Davos in Switzerland
Resort Guide
If you want more than just 'vital statistics' to prove a ski resort takes its sports seriously, then consider that Davos opened Switzerland's first Sport high school in 1997. There top young athletes can study for academic excellence and sporting brilliance simultaneously, in disciplines including skiing, ice hockey, figure skating, snowboarding and golf. The 320km (200 miles) of ski trails above Davos are divided in to seven areas (Parsenn, Pischa, Strela-Schatzalp, Rinerhorn, Madrisa and Gotschna), some of them lift-linked. The Parsenn area is the largest and most popular of the ski sectors. It is lift-linked to the neighbouring resort of Klosters, a traditional favourite of the British royal family. Unfortunately, because it is so popular, and because the access lifts from Dorf and Platz are both funicular railways without huge uplift capacities, queues can develop getting on to the slopes from 9 to 11am. On the other side of town there are more ways up the Jakobshorn, the resort's 'fun mountain' most popular with 'boarders. At the bottom of the mountain snowmaking covers the Bolgen nursery slopes. Most of the ski areas are reached by funiculars or cable cars with the vast majority of the skiing being above the treeline and 1800 metres. Most of the trails are red and blue but experts will find several off-piste routes to entertain, including an 12km (7 12 mile) descent to Fideris and the chance of skiing over to Arosa in the footsteps (or should that be 'ski tracks') of Sherlock Holmes' creator over a century ago. On-piste blacks are unusually on the lower sections of the mountain, through the forests, as they are steeper at the bottom than the top. Cross country skiers are also well catered for with 75km (47 miles) of trails.
Resort Statistics
- Resort Height : 1560
- Top Station : 2844
- Bottom Station : 1110
- Vertical Descent : 1734
- Drag Lifts : 20
- Chair Lifts : 6
- Opens : July-September
- Expert Rating : 7
- Intermediate Rating : 8
- Beginner Rating : 6
Lift Pass Prices
- Adult One Day Pass : 65 CHF
- Adult Six Day Pass : 282 CHF
- Child One Day Pass : 22 CHF
- Child Six Day Pass : 94 CHF