| Arosa: Jeckyll and Lenzerheide,
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| | some slightly rocky sections, the
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| Switzerland
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| | Malakoff couloir comes into view. The
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| The Arosa train begins its journey as a
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| | option of a steep narrow gully, or
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| tram, along the streets of Chur, soon
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| | slightly more open face, sends you heart
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| heading into the mountains. It passes by
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| | in mouth down a break in a seemingly
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| gorges and over historic viaducts, still
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| | impregnable rock band. You are now in
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| farmed by the families of yester year.
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| | the Lenzerheide valley and a path
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| Lost in time villages with pretty wooden
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| | lethargically leads you to Parpan,
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| stations line the route as the train
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| | reassuringly easily after the adventure
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| winds majestically towards its
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| | so far. In Parpan, you pick up the
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| destination. Soon the whistle shrieks,
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| | Heimberg chair, which, time permitting,
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| proudly announcing its arrival to Arosa,
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| | accesses the Silvano Beltrametti world
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| at the head of the Schanfigg valley.
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| | cup pistes of Lenzerheide - a must for
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| Arosa is beautifully set around a frozen
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| | any budding racer. If time is short,
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| lake amid spectacular mountain scenery.
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| | then head for the Rothorn2 cable car.
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| It captures perfectly the atmosphere of a
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| | This deposits you quickly onto the
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| winter paradise of reminiscent of how a
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| | impressive summit of the Rothorn, a
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| winter holiday used to be.
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| | mountain blessed with many skiable, away
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| Annually, the twelve day horse racing
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| | from it all, valleys and faces, however,
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| festival on the frozen lake, the
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| | sustaining only one actual piste.
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| international humour festival set in a
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| | A traverse around the lip of the
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| grand marquee up on the mountain, balloon
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| | Totalalpli at the back of the Rothorn
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| festivals and winter golf tournaments are
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| | summit, brings you to the entrance of
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| just a few grand events to catch. Horse
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| | Alplihorn bowl, which begins the return
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| drawn sleighs jingle through the mountain
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| | to Arosa. This descent itself would be
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| landscape carrying their guests to where
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| | the highlight of any ski day, but with
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| waiters elegantly ply their trade around
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| | the rest of the ski safari route already
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| the cosily blanketed guests on lovely
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| | accomplished, the route simply becomes a
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| wooden sun loungers to bask in the famous
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| | fitting crescendo to an extraordinary ski
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| Arosa sun and enjoy the mountain
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| | day that will linger in your ski memoires
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| restaurant atmosphere.
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| | for a long time as one of your finest
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| In town, smartly dressed tobogganers,
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| | days.
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| following the tradition of Arosa's
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| | If the idea of the huge off-piste
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| standard transport, slide by on the roads
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| | potential of this area does not appeal,
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| which have been deliberately left covered
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| | then do not worry. Plans are afoot for
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| in snow to enhance the magical winter
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| | the 2008/9 season to build a gondola from
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| atmosphere.
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| | the Top of the Hornli in Arosa to the
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| The early evening sees the ice hockey
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| | Schwarzhorn mountain of Lenzerheide.
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| teams or curling club in full swing.
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| | This will allow early intermediate skiers
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| Lanes of teams are involved in gliding
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| | to easily access the world cup resort of
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| Scottish granite across the ice.
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| | Lenzerheide.
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| Complimentary evening cable car rides,
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| | The combined resorts will create a snow
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| regular fireworks and Full Moon Parties
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| | sure, huge area of ski pistes, ranging
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| from the highest peaks, cap off the
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| | from 1500 metres to nearly 3000 metres.
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| feeling that Arosa is a truly special
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| | It is likely that this project will
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| winter experience.
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| | propel Arosa further into the
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| The beautiful ski bowl of Arosa lies snow
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| | International market.
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| sure between 1800 metres and 2700 metres,
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| | Whilst all good, we trust Arosa will not
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| guaranteeing high quality snow on its
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| | lose any of its "special" charm.
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| perfectly groomed pistes
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| | Those looking for a catered chalet in
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| Skiing: Arosa has runs suitable for every
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| | Arosa will find Chalet Runca a
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| level of skier and boarder and a state of
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| | traditional Swiss chalet with the modern
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| the art lift system, effortlessly
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| | comforts. It sleeps any party size from
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| whisking people from peak to peak.
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| | one to 12 and parties of 16 are possible
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| There is the former World Cup downhill
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| | when using the first floor apartment to
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| run from The Weisshorn summit for the
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| | sleep in. This is run by Snowy Pockets,
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| more advanced, as well as ideal runs for
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| | headed by Helen and Mike Onions, who, in
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| beginners and intermediates, including
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| | their 14th season in business, employ a
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| from the top of Bruggerhorn, the
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| | qualified chef and chalet host to manage
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| staggeringly beautiful blue run heads off
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| | Chalet Runca and have a special
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| into another world, miles away from the
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| | arrangement with a fully professional and
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| hustle and bustle of the main mountain,
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| | caring crèche. Snowy Pockets offer the
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| with incredible views of the summits' of
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| | apartment on a self-catered basis also.
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| Davos in the distance. It seems
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| | Chalet Runca is in the heart of Arosa,
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| impossible that this run can return to
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| | near to all the facilities, reached
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| Arosa, however you arrive at Pratschli,
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| | either by foot on the snow-cleared paths,
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| for the return to the Weisshorn cable
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| | by horse and sleigh, or by hopping on the
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| car.
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| | resort bus for speedy door to door
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| Mixed ability groups can meet up easily
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| | transport. Snowy Pockets provide wooden
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| for lunch and après-ski at a number of
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| | sledges (set up with back rests and
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| picturesque and lively spots. The Disney
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| | sheepskin sleeping bags), which are
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| sponsored Mickey Mouse Alpine Club (kids
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| | popular alternatives to children's
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| ski school) ensures the children are
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| | buggies for strolling around town and
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| progressing happily enabling plenty of
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| | enjoying the forest walk and toboggan
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| ski time for parents on the mountain.
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| | tracks.
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| Snowboarding: Part of Arosa's
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| | How to get to Arosa. From Zurich
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| renaissance as a cool resort includes its
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| | airport, in two hours, train and
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| enthusiasm for snowboarding. Arosa has
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| | intercity train reach Chur.
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| world class facilities, notably the fun
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| | .
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| park with a big air kicker and 130 metre
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| | Statistics:
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| half pipe, where snowboarders can
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| | Snow Sure.
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| 'board-in' (as in 'drive in') to the
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| | Web:
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| Mountain Mac mountain restaurant. Arosa
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| | Lifts altitude: 1739 - 2653m
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| hosted the world FIS snowboarding
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| | Cable Cars: 3
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| championships in January 2007 and is the
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| | High speed chair Lifts: 10
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| home of Gian Simmen, the former Olympic
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| | Drag Lifts: 4
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| Snowboarding gold medallist.
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| | Conveyor Belt Kids Lifts: 2
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| One of our favourite ski days in Arosa is
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| | Nursery Runs:4
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| a three resort ski safari of Arosa -
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| | Blue Runs: 21 (35%)
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| Tchiertshen - Lenzerheide (this combined
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| | Red Runs: 31 (50%)
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| lift ticket is available as a 30 CHF
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| | Black Runs: 3 (15%)
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| extension to the Arosa lift pass)
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| | Downhill Runs: 100km
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| This begins at either the Weisshorn or
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| | Cross Country: 30km
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| Hornli summit, where entry into the
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| | Snow Cannons: Yes
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| incredible Urdental valley is possible -
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| | Night Skiing: Yes
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| lift and piste-free for miles, and
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| | Winter Hiking: 60km of cleared paths
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| continually descending to the secret
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| | Tabogganing: Yes
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| hideaway village of Tchiertshen; surely,
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| | Ice Skating: Yes
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| the Jeckyll in this pack, being unspoilt
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| | Off Piste: Plenty
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| traditionally timbered Switzerland with
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| | Ski Touring: Excellent
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| it's own mountain hinting at enormous
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| | Heliskiing: Yes.
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| off-piste challenge.
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| | You can get a free brochure of Snowy
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| After riding the lifts of Tchiertshen to
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| | Pockets chalet holidays from or Mike
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| the summit of the steep Gurgaletsch
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| | Onions writes about Catered chalet
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| mountain, a hike and traverse along the
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| | holidays in Arosa, Switzerland.
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| ridge, pausing occasionally to negotiate
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