Verbier Activity Report: 11th October 2012
Mountain restaurants & activities in-between the odd lift still open
Lee Fieldsend | Verbier Reporter | published: 11th October 2012
Although summer is now behind us the weather has remained superb over the autumn period here in Verbier, so far.
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It has rained from time to time but generally it has stayed dry and mild with plenty of clear, sunny and warm days to enjoy the mountains before the snow arrives. Up the mountain things are starting to slow down and close with the lifts from Le Chable to Ruinettes via Verbier the only area still open. Sadly even though conditions are great for biking and walking the lifts are now only open over the weekends until 21st October. They will be running from 9h-16h30 on the Saturdays and Sundays. Also through week days the lifts will open at 7h30, 10h30, 13h30 and 16h45. That being said the lifts can close at any time for maintenance and/ or bad weather so check the weather forecast and with the Medran office before you get too excited.
This last couple of weekends have been a little challenging as the weather has been great through the weeks but when the lifts have opened over the weekend the weather has been very changeable with last Sunday being really wet, although the Saturday was glorious and dry. The guys at the Verbier/Tzoumaz bike park have done a great job this summer and Verbier continues to slowly head in the direction of becoming a really good all round biking destination over the coming years. Although sadly there is still a real lack of easy trails with even the blue run more of and advanced red grade and the other trails on another level altogether.
On almost all the trails this summer we have detected the subtle hand of the shapers, constantly re-cutting the tracks and repairing corners and other sections. A lot of extra bits have been added too so be careful if you have not ridden at Verbier in a while. One really good improvement has been a line of jumps down the lower part of the blue. Before now most of the jumps in Verbier have been big and/ or technical but the new line (which can be ridden over if you do not want to jump them) is a line of around 15 small jumps where you can commit as much as you want and can work up to getting the technique right. You can see all the latest photos of the tracks and watch videos of bikers riding them on their YouTube channel.
Also for those of you that like to jump there is the pump track down at the quarry lake at the entrance to Le Chable.
Last week I went up to Lac de Vaux with my bike (pushing and riding from Ruinettes) I rode down into Lac de Vaux and then through Vallon d’Arbi. Once at Tzoumaz I had to ride all the way to Riddes in the valley below and catch trains and lifts back to Verbier. The run was amazing and it took 45 minutes of continuous and glorious riding to get to the valley floor. All in all it was a decent of just over 2000 metres in altitude.
Also last week I went climbing over by Catogne (a mountain that towers over Sembrancher) we climbed a 10 pitch multi-pitch which took us most of the afternoon and saw us finish and get back to the car just as night was falling. The area is very remote and at the top of the climb we had to cross through and descend hundreds of metres through forest covered cliffs. The wildness was accentuated by the lack of path and markers due to recent storms and chamois tracks and it was really tough to find our way.
Although most bars and restaurants that are still open are on limited hours and service there are still some places open. Up the mountain Marlenaz is still open day and night and they have an excellent local menu of wild boar, mountain goat and everything else that can be shot at this time of the year. Reservations and pretty photos can be found on thier listing page.
T-Bar, of course, remains at the forefront of summer life in Verbier with good food, drink and live sports.
In town the sports centre and the ice rink are open although I would not pretend to ever really know what time they were open. The best advice is to phone them up and ask yourself on 0277716601. There is also ice karting at the sports centre which is a great way to spend an afternoon.
For those of you wanting a more relaxed activity in resort then head to Yoga classes for available courses.
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Verbier Activity Report: 1st September 2012
Mixed weather continues with snow falling up the mountain
Lee Fieldsend | Verbier Reporter | published: 1st September 2012
Although the weather has remained mixed over this summer the last month of August did take a good turn with temperatures often as high as 35 degrees and plenty of sunshine to give us a real taste of summer. Those highs do appear to be behind us now as we drift into September and towards Autumn at an alarming speed.
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Verbier Activity Report: 6th August 2012
Swiss National Day & Verbier Bike Park
Lee Fieldsend | Verbier Reporter | published: 6th August 2012
Great weather arrived in Verbier to see out the end of July as the summer whizzes by at an alarming speed. The end of the Verbier festival has come and the next international event in Verbier is the Grands Concours Hippique, an international horse jumping competition.
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Verbier Activity Report: 17th July 2012
Sunshine returns to Verbier
Lee Fieldsend | Verbier Reporter | published: 16th July 2012
After a rough weekend, which saw rain, clouds and cold temperatures push into Verbier, Monday was stunningly beautiful. The skies were clear and the warmth of the sun quickly dried out the area. Above Ruinettes the temperatures up the mountain were so cold over the weekend that the rain landed as a thin veil of snow which soon disappeared with the arrival of the sun. Temperatures did remain comfortably chilly with a stiff breeze from time to time.
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Verbier Activity Report: 12th July 2012
Mixed weather outside - plenty to do inside
Lee Fieldsend | Verbier Reporter | published: 12th July 2012
Mixed weather continues to continue and it seems that we may have to wait a little longer for summer with the Verbier forecast for the next week being unstable. Thankfully there is a hint of sunshine from time to time over the next couple of days and somewhere up there it continues to shine so hot that when the clouds do part, even for an afternoon, it has been drying up very quickly.
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Verbier Activity Report: 28th June 2012
Mixed weather allows for indoor and outdoor activities in Verbier
Lee Fieldsend | Verbier Reporter | published: 28th June 2012
It looks as if more changeable weather is on the way, continuing the trend over the last couple of months. When the sun has been out it has been glorious in Verbier with high temperatures drying up the earth really quickly.
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Verbier Activity Report: 14th June 2012
Mixed weather but the lifts are starting to open
Lee Fieldsend | Verbier Reporter | published: 14th June 2012
Summer is here as is the first summer version of our Verbier ‘snowreport’. Although there have been some really beautiful and sunny warm summer days the weather has stayed changeable and volatile since April. This has brought in frequent rain in the form of mainly showers and regular snow showers above 2000 metres, where the snowline stubbornly resists the inevitable thaw and clings to the mountain.
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Verbier Activity Report: 22nd November 2011
Mountaineering & glacier hiking. No snow yet but
Lee Fieldsend | Verbier Reporter | published: 22nd November 2011
News has just come in that the first slopes will be opening this weekend in Verbier. The Lac des Vaux will be open from the 26th of Novemeber onwards and will be open from 9.15 to 16.15.
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Verbier Activity Report: 15th November 2011
Rock climbing in Troubayet. Winter is in the air but warm weather means that climbing, hiking & biking are all still possible
Lee Fieldsend | Verbier Reporter | published: 15th November 2011
Mixed weather has provided an unsure start to the winter; a few weeks ago it was as if the ski season was just around the corner with heavy snow and cold temperatures. Recently, warmer temperatures have displaced the cold snap and forced the tenuous snow line to retreat back up the mountain.
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Verbier Activity Report: 19th October 2011
Biking & climbing. Warm autumn weather and the lifts are still open
Lee Fieldsend | Verbier Reporter | published: 19th October 2011
With the weekend over, the full time opening of the lift is also now over until next weekend. The good news is that it still runs four times a week during week days. The lift from Verbier to Ruinettes will be open at 07:00, 10:30, 13:30 and 16:45 hrs.
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Verbier Activity Report: 15th October 2011
Winter is on the way but there is still the opportunity to get out on the mountain bike trails
Lee Fieldsend | Verbier Reporter | published: 17th October 2011
Over last week Verbier received a significant amount of snow over 24 hours but the torrential rain that followed melted all but the highest pockets of snow.
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Verbier Activity Report: 6th October 2011
Hiking & biking the Mauvoisin Dam. Autumnal hiking and some ideas for wet weather activities
Lee Fieldsend | Verbier Reporter | published: 6th October 2011
After a couple of weeks of great weather it looks as if conditions are going to change this weekend. Clouds, rain and colder temperatures are threatening and the forecast for the start of next week, although better, still suggests mixed conditions.
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Verbier Activity Report: 2nd October 2011
Warm weather & autumn hiking. Making the most of the late summer sunshine
Lee Fieldsend | Verbier Reporter | published: 3rd October 2011
Fantastic weather continues to grace Verbier with clear blue skies and beaming sunshine. The temperatures have dropped recently but it still remains warm in the sun; this last weekend there were lots of walkers in their shorts and t-shirts enjoying the incredible mountain views.
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Verbier Activity Report: 23rd September 2011
Lifts may be closing but there is still plenty to do while the weather is good
Lee Fieldsend | Verbier Reporter | published: 23rd September 2011
As always the most important part of my report is the weather. After the awful weather of last weekend, which saw heavy rain and snow on the higher slopes, the fantastic weather returned. Sunshine and clear skies allowed us to get back into the mountains to play, although temperatures are now more comfortable when doing sport, in the direct sun it is still very warm and comfortable.
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Verbier Activity Report: 5th September 2011
Hiking & biking... Summer may be coming to an end but the weather is good and there is still plenty to do
Lee Fieldsend | Verbier Reporter | published: 5th September 2011
Autumn has arrived, announced by a drop in temperatures and browning leaves on trees. Town is still busy though as the lifts are still open through until 19th September. After that the main lifts will still be open for weekends until the end of October.
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Verbier Activity Report: 18th August 2011
Lee Fieldsend | Verbier Reporter | published: 18th August 2011
Thankfully the weather over the last week has improved significantly with clear blue skies and sunshine providing dry and warm conditions. Temperatures are warm but there has been a refreshing breeze which has kept things comfortable.
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Verbier Activity Report: 12th August 2011
Lee Fieldsend | Verbier Reporter | published: 12th August 2011
The summer rolls by at an increasing speed with winter now a mere three months away. The weather which had over the last couple weeks been mixed and stormy did give way in the end to some beautiful sunny days.
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Verbier Activity Report: 2nd August 2011
Lee Fieldsend | Verbier Reporter | published: 2nd August 2011
With the end of the Verbier Music Festival and the Swiss National Day celebrations behind us calm has returned to Verbier and so has the summer weather.
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Lac des Vaux in it's underpants credit: verbinet.com
Climbing high above the valley credit: verbinet.com
Looking down from Attelas credit: verbinet.com
Bike pump track - Le Chable credit: verbinet.com
