Verbier Lift System - Winter

**Due to exceptional early season snow making conditions, the Lac des Vaux ski area and Attelas-Ruinettes piste are open for weekend only skiing from 7th/8th November 2009 until the end of the month, when it is anticipated that more lifts in the Verbier area will open daily**

The official opening weekend of the Verbier winter season is scheduled for 12th/13th December 2009;  when the Verbier Ride freestyle competition will be taking place and the entire 4 Valley ski area will open up. Depending on snow condition some lifts may open early, most likely the Médran and Funispace télécabines and the Lac de Vaux 1 chairlift. The 28th November 2009 has been pencilled in as the probable first lift opening.

The official closing date for the Verbier winter season is 25th April 2010, however the lower slopes of Bruson and the sunny south facing slopes of Savoleyres/La Tzoumaz may close a few weeks earlier if snow conditions deteriorate.

The Verbier ski area comprises 4 main sectors, linked by a variety of different lifts and pistes. The lifts marked on the piste map using straight black lines are of four types; button tow/drag, chair, telecabine and telepherique. They have the corresponding abbreviations:

• TK - téléski (draglift)
• TS - télésiège (chairlift)
• TC - télécabine (gondola)
• TPH - téléphérique (cable car)

For télécabine think bubble car and for téléphérique think cable car. Anything prefixed/suffixed with “Express” means a 6 person modern fast chair lift.

The highest and biggest lift in the Verbier lift system is the Mont Fort Jumbo; a 150 person cable car that climbs up to the glacier at 3300m. One of Switzerland's biggest lifts, the Jumbo operates during both winter and summer seasons.

Below is our speedy overview of what the current lift status is in Verbier today. The list summary is probably most useful if you already know the valley and the lift names. If you don't, you may also find the piste & lift map handy if you are less familiar with the area.

There is a huge amount of skiing to be done in Verbier and, hopefully, these maps will help you make the most of it. You can either print off a copy or pick up a paper version at the Tourist Office, any lift station and most hotel reception desks. It's always a good idea to keep one handy in case you get lost, run into bad weather or just need to plan a lunch stop!