Content
Arosa / Advanced & expert
The off-piste skiing between the marked trails is also good for those still learning the art of deeper snow skiing and wanting to experience short excursions off-piste with easy return to terra firma. As a smaller resort with fewer guests the off-piste doesn’t get tracked quite so quickly which is another plus factor, but even when it’s been tracked, it provides useful transition for early stage off-piste skiers whose confidence and comfort zone may be boosted by the knowledge that others have gone before.
The best on- and off-piste skiing is usually found on Hőrnli on the left hand side of the ski map and which is accessed by Hőrnli express gondola and the Hőrnli chairlift. Once at the top you can boot up hundred metres to Hőrnlihut for a drink (are you really that thirsty?) or choose between three central red runs and two easy blues either side of the reds. Continue all the way down to Inner Arosa and back up the gondola or ride back up on the Hőrnli chairlift and test yourself with different variants on- or off-piste. Been there, seen it, done all the pistes? Then hire a guide at the Ski School and explore the off-piste.
There are good off piste descents from the top of the Carmenna Pass (not marked on the map) which is below and to the right of the Plattenhorn peak and can easily be accessed by traversing skier’s right from black 11 on Weisshorn, then ski down to Carmenna Hűtte. Less easily reached are the off-piste pitches that descend left and right side of the unnamed peak directly above the Plattenhorn chair. You have to hike across and up from blue 4 on Hőrnli side and in good snow conditions (meaning safe as well as fresh) you’ll see local skiers and boarders cutting impressive lines.
Very much easier to get to and just as rewarding is the area to the left of the rising Hőrnliexpress gondola and beneath the east-west rocky Tschierpa ridge which can be seen (but is not named) on the far left hand side of the ski map. The higher reaches can be reached by booting up a ridge at the top of the gondola but it’s easier to take a lower line skiers right off the Hőrnli blue 1 and then enjoy the rolling off-piste pitches down to Schwellisee where it’s flat and a slow ski slide or walk across the frozen lake but if in doubt about the ice better to ski or walk the left hand side around the lake.
Back over on Weisshorn, experts can drop in under the cable car or traverse lower down and drop in from red 7 but if skiing this kind of terrain be sure to hire a local guide with a good understanding of snow conditions and which slopes are prone to slide. Some of the east-facing slopes can be risky and a good guide knows which slopes to avoid. The same is true of the north east facing slopes near Schwellisee Ski. The whole ski area including the area between the runs looks quite safe, but it’s worth remembering that the old Carmenna chairlift was twice taken out by avalanches inside the ski area so better safe than sorry, take a guide!
The run back down from Tschuggen to Arosa is scenic and not much more if you are a strong skier or boarder, but it is possible to ski down through the forest if you know the routes or more easily you can ski the break between the trees under the Tschuggen Ost chair back to Arosa.
If you’re a strong off-piste skier not averse to skinning up some long uphill stretches you can hire a guide and ski-of piste from Arosa via Maiafelder Furka to Davos and then ski back to Langweis where you can catch a train back to Arosa. Other day-tours off-piste include ski descents off the back of Plattenhorn, Hőrnli or Carmenna Pass to lift served skiing at Tschierchen then work your way back to the Hőrnli.
Boxes leftside
Navigation
Quick access
Resort shortcuts
Boxes rightside
Search Site
Custom Search
Ski Chalets
Advertise your business on Ultimate-Ski.com
Raise the profile of your business with your own dedicated directory page advertisement and reach our fast growing targeted audience of skiers and snowboarders.
.gif)
