Zermatt: Rote Nase Cable Car Policy / Hohtälli zone

ChrisC

ChrisC

Well-known member
I have been watching Zermatt’s operations for the last couple years, and have been perplexed about the Rote Nase cable car operations. This is the key lift for Zermatt’s preeminent expert and off-piste skiing; it’s the equivalent of the front face of Snowbird, but with only a single tram.

Last year it opened in the end of March to the public.

Now it’s being referred to as a Guide/Instructor only zone! And it might have been over last 3 years??!!

Anyways, see video.

Looks like Zermatt, Saas Fee, Cervinia and Monterosa received 1-2 meters from storm.

Zermatters does guided group off-piste skiing for reasonable rates (4 min, possibly smaller)



 
Fraser thinks there was enough snow to ski up there even before the recent storm. So it's likely we will revisit Zermatt sometime during our upcoming trip.
 
I am skiing Zermatt-Cervinia for 4 days and Mürren for 2 days. (Possibly Kleine-Schedegg/Grindelwald-Wengen. No Jungraujoch summit due to unreasonable $$$ and similar trains/S3 Gondolas at Zermatt included on tickets).

Using trains the entire time Zurich Airport->Zermatt->Murren->Zurich.

Booked a group off piste via Zermatters (180-200 Swiss Francs), and half day at Cervinia.

Debated SaaS Fee instead of Murren, but SaaS Fee requires bus and there is more off piste potential at Interlaken vs SaaS Fee (ruggedly glaciated). Both have exceptional scenery.
 
ChrisC said:
Using trains the entire time Zurich Airport->Zermatt->Murren->Zurich.
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Looking forward to your report on the train part of your trip. I don't know anything about Zermatt other than what's been reported here -- basically that you have to leave your car in a type of long-term parking and take a train to the village?

All I have noted about my 2018 visit to Mürren car-wise is that I parked in the Stechelberg lot and paid the 7 CHF fee.
 
New member here.

Zermatt can be all time IF timed properly...As in watch forecast/base depth/avalanche bulletins... then jump on a plane when the window opens. Trouble is it doesn't snow much so the opportunity might only come along every other year or 5! IMO the key is a 120CM base on Rothhorn Face. If this is met, you should expect full send on Rothorn, Stockhorn, Breithorn skin/ski and Schwarztor Glacier (guide recommended if not experienced on this specific terrain).

Use white risk app to follow the above parameters.

Cliff notes: recent storm puts Rothorn 30 CM above 20 year average and the 120 CM trigger. Cold airmass will result in excellent preservation and forecasted long duration light to moderate refresh is increasingly likely. If you like to ski lift accessed powder, book your flights over the next week or two.
 
Despite unsettled weather forecast, I'm sold on Zermatt from above recommendations, booked first 4 nights of our trip, in 3/23 and out 3/27. Tasch gateway is only 2.5 hours from Milan airport. We'll see if we have James' energy to ski half a day 3/23. It's a good opportunity because we land MXP 6:30AM and it's a chance to ski the half of Aletsch Arena that wind prevented in 2024.
 
Tony Crocker said:
Tasch gateway is only 2.5 hours from Milan airport. We'll see if we have James' energy to ski half a day 3/23.
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For the record, I haven't thrown down the gauntlet about arrival-day turns. I do it because I'm on a comparably manageable flight with no layovers. It's highly unlikely that I'd attempt it flying over the pole from the west coast.

Tony Crocker said:
it's a chance to ski the half of Aletsch Arena that wind prevented in 2024.
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I'm interested in what you have to say as I'd go back to Aletsch for the views and the mid-mountain village atmosphere alone; however, as mentioned in my report, only the far looker's left and right had clean fall lines and you're a far more demanding terrain critic than I am.
 
jamesdeluxe said:
I do it because I'm on a comparably manageable flight with no layovers.
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We have two redeyes with a 9-hour layover at JFK, so we are meeting some of Liz' friends for 11AM brunch. You interested? That results in a nonstop JFK-MXP with the 6:30AM arrival.

The problem with the LAX flights is that they land early AM in CDG or AMS but it's close to noon before we land at a ski gateway.
jamesdeluxe said:
I'd go back to Aletsch for the views and atmosphere alone
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That's the idea for arrival day. Get out in the fresh air to beat the jet lag, enjoy the scenery and have a mellow ski day.
 
Tony Crocker said:
Despite unsettled weather forecast, I'm sold on Zermatt from above recommendations, booked first 4 nights of our trip, in 3/23 and out 3/27. Tasch gateway is only 2.5 hours from Milan airport. We'll see if we have James' energy to ski half a day 3/23. It's a good opportunity because we land MXP 6:30AM and it's a chance to ski the half of Aletsch Arena that wind prevented in 2024.
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Please post an on the ground report when you can. I'm particularly interested in the conditions on the Rothorn face (1000M @ 30 degrees). I am arriving Milano 3/29 and will head to Aosta valley or Zermatt pending freeride conditions. Thank you.
 
IMG_9431.jpeg
 
Monterosa Freeride is looking good. I am not aware of a Punta Indren weather station but I've got to believe it's deep above 3200M. If I'm reading this correctly, Punta Jolanta larch forest tree skiing is full gas too!
 
Tony Crocker said:
a nonstop JFK-MXP with the 6:30AM arrival.
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I took that flight in 2022 during full pandemic mode -- ugh, look at posts 1, 7, and 9 -- and was also delayed by an offsite rental car mess. Still, I was on the t-bar by late morning. I flew out of JFK to clean out my AA miles.

Wow, a handful of people here will be in Zermatt at the end of the month.
 
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