avalanche safety equipment for many people.
Map & Compass & Altimeter

FATMAP is an excellent tool, but it only works so long as your battery lasts. We strongly recommend you always carry an altimeter, compass and contour map which also has additional information not shown in FATMAP.

Whistle

For attracting attention in case of an accident.

First aid kit

Carry an emergency blanket, spare sunglasses/goggles, basic medicines, bandages, plasters and compresses as a minimum.

Decision Making 3×3

Decision-making involves examining, choosing, and carrying out options. When off-piste skiing the decisions we need to make can be complex. There is a lot to think about at once and using a framework can be useful as a reminder and to ensure you don’t forget something and think about things systematically.

The ‘3 × 3 Filter’ developed by Werner Munter is a commonly used probabilistic strategy of decision-making in the mountains, particularly for the assessment of avalanche risk. Three avalanche factors are looked at through three regional filters.

The aim of the 3×3 filter method is to minimize the risk of triggering an avalanche as much as possible. In practice, this means to work out whether we believe a certain slope is safe to travel on.
Three key avalanche factors to consider are:

• Conditions (snow and weather)
• Avalanche terrain (principally gradient)
• People (person moving in the terrain)

These can be considered from three different perspectives:

• Regional
• Local
• Zonal (individual slope)

Always start with an assessment of avalanche risk at a regional level. Check the avalanche bulletin reports and weather forecasts and understand the conditions and general danger levels in the region.

Once in a local area, constantly observe your surroundings to help identify possible danger zones – and perhaps differences with your earlier assessment at a regional level.

When evaluating individual slopes for a decent, look at the terrain for clues of potential avalanche danger.

The general concept is that when you look at the three key avalanche factors for each of the three perspectives and therefore 9 times come to the conclusion that conditions are good/safe, it is reasonable to continue. If, however one or more times we come to the conclusion that conditions are not right then we can adjust our plan and do not ski to avoid putting our lives at risk.
Always start with a regional assessment (preparation), followed by the local evaluation (area assessment) and finally look at the individual slope.

Avalanche Risk

Source: ANENA, France
People die in avalanches every year. The chance of being killed in an avalanche is estimated at about 15% once you are in an avalanche and the chance of survival once buried diminishes very quickly from almost 95% in the first 15 minutes (unless the avalanche has caused fatal injury) to 35% after 35 mins.
When skiing off-piste, everyone in your group should carry an avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe. A shovel or probe between two is NOT sufficient. The absence of any one piece of equipment undermines the usefulness of the others and compromises your safety. Regular training is essential and it is important to recognise that this equipment is a last resort should the worst happen. It is much better to avoid avalanches in the first place.

Key Factors

There are a number of key factors involved in assessing avalanche danger. The main ones are:

Terrain

The risk of avalanches increases with the angle of the slope. Beyond 30 degrees, all slopes can potentially be unstable – although rare, avalanches are possible below this gradient, particularly wet snow avalanches in spring time. It is possible to trigger an avalanche remotely – potentially setting off slopes that are above you when you are on a flat – from as far away as 150m.
Even very gentle slopes can be threatened by avalanches coming from above and lower slopes can be threatened by avalanches coming from the slope opposite.
Avalanche risk is also affected by the nature of the terrain surface, profile, aspect and wind.

Fresh snow

New snow affects avalanche risk significantly.
10-20cm of new snow in unfavourable conditions is enough to increase the risk to CONSIDERABLE.

Snow Pack

The structure of the snow pack is a key factor affecting avalanches.
Fragile layers in the snow pack can create layers on which others can slide. Weighting of the snow pack, by a skier for example, can cause a fragile layer to break, triggering a slide.
Wind
The wind transports snow and deposits it on lee slopes forming a ‘slab’’. This is the principle mechanism by which windslab avalanches form which are particularly dangerous for skiers.
A warm wind can also increase the avalanche risk, particularly if it continues for some time.

Temperature

For cold and dry snow. In low temperatures, below 0 degrees, the increased risk of avalanche can persist for several days after a snow fall.
A rise in temperature above 0 degrees increases the avalanche risk in the short term, but also causes the snow to stabilise.
The first time the zero degree isotherm rises above 3000m in the season is one of the three typical avalanche situations.
In spring time slopes which are stable in the morning can become dangerous due to the warm temperatures which can cause wet snow avalanches.

Munter Elementary Reduction Method

The Elementary Reduction Method is a method developed by Werner Munter from avalanche statistics in Switzerland to determine whether it is reasonable to travel on a given slope. It is an easy way for a skier or boarder to make decisions about travel in the back country without having to be an expert.
In the Elementary Reduction Method a skier or boarder simply completely avoids travelling on certain slopes depending on the avalanche forecast:
moderate danger level (2): avoid slopes steeper than 40° – extreme caution on 35-40
considerable danger level (3): avoid slopes steeper than 35° – extreme caution on 30-35
high danger level (4): avoid slopes steeper than 30° – extreme caution on 25-30.
extreme danger level (5): avoid all off-piste.
Using this method does NOT eliminate risk but the large majority of historical avalanche fatalities would have been avoided using this method.
The principal avalanche problem this method addresses is slab avalanches which is the main problem that off-piste skiers and snowboarders have to deal with in the Alps. It is possible for wet snow avalanches to occur on gradients lower than this but these are principally a problem in late winter and spring only, often easier to predict and typically play a smaller role in skier/boarder avalanche fatalities.
The chart below shows the recommendations of the Elementary Reduction Method.

Reduction Method

The FATMAP avalanche zones tool provides information about gradient to contribute to your assessment of a given slope. We highlight areas of terrain in three different bands to correspond to the Elementary Reduction Method.

• 30° to 35°
• 35° to 40°
• Over 40°

These zones do not provide any indication about whether a given area is dangerous or safe. The zones can be useful in making an assessment of terrain where avalanches typically start. This should not be confused with where they can be triggered or where they can reach. It is possible to remote trigger avalanches and often reach terrain that is less steep than 30 degrees – always be aware of terrain above you and terrain traps such as gullies and depressions.

Using our routes

Each line in FATMAP is accompanied by useful information.
Pistes are categorised according to their difficulty by colour (Green through to Black). These are defined by the ski resorts themselves and we have made efforts to try and ensure our map matches the latest piste map.
You should never follow a closed piste it may be dangerous for yourself or others in the ski resort – e.g. avalanche risk threatening another slope or area. You should consult the resort status feature in the app and information provided by the resort themselves to understand what is open in the resort.

Route lines

The route lines in FATMAP have been mapped to a very high degree of accuracy. It is important to note that they show a general line and are there as a guide, not to be followed blindly. Pistes are subject to be changed by the resort at any time and whilst every endeavour has been made to ensure lines are accurate, it is possible that there exist inaccuracies in the drawn pistes.
Freeride lines show the general direction and route taken by a given line. It is not a precise line to be followed. You will need to make your own route choices when in the terrain. Changes in snow conditions and other factors may change the route that a given line takes.
Each route is described to provide an overview of the Piste or line and the route it takes. We have made every effort to ensure they are accurate but you should not follow the lines blindly.
In addition to the description additional information is sometimes provided including:

Difficulty

The difficulty provides an indication of the technical difficulty of the skiing. It does not indicate the skill level of any approach. We provide a general indication of the difficulty in good conditions but that you should appreciate that even a MODERATE route can become quite serious in bad conditions. We have used the same grading scale used in the well-known VAMOS guides for familiarity.

• EASY (Wide gentle slopes)
• MODERATE (slopes a little steeper of up to 25/25 degrees)
• DIFFICULT (Serious gradient of 30/35 where a real risk of slipping exists)
• V.DIFFICULT (steep skiing – 40/45 requiring extremely good technique – the risk of falling has serious consequences)
• EXTREME (extreme skiing terrain above 45 degrees – reserved for experts and professionals)

Seriousness

Each FREERIDE line has an indication of the seriousness. This should NOT be confused with an indication of the difficulty. The seriousness provides an indication of the proximity to the resort. We have used the same grading scale used in the well-known VAMOS guides for familiarity.

• NOT SERIOUS (close to the pistes)
• QUITE SERIOUS (away from the pistes but visible from them and finishing on the piste)
• SERIOUS (little chance of being seen in case of an accident)
• VERY SERIOUS (isolated in the high mountains, skiers must be completely autonomous in every situation)

Ski Grade – Toponeige technical skiing grade

Some routes include a Toponeige technical ski grade to help provide an indication of the difficulty of the route. The grade is given for the overall route, considering the length and configuration of the difficulties, rather than the hardest section only.
The grade includes 5 levels. The first four have three subdivisions (for example x.1, x.2, x.3) and the fifth level is open-ended.

• Ski 1. Initiation. Slopes do not exceed 30° with no narrow sections. Vertical descent is less than 800m.
• Ski 2. Few technical difficulties. Slopes do no exceed 35°.
• Ski 3. Some technical sections. Long slopes at 35° with very short sections at 40-45°.
• Ski 4. Couloir or steep skiing : slopes between 40 and 45° over more than 200m vertical.
• Ski 5. Starts with slopes of 45°-50° during more than 300m vertical or above 50° for more than 100m vertical.

Ski Grade Labande

Some routes include an indication of their difficulty using the Labande grading scale. This grade gives additional information to that provided by the Toponeige or general grade. It evaluates the difficulty of the most difficult section of downhill skiing on the route. It is essentially related to the slope but also takes into account exposure. It is split into the following grades:

• S1: Easy descent which does not require any particular technical abilities such as forest tracks for example.
• S2: Wide slopes which are easy to manoeuvre, maybe fairly steep (25°).
• S3: Slopes up to 35° (equivalent to the steepest runs in ski resorts, on hard snow). Requires good skiing abilities in all snow conditions.
• S4: Slopes up to 45°, if exposure is low (between 30 and 40° if it is high or the passage is narrow). Very good skiing abilities are required.
• S5: Slopes between 45 and 50° or more if exposure remains low. From 40° upwards if exposure is high. As well as a perfect downhill skiing technique, control of nerves becomes very important at this level of difficulty.
• S6: Above 50° if exposure is high (which is often the case) or short stretches above 55° with little exposure.
• S7: Stretches at 60° or more, high rock bands to jump or more generally very steep or exposed terrain.

Ski Exposure Grade

Some of the routes shown include an exposure grade. It is intended as a general guide but should not be relied upon.
The exposure grade does not take into account objective hazards (stone fall, seracs…) but only the consequences of a skier falling.

• Exposure 1 (E1): Exposure is limited to that of the slope itself. Getting hurt is still likely if the slope is steep and/or the snow is hard.
• Exposure 2 (E2): As well as the slope itself, there are some obstacles (such as rock outcrops) which could aggravate injury.
• Exposure 3 (E3): In case of a fall, death is highly likely.
• Exposure 4 (E4): In case of a fall, the skier faces certain death.

Download the FATMAP App here

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La Tzoumaz, Verbier’s 4-Valleys, Switzerland

16-20 March 2015

Day 1 Blog Entry

My wife and I had ski lessons in our early days, but none in the 21^st century so, we decided to sign up for the inaugural Godille International Ski Week in La Tzoumaz to gain some new experiences.  The price included accommodation, ski pass and a full week of guiding/instruction in the 4 Valleys, Switzerland.  Not knowing what to expect, we were somewhat nervous at the thought of being dragged around unknown mountains by a demonic Swiss ski instructor and we’d even heard rumours of the quantity of wine to be consumed en route.

We arrived in resort in the late afternoon and were immediately whisked off to Vitho’s Bar for tea and cakes with our other Godilleurs and members of the Swiss Ski School.   Whilst eating delicious home-made chocolate cake and drinking hot wine, we heard a babble of questions and answers around us – “Is the Vallon d’Arbi open?”, “Where can I rent an ARVA for the week?”, “What time’s the first lift?”, “What are the moguls like on Mont Fort?”.  We were feeling more and more nervous as we were looking for a less challenging week.  We were saved by Mario, the course coordinator from Ecole Suisse de Ski, who explained that the week was aimed what at the participants (not what the ski school) wanted to do.  We explained that at our age (to give you a clue, we’ve been married for over 40 years!) we preferred to stay on the pistes and to be shown the whole area with some tips on the way to iron out our bad ski habits.  Thankfully, the response was ‘no problem!”.

Next morning, we were up on the first lift to meet our instructor, Jindra, at the restaurant at 09:00.  He gave us a friendly welcome and we immediately hit it off.  His English was excellent and we spent a while agreeing the objectives of our first day.  Having left the ARVA brigade behind, our group felt much more comfortable already.  We donned our skis and set off down a beautifully prepared blue run with Jindra watching behind him to check our level of skiing.  Being mid March, we had the slopes almost to ourselves – superb.

After the initial trepidation, our first day was such a pleasant surprise!  By lunchtime, we’d corrected a few habits already – my feet were no longer locked together so I was more balanced and my wife was looking back to admire her beautifully carved tracks.  On the lifts, our lively conversations with Jindra covered anything from British food and Swiss tennis players to the meaning of the names of the mountains and ski servicing techniques!  Periodically, Jindra would check that we’d been concentrating on his guided tour by asking us in which direction La Tzoumaz lay and quite often we pointed in completely the wrong direction, so thank goodness we didn’t have to find our own way home.

For lunch in Verbier we managed to meet up with an off-piste group led by Harald so we were able to swap stories.  We decided to try some of the local specialities (Rosti Bacombe and Boeuf Tapaki which were excellent) and the story of unlimited wine consumption was immediately dispelled as relatively few of us had a welcomed beer before we set off again.

Jindra picked up the pace in the afternoon as we followed in his tracks consolidating what we had learned in the morning.  He kept emphasizing that he would not make us do anything we didn’t want to do but he still managed to encourage us to go down a boarder-cross course and a timed speed run! In fact, his gentle encouragement to move us a little out of our comfort zone was just what we needed and at the end of our first day we were able to reflect on a worthwhile experience that we hoped would continue as we looked forward to the rest of our week.  In fact, we were delighted at Jindra’s unintended compliment when he told my wife and I that he actually stopped a lot less during the day with us than with his younger clients!  Bring on Day Two!   (KJM)

Day 1 Blog Entry

After organizing avalanche equipment and making our way to the top of the telecabine, we all met for a coffee before the day started.  The views of the mountains were magnificent.  We had a brief discussion with our instructor/ guides on the plans for the day, a quick “renversee” each (the local swiss version of a Café latte), then our group headed off down the slopes following Harald, ski-school style.  My first group lesson for 15 years!  Harald began gently carving his way down the blue.  Carving’s easy right?  So why were we all slower than Harald?  He skied more turns, covered twice the distance, yet still went faster.  After a brief lesson in carving, the slope became steeper, so Harald checked out our short turns.  Individual feedback to each of us followed, before Harald bobbed down the slopes looking incredibly cool, and videod us from the bottom.  Now we have a base point.

Over to Verbier with more carving technique, and we were starting to get the feel of it before we headed up the Col de Chassoure.  Our first lesson in Moguls.  Apparently what we needed was “overcooked spaghetti legs”.  Harald demonstrated this, traversing from side to side, faster and faster, legs pumping like pistons.  After we had bounced over the moguls a few times, we slowly got the feel of them, before learning our next lesson.  Turning when only the centre of the ski is touching the snow, rather than jumping to free the ski.

After the Col de Chassoure we stopped for a beer or a coffee in “The Tepee”, before heading down another unpisted moguled itinery for feel-good rostis in the Carrefour Restaurant.  After more lessons on the Vallon d’Arbi, we returned back to the Etablons Bar for 4pm.

Key thoughts on the day.

• The slopes were amazingly empty
• It felt special to be so surrounded by nature as on the Vallon d’Arbi.  We were never closer than 800m to another group during our entire descent.  The Vallon d’Arbi is avalanche controlled itinery, so you don’t need a guide to ski it provided you are a good skier and you stay within 20m of the yellow poles which run down the centre of the recommended line
• We were so energized by the lessons, that rather than finishing the day at 4pm, we raced up the lift for more moguls.  I’ve never felt so stable on moguls, and it’s just an awesome feeling!  (PJK)

D1 Tortin Demo H

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Intermediate-level skier link to Verbier’s 4-Vallees

A ride up the La Tzoumaz telecabin will bring you to the top of the Savoleyres in less than 8 minutes.  From here there are several pistes that will lead you down on the Verbier side of the ridge.  Our favourite is the red piste just over the top.  Walk through the double-telecabin building past the sledges for hire and exit the building with Verbier-Savoleyres telecabin and the Savoleyres restaurant to your right.  Just after you pass the bottom of the Savoleyres Sud drag-lift this route flattens out into a pleasant road that gently carries you to the Carrefour Restaurant, which has been newly-transformed-for 2014/15.  Just beyond you will see the Mayentzet chairlift, from where you are swiftly brought up to the large interchange area of Les Ruinettes.

After any snowfall the road to the Carrefour restaurant is often closed due to avalanche risk from the sun-drenched hillside above, and the only alternative used to be the Pedestrian link (see below).  This year there will be an alternative that avoids the bus ride!  When you see the “Piste Closed” barriers near the bottom of the Savoleyres Sud drag-lift, simply follow the new piste down towards the Esserts drag lift.  At the bottom of this lift there is a piste through the chalets linking to the Rouge drag-lift.  Take the Rouge to the top and you will find yourself next to the Carrefour Restaurant, from where you can get to the Mayentzet chair up to Les Ruinettes.

Returning to La Tzoumaz, the link remains unchanged for 2014/15.  After skiing down from the Ruinettes interchange to either the Carrefour Restaurant or the Medran base station, the free ski-bus brings you to the Savoleyres telecabin for the 11-minute ride home in this tiny, near-antique, 4-person cabin.  If you don’t know where to get off the bus, keep a look out on the left-hand-side as the bus stop is on a roundabout in front of the 5-star luxury hotel and restaurant Chalet d’Adrien.  Walk around the far side of the telecabin building as the entrance is at the rear.  We always love the pistes home to La Tzoumaz from the Savoleyres summit, wondering if perhaps we should have stayed on the La Tzoumaz side all day to really enjoy the fantastic snow conditions!  Keep an eye on your watch to make sure you don’t miss the last lift home, as the taxi fare back to La Tzoumaz can run to 300 Swiss Francs – contact us for our driver’s special rates if you do get stuck and we’ll bring you home as soon as possible.

Advanced-level skier link to Verbier’s 4-Vallees

The link to Verbier’s 4-Vallees is the same as for intermediates, but you have an alternative route home that avoids the bus.  Descend into the Lac-des Vaux area from either the Chassoure or the Attelas, and if you stay high when the red sweeps round the last right-hander to join the Lac des Vaux 1 chairlift, you’ll see the “Itinerary routes” of the Col des Mines and the Vallon d’Arby on the left.  “Itinerary” routes are neither maintained nor controlled but are opened and closed according to the avalanche risk.  Avalanche equipment (ARVA, shovel & probe) are a personal choice and many people ski the Itineraries without them.  The routes are marked with single yellow marker poles, so stay on the left or right but within a reasonable distance to ensure that you don’t get lost.  We love skiing down here as the snow conditions are highly variable and you never know what to expect!  We often don’t recognise the route from one day to the next and are suspicious that someone, perhaps even the mischievous marmottes (who should be hibernating but we have no proof) moves the poles overnight.  There are fresh powder bowls, narrow paths through ice-walls, tree-lined sections and delicious mogul-fields that are often hidden under fresh snow.  There are many options and tracks if you choose not to follow the yellow marker poles and you obviously do this at your own risk!

Follow the Col des Mines Itinerary until the signposts on the ridge and then turn right to drop down into the Vallon d’Arby and home to La Tzoumaz.  When the itinerary routes are closed due to avalanche risk, the only alternative is to head back over to Verbier to catch the bus.   On warm days the avalanche risk can rise throughout the day, so don’t count on it being open at the end of the day, even if it was open in the morning.  Keep an eye on your watch to make sure you don’t miss the last lift home to the Savoleyres, as the taxi fare back to La Tzoumaz can run to 300 Swiss Francs – contact us for our driver’s special rates if you do get stuck and we’ll bring you home as soon as possible.

Heli-skier link

The Croix-de-Coeur is the main heli-skiing base in the area.  It’s simple to access from the top of the Savoleyres on skis all season long, and the pistes home at the end of the day are snow-sure.  The heli-ski operators here will take you and your friends to legendary places such as the Petit Combin, the Rosablanche, the Wildhorn, the Trient Glacier or the Pigne d’Arolla.

Pedestrian link to Verbier’s 4-Vallees and Mont-Fort summit

A ride up the La Tzoumaz telecabin will bring you to the top of the Savoleyres in less than 8 minutes.  From here we recommend a stroll around the 2354m summit to admire the views, or maybe enjoy a hot chocolate on the sunny terrace of the Savoleyres restaurant before re-entering the telecabin building to enter the tiny, almost-antique, 4-person Savoleyres cabin to travel down to Verbier.  The cabin takes you down at a pace slow enough to enjoy the stunning mountain views and Verbier’s huge urban sprawl before a close-up, birds-eye view of some of Verbier’s luxury chalets as you head down into the base station.  Whilst waiting for the bus, take the time to browse the menu of the 5-star luxury hotel and restaurant Chalet d’Adrien, or admire the scrap-metal goat outside the sports shop.  There is even a fun scoping sculpture by the goat that identifies the peak or feature you can see through each metal tube.  The bus takes you on a winding tour of the village before dropping you at the central Medran lift station.  From here you can follow signs to Mont-Fort, which will lead you up the Medran cabin, the double-station Chaux Express cabin, the huge Jumbo cable car and finally the Mont-Fort cable car and the Mont-Fort summit at 3330m.  We recommend that you wrap-up warmly for this trip as it can be very cold at 3330m, even on a sunny day.  There is a toasty-warm igloo-shaped cafe serving fondue, soups and sandwiches, with room to seat about 15 people who will serve you a drink from the bar or a good hot chocolate.

Key links & information

Ski passes and lift tickets

Interactive piste map

Swiss Ski School

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Here’s a rough translation of the local press articles:

After two-and-a-half months of uncertainty, and five sessions of mediation, an agreement has been signed by all the partners to continue the 4 Vallees ski domain, as announced Monday by a spokesman for the State Council.  Jean-Marie Fournier of Televeysonnaz explained that he has obtained financial damages for “a non-respected right of pre-emption” and “the raising of oppositions to planned construction work on the telecabin of the Piste de l’Ours.”

In fact, the projects that emerged in the interim will stay virtual projects, such as “Verbier Grand Ski” and “Espace Mont-Fort”, according to Jean-Pierre Morand, president of Televerbier.  He is relieved that the uncertainty has been lifted, even if it comes a little too late for most tour-operators.

The amendment, added to the agreement in force since 2006, leaves many things open to possibility, including a merge or fusion of domains.  All partners have committed to strengthen the collaboration between them, and discussions are expected to continue over the coming months.

We are looking forward to skiing all over the famous 4-Valleys domain in the coming season, and are only a little bit miffed that we won’t have such an excuse to stay on the La Tzoumaz & Verbier pistes quite so often…  Perhaps we will even manage to break our record for Time-to-Ski-from-LaTzoumaz-to-Verbier-to-Thyon-and-Back 🙂

Read more here:

http://www.performanceverbier.com/2014/09/the-4-valleys-is-back/

And some more local news articles in French:

http://www.rts.ch/info/regions/valais/6126749-le-domaine-skiable-valaisan-des-4-vallees-est-sauve.html

http://www.lenouvelliste.ch/fr/valais/valais/le-domaine-des-4-vallees-sauve-jean-marie-fournier-dedommage-498-1343092

http://www.lematin.ch/suisse/suisse-romande/4-vallees-sauvees-18-ans/story/28629566

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Phew!  With Monday’s shocking news that Televerbier and Telenendaz/Televeysonnaz had failed to reach agreement over how to split the income from the 4th Valley of Thyon 2000 and that they have no agreement to offer a combined 4-Valleys lift-pass for the winter, you might be wondering how this could affect life in La Tzoumaz.  The good news is that La Tzoumaz remains in strategic partnership with Verbier, and rests firmly included in both the Verbier Grand Ski lift-pass and the smaller Verbier-Savoleyres lift-pass.  Unfortunately for Siviez, Nendaz, Veysonnaz and Thyon, people staying there will not be able to access the Verbier lifts with their passes, effectively cutting them off from the world-famous resort, and dividing up one of Europe’s largest ski areas.  Critically, the Verbier Grand Ski pass will still give full access to Mont Fort and its legendary off-piste runs.  Whilst we still hope that the companies will come to an agreement on a combined 4-Valleys lift-pass before the ski season starts in mid-December, it is reassuring to know that at least we will have access to our favourite runs in the Savoleyres, Gentianes-Tortin, Chassoure and Mont Gele areas, along with the Attelas and Mont-Fort area to the Tortin, Bruson and of course, the magnificent Col des Mines and Vallon d’Arbi itinerary to bring us home to La Tzoumaz in style.  Of course these developments may lead to an increase in bookings here in La Tzoumaz as we are currently the only lower-cost satellite resort still attached to the Verbier brand, so our advice is to get your holiday booked early this year!

Read more background on the recent developments here:

http://www.planetski.eu/news/6119

http://www.performanceverbier.com/2014/06/is-it-really-the-end-of-the-4-valleys-should-we-be-worried/

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Verbier’s ski area will be open from Friday!

The Lac des Vaux in more than 60cm of fresh snow. !31-10-2018 10:10

The Indian summer is well and truly over and the resort has been decked out in its winter attire for several days now. In fact, the slopes by the Lac des Vaux are blanketed in more than 60cm of fresh snow. Thanks to this snowfall and with the help of some artificial snow cover, we are now able to open our ski area from this Friday, 2 November, under excellent conditions.

We will open the Attelas-Ruinettes sector as soon as the weather allows and our snow machines have created the necessary cover.

Below are the opening times of the ski lifts and pistes which will be open from Friday:

– Le Châble – Verbier cable car from 08:40 to 17:00 (ski area access)
– Verbier – Les Ruinettes cable car from 08:45 to 16:15 (ski area access, pistes closed)
– Funispace from 08:55 to 16:15 (ski area access, pistes closed)
– Lac des Vaux 1 ski lift and the Lac des Vaux ski slope from 09:05 to 16:15

Throughout November, the ski area will be open on weekends (Saturday and Sunday). Daily opening is planned for the beginning of December.

Ticket offices in Médran (Verbier) and Le Châble will be open from this Friday, from 8.30am to 4.30pm (only during ski area opening hours). All information regarding opening times and rates can be found on our website.

Rates:
1 Verbier day: CHF 42.-/adult

http://www.verbier.ch/en/verbier-s-ski-area-will-be-open-from-friday-fp44109.html

Convenient access

It’s only around 50 minutes to drive around the mountain to Le Châble from La Tzoumaz.  In the centre  of the free car park in Le Châble is the telecabin station that was upgraded in 2013 to also include a telecabin heading up the Bruson side that is only open for race training in the pre-season.  The Le Châble-Verbier gondola is open from 8.40 to 16.45.  You can buy a Verbier lift pass at the bottom for the day, which is a reduction on the normal skipass rate.  You get a good view of some pretty chalets and some luxury chalets and then some forested areas as you are carried up to the heart of Verbier’s ski access, the Medran lift station.  Stepping out of one cabin at the Medran mid-station and into the next stage is easy, and then you are off again, up to Les Ruinettes.  From here there is one more lift, in one of the large Funispace cabins, and you are able to click into your bindings and ski the soft snowy bowl of the Lac des Vaux area.

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