Davos is back in business

27th October 2020, by Chris Gill

Contributor Artur fully prepared for lunch

Davos, a long-standing Swiss favourite of ours, opened for skiing last weekend, and one of our regular Swiss correspondents, Artur Pieniadz, was among the enthusiasts keen to get back on skis. Here’s Artur’s report; the pictures are his, too.

A lot of people have been itching to get back on skis after last season ended so abruptly, me included; so the chance to ski Davos at this exceptionally early point in the season was not to be missed. I went up on Saturday, and managed to get on the second funicular up to the Parsenn – and was rewarded with the powder shown in one of my shots.

Powder on the pistes first thing on Saturday

Snow was falling for much of the day, and the slopes were very quiet. Sunday, with better weather, was apparently more successful for the lift company – they sold about 2,000 lift tickets, according to TV reports. As well as the funicular out of Davos Dorf, they opened the Totalp quad chair-lift (which has acquired new chairs and control system since last season) and the Furka Zipper six-pack.

You have to wear a mask in the funicular, but not on the chairs-lifts. Actually, you can use any kind of scarf/face covering – but they had masks available at the entry to Parsenn funicular, and a specially designed Buff scarf/tube was on sale. On a positive note: they want to spread out the crowds, so the funicular to Weissfluhjoch runs non-stop, without waiting to fill up, and chair-lifts operate at full speed regardless of demand – in the past they sometimes turned the gas down at quiet times to save energy (ie money) – so definitely this is one welcome result of the virus.

We had fun, but it is all a bit weird. Restaurants gather your data, of course – there is a system of QR codes at the tables to register your arrival and sign off when you leave the place, which works quite well. You have to be seated; you’re not allowed to stand at the bar. It was cold, so we didn’t see how it works on the terraces outside.

Only the Davos Parsenn slopes were open last weekend, to take advantage of good, cold conditions; snow conditions permitting, that sector will open over coming weekends. In late November it will move to continuous operation, with other sectors of the Davos-Klosters area starting to open at weekends – and opening fully on various dates in December.

Andermatt is opening the Gemsstock this weekend. On the cable car they will be operating stricter rules – basically you have to reserve a place and wait for your time. Only a certain number of people will be allowed on the mountain.

• switzerland
• davos
• covid-19

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