Magazine summer 2022

Family activities
Biking
ON THE TRAIL OF THE
LATE RISER
They are probably the sweetest ambassadors of the Saas
Valley: the colonies of marmots at Spielboden and Stafelwald
show a particular trust in humans. Since summer 2021, Spielboden
has had its own family-friendly themed trail leading
through the marmots’ habitat. Together with Eddie the marmot,
the hikers learn a lot of information about this cute subspecies
of gopher. The circular trail leads from the Spielboden mountain
station into the marmot region. On seven panels, Eddie
provides some great insight into the life of his family. And with
a bit of luck, you will also meet them on the way. The marmots
especially like anyone with peanuts, dandelions or carrots.
And everyone will find a place in their hearts for these
friendly critters. Nevertheless, you should know that these are
wild animals and not for cuddling. And so, with that in mind:
quietly approach with caution and leave them alone in their
burrows. Photos should also only be taken without flash.
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FAMILY FUN ON TWO
WHEELS
Anyone who has ever ventured onto a bike trail knows exactly
how much joy there is in store when everything is in ‘flow’. To
make it easier for children and other newcomers to enter the
world of mountain biking, three short trails have been in place
on Kreuzboden above Saas-Grund since 2021. The three
routes – each with different levels of difficulty – are roughly
400 metres long. You can get to the start line quite easily via
a carpet lift. The Bike Skills Park is located just a few metres
from the Hohsaas mountain railway station on Kreuzboden.
New in summer 2022, bike rental will also be offered directly
on location by the Saas-Fee Guides. Thanks to the beautiful
mountain lake and the adventure playground in the immediate
vicinity, an unforgettable family day is guaranteed. In the
midst of the impressive mountain world at 2,400 metres above
sea level, mountain bikers can hone their skills on two wheels
with maximum excitement along the way.
The Skills Park, however, is not only tailored to children.
It also offers adults the opportunity to safely approach mountain
biking and test their personal limits.
Information
saas-fee.ch/murmeli
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Information
saas-fee.ch/skillspark
WHERE WINTER SPENDS
THE SUMMER
In just 40 minutes, you can escape the summer heat in the
valley. That’s how long it takes to ride the mountain railways
from Saas-Fee up into the high mountains. Here, the
snow lies on the ground all year round. The best skiers
and snowboarders train here, even in high summer. And
this is where the fascinating journey into the depths of
the Fee glacier begins. Sculptor Pascal has created fascinating
works of art out of ice in the glacier grotto, which
is accessible from the Mittelallalin mountain station. The ice pavilion
is both an art exhibition and a scientific excursion in one.
Go two floors up and you will find the highest revolving
restaurant in the world. It takes an hour to complete
one revolution here. There is time to enjoy the
view of the surrounding four-thousand-metre peaks and
as far as the Italian metropolis of Milan. But the excursion
destination of Allalin is also the setting for one of the
most breathtaking sunrises in the world. This is precisely
the kind of experience you should not miss out on when
visiting in summer. Of course, such an early morning trip also
includes a hearty breakfast in the revolving restaurant. Those
who want to go even higher can also climb the Allalin, 500
metres higher, together with a mountain guide. The tour to the
4,027-metre-high Allalinhorn is considered the easiest summit
in terms of what the Alps have to offer. From the summer of
2022, the Adventure Terrace will also offer a good dose of adventure
for little ones: be it slackline, snow groomer simulator
or CUPRA Bobby Car.
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Information
saas-fee.ch/allalin
1,600 VERTICAL METERS –
WHO OFFERS MORE?
If you choose to saddle up at 3,200 metres above sea level,
you can rejoice in the knowledge that: from the glacier
world on the Hohsaas at the foot of the Weissmies,
you’ll descend a whole 1,600 metres in altitude
to Saas-Grund. Directly at the gondola station, the route
descends over flowing, natural trails to Kreuzboden. But
beware: the upper part of this near-endless descent requires
some skill. Further down on Kreuzboden, a short
stop at the mountain lake is worthwhile. Around three kilometres
of trail have been newly created from here down to
Triftalp. Another ten kilometres have been adapted to the
needs of mountain bikers. The specialists from Flying Metal
GmbH have designed the ‘Adventure Trail’ to a medium
difficulty spec, with technical elements such as stone passages
or roots. This trail merges almost seamlessly with the
mountain bike trail from Triftalp to Saas-Grund. This provides
mountain bikers with a route accessed by the gondola lifts at
over 1,600 metres in altitude.
And the Saas Valley also has a lot to offer in the way
of flowing mountain bike trails. Trendy magazines from the
industry rave about this ‘Wild West’ of downhill biking, and
speak of a true paradise for enduro mountain bikers. And it’s
no wonder: with 80 kilometres of perfectly marked-out trails,
the Saas Valley is ideal for mountain biking. Everyone will find
their favourite route here. Be it simple or demanding. Not only
this: In the Saas Valley, you can rent high-quality bikes – with
or without power boost – as well as tours led by local guides.
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Information
saas-fee.ch/bike
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