Saas-Fee - slopes
With 21 lifts and 140km of pistes, Saas Fee is a resort of ample proportions. There are a range of pistes on offer, with the steepest of the slopes on the glacier and the flatter runs nearer the village. With 25 per cent blue, 50 per cent red and 25 per cent black runs the resort has terrain for all abilities. In our opinion some of the black runs are a little tenuous, but there are some challenging pitches on the glacier. Many of the runs lead back to the same place (namely the bottom of the Alpine Express gondola), which makes navigating the resort easy and it possible to abandon the piste map.
Safety is paramount (especially on the glacier), but should things go wrong Saas Fee is served by Air Zermatt, one of (if not) the best mountain rescue services in the world.
A six-day ski pass allows you one day of skiing in nearby Zermatt.
Ski highlights for all levels
Beginners: Staffelwald’s nursery slopes are a great place to start as they’re off the beaten track (yet still next to the village), and snow sure. The small draglifts serve the area well, and the gentle slopes are ideal learning ground.
Once you have the basics, progress to the blue slopes in the Morenia area, or even some of the glacier pistes.
Intermediates: Saas Fee is all about long descents that take you from the baron glacier landscape at 3500m to tree skiing at 1600m. There are some easy black runs on the glacier, whilst slope 9 in the Egginerjoch sector has a challenging pitch. There are some interesting runs around the Morenia area. Don’t forget the nearby resort of Saas Grund if you fancy skiing some different terrain.
Experts: Terrain for experts isn't as challenging as in some resorts, but plenty of thrilling runs, particularly the runs from Platjen, where you really have to push against gravity. There are some steep pitches on the glacier, but don’t expect long mogul fields. Although, you can often find some moguls above the Spielboden restaurant and there is some tree skiing as you approach the village on the home runs. There are three marked itineraries which, when we’ve skied them, have been in really good condition and a fun way to explore the area. There are lots of touring possibilities if you’re looking for a late season adventure in April or May.
Off-piste
Remember: however experienced you are, skiing off piste on a glacier is highly dangerous. Do not pass under the ropes that mark the slopes. Crevasses can lay hidden under snowdrifts. We recommend always hiring a guide if going off piste in an unfamiliar resort (see below).
Ski schools and guides
The Swiss Ski and Snowboard School (+41 27 957 23 48) is the local, traditional ski school and offers tuition for all ages in both groups and individually. Eskimos Ski and Snowboard School (+41 27 957 49 04) guarantee smaller class sizes (maximum eight people), but are more expensive.
If you’re thinking of heading off piste or just want someone to show you the way then contact the Saas-Fee Guides (+41 27 957 44 64). They can also put you in touch with climbing guides.
Snow reliability and snowmaking
Snow reliability is second to none in Saas Fee. The glacier, with skiing at 3500m, is open from July until April, making it one of longest open resorts in Europe. The village itself is at 1800m and often has snow long before many lower altitude Swiss resorts. Latest figures show the resort has 22 per cent snowmaking facilities, but this is largely irrelevant.
Terrain parks
Once the resort opens for winter, so does the park at 2600m, with an impressive array of kickers, rails, boxes and also a world-class half pipe. The team are constantly changing the design and layout of the park, so however many time you visit there’s always something new. Incidentally, the summer park on the glacier (open May to November) is world class and plays host to many training camps for European Snowboard World Cup teams.
There’s also a beginners park in the Stafelwald area at 1900m for those looking to get to grips with freestyle skiing. All the features in the park, including three kickers, are designed for beginners.