SkiEurope has added Intermap’s interactive ski slope trailmaps to their website for selected European resorts. Each Flash-format, interactive trailmap provides lift and cable status, ski slope information and snow reports, restaurant locations and sport and fun activities such as snowboarding parks and children’s snow-club areas.

The interactive trailmaps are available for the following ski resorts:

• Arosa, Switzerland
• Brig (also: Bettmeralp, Fiescheralp, Riederalp), Switzerland
• Champéry, Switzerland
• Chateau D’oex, Switzerland
• Garmisch Partenkirchen, Germany
• Gstaad, Switzerland
• Ischgl-Galtür, Austria
• Lech, Austria
• Mayrhofen, Austria
• Saas-Fee, Switzerland
• Salzburg, (Planai-Hochwurzen), Austria
• Schladming-Rohrmoos (Planai-Hochwurzen), Austria
• St. Anton, Austria
• Sölden, Austria
• Verbier, Switzerland
• Villars, Les Diablerets and Leysin, Switzerland
• Zürs, Austria

Vallnord Ski Resort in Andorra, formerly Pal-Arinsal and Arcalis, has invested 10 million Euro in the resort this year. Among the most important upgrades are a new declutchable sextuple chair lift in Arinsal and improved snowmaking net in the 3 ski areas: Arcalís, Arinsal and Pal.

Arcalis Area

• 15 more snow machines in Arcalís area (Portella del Mig and Basera trails, with a total of 3 more km. covered).
• Remodeling and adaptation of the Túnel trail in Arcalís area. It will change from blue (medium) to green (easy), gaining more room for beginners in the area that contains the most spectacular challenges of VALLNORD.
• New Leitner snowplough, to keep offering the best ploughs of the Pyrenees.
• As an innovation addressed to groups, Arcalís improves its quality this year by including home-made cooking.
• From this season on, the brave ones will have a new activity to enjoy: Speed Riding. It combines paragliding with ski, allowing people to ski in the best trials of Andorra powered from a paraglide.

Arinsal Area

• New declutchable sextuple chair lift “Arinsal” (which replaces the old double one). It will connect faster and in a more comfortable way, the mountain base at Arinsal (1550 mts. above sea level) with Comallemple, at 1950 mts. above sea level.
• Snow machines installation at De la Pala trail, guaranteeing snow at almost 100% of the area.
• New Kassbohrer snowplough to keep offering a perfect snow plough.
• Remodeling of Freestyle area.
• Remodeling of Obelix Snack-Bar-Restaurant in Arinsal, offering an easier access for skiers and making them feel comfortable during their ski pause.
• Among other news for the upcoming 2009-10 season, it is expected snowmaking in the total area of Marrades trail in Arinsal. In doing so, Marrades will be skiable the whole season and skiers will enjoy the biggest Andorran slope (more than 1000 mts.), which goes from Alt de la Capa, at 2572 mts. above sea level, to Arinsal, at 1550 mts.

Pal Area

• New chair lift at Pla de la Tosa, above Pic del Cubil. This chair lift will duplicate skiers transport capacity from Pal to Arinsal, Setúria or Coll de la Botella areas, being the latter, the neuralgic centre of winter activities (snowmobiles, snowshoes, mushing, sledges). Thanks to the new snow machines in this area, access from one area to the other is guaranteed.
• Widening of Del Camí Inferior trail from Coll de la Botella up to Planell, and installation of snow machines, so skiers can enjoy both areas, Pal and Arinsal, during the whole season.
  New Freestyle area for beginners.
• New terrace and outdoor “chiringuito” in Planell area (mountain base of trails in Pal), so people can enjoy the sun and beautiful views.

Hotels in Saas-Fee and the Saas Valley will be looking back on 125 years of tourism; a good reason to celebrate this anniversary with their guests. In September, various nostalgic events will be taking place. Guests will even receive free rail and Post Bus passes.

Those involved in the tourist industry in the Saas Valley are getting together and looking back over the past 125 years. This was the time when, in 1881, with the opening of the first hotel, tourism arrived in the glacier village. Susanne Voide-Dillitzer, Head of Marketing in the Saas-Fee Tourist Office: ?We want to give something back to the guests. Therefore, September has been declared the anniversary month.?

September, or Herbschtmanund, as it is called in the Saas dialect, will be dedicated to looking back on the good old times. For instance, how about going up to Saas-Fee on mule back, as in the old days, before the road through the Saas Valley was built. ?The goal,? according to Susanne Voide-Dillitzer, ?is that the service providers all join in so that guests will have a good time.?

Fun does not have to cost a lot of money. Saas-Fee and the Saas Valley want to make an attractive offer with the Saas Valley Card. This was initiated at the instigation of the Saas-Fee Tourist Office, the organization of holiday apartment operators and the cable car systems. Any person lodging with any of the participants (hotels or holiday apartments) will receive the Saas Valley Card. Armed with this pass, valid for rail and Post Bus travel, guests during September will not pay one penny. The only exception is the ride up to the Allalin revolving restaurant in the Metro. This will not be free of charge, but the Saas Valley Card will give the holder the right to a discounted price for the ride up to 3,500 meters (11,375 feet). Included in this price is the entrance to the Ice Pavilion and to the Mike Horn adventure exhibition.

September, the Herbschtmanund in the Saas Valley, is, as the proverb says, worth its weight in gold, not only because of the golden larch trees, the blue sky and the white peaks. A stay in the Saas Valley stirs the senses. And makes you want to get active. Apart from the nostalgic events, guests will also be able to enjoy all the comforts of the modern tourist industry: infrastructure of the highest level, unlimited freedom, multi-pack activities for every age and lively hospitality.

Article provided by the Saas-Fee/Saastal Tourist Office.

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