Intermediate

Zermatt / Intermediate

Strong intermediates have the most fun as they can link Zermatt’s areas together and also enjoy a day trip to Cervinia on the Italian side.

For the biggest category of skiers Zermatt has plenty. Strong intermediates - in terms of technique and fitness - have the most fun as they can link the resort’s areas together and also enjoy a day trip to Cervinia on the Italian side. Though most of the runs marked on the piste map are red, many of these routes are broad as well as long, giving weaker skiers the opportunity to traverse out of trouble and take their time. Crowded bottlenecks on piste are the exception other than in highest season, though that may change as Zermatt’s skilifts continue to increase in capacity and push up skier density.

Rothorn
The Rothorn offers top to bottom routes that can be tackled by most skiers, offering the kind of away-from-it-all ski experience that normally remains the preserve of advanced skiers. The long Kumme run down to Tuftern continues by a blue track through the trees right back to the village, passing cafes and restaurants in the bottom half. The connecting run to Gant gives even more sense of a journey, through varied, winding terrain, though staying above the treeline. A useful pitstop is the Flualp restaurant a third of the way down with views across the Findel glacier, the north face of the Stockhorn and across to the Matterhorn. Below Blauherd and Sunnegga are forest glades and multiple routes back down to village level. In good snow conditions and on colder or windy days when the top of the mountain doesn’t appeal, this is the place to be, with easy access back to the village or to a range of mountain restaurants.

Gornergrat
Avoid the Stockhorn/Hohtalli area unless you’re confident on steep terrain and concentrate on the Gornergrat instead. The blue pistes running either side of the new six seater Gifthittli chair bask in afternoon sun but retain exceptional snow – the base is over 2,500 m (8,202 ft). This is perfect cruising territory, good for a blast on rolling well- groomed and often deserted terrain. Following the railway all the way back to base is another big journey with both easy intermediate and slightly tougher options, as well as the onward route via Furi to link to the Klein Matterhorn.

Klein Matterhorn
The Klein Matterhorn’s extensive terrain is an intermediate paradise. Once again, there’s a chance for skiers to experience the kind of high mountain terrain that often means a serious descent in other resorts. Here it’s the length of the route home that’s serious: ten miles is the shortest way down by piste. Up high the snow is invariably good though the long flat under the Theodulhorn needs a massive run up to avoid a slow pole-push finish; it’s certainly one to avoid on a board or into a headwind.

Matterhorn
The new Furggsattel six-seater (which starts in Switzerland and deposits you in Italy) is a sensational improvement over the T-bars it replaces, giving quicker and more comfortable access to perfect carving pistes as well as to the Matterhornpiste – the start of yet another big journey, via Furgg and Schwarzsee, beneath the north-east ridge of the Matterhorn and down, at last, to Furi. More challenging are the direct routes to Furgg from Trockner Steg and the Furggsattel – still wide open but with bumps usually developing and mixed, rolling and at times quite steep terrain.

Navigation

Quick access

Resort shortcuts

Advertise your business on Ultimate-Ski.com

Promote your business on Ultimate-Ski.com in a full page advertisement and reach our targeted audience of skiers and snowboarders.

Search Site

Custom Search

Ski Chalet Rental

Competition

Ultimate-Ski.com and the Canadian Ski Destination Consortium are giving away a 7-day ski holiday for 2 to one of 10 great Canadian ski resorts. The winner gets to choose which resort with flights from UK courtesy of Canadian Affair.

Enter here

Metanavigation

Content