Skifahren und Snowboarden:
Das Saastal ist ein wahres Paradies für Wintersportbegeisterte. Hier findest du erstklassige Skigebiete. Mit über 150 Pistenkilometern steht dem ultimativen Skivergnügen nichts im Wege. Egal ob du Anfängerin oder Anfänger oder Profi bist, hier findest du Abfahrten, die deinem Können entsprechen. Das Gletscherskigebiet Saas-Fee ist ein absolutes Highlight und ermöglicht sogar ganzjähriges Skivergnügen.

Aber das ist noch nicht alles! Das Saastal bietet auch atemberaubende Skitouren für Abenteuerlustige. Ob du ein erfahrener Skitourengeher bist oder dein erstes Bergabenteuer erleben möchtest, hier ist für alle etwas dabei. Die majestätischen Berge und Landschaften bieten die perfekte Kulisse für unvergessliche Skitouren. Tauche ein in die unberührte Natur und erkunde abseits der Pisten die verschneiten Gipfel des Saastals. Skitouren sind eine grossartige Möglichkeit, die Stille der Bergwelt zu geniessen und die frische Bergluft in vollen Zügen einzuatmen.

Ein besonderes Ski-Highlight ist das Sunrise Skiing auf 3’500 m ü. M. Absolute Stille, die ersten Sonnenstrahlen und perfekt präparierte Pisten warten auf Frühaufsteher, die ihre ersten Spuren in den frischen Schnee ziehen möchten. Ein reichhaltiges Frühstück im Drehrestaurant Allalin rundet dieses einmalige Erlebnis ab. Die farbenprächtige Aussicht auf die umliegende Bergwelt gibt dem Erlebnis den letzten Schliff.

Schneeschuhwandern und Winterwandern:
Das Saastal ist nicht nur ein Eldorado für Skifahrerinnen und Skifahrer, sondern auch für Wanderfreunde. Zahlreiche Winterwanderwege und Schneeschuhtrails führen durch die malerische Winterlandschaft. Besonders empfehlenswert ist die Winterwanderung zum Mattmarkstausee, wo sich ein atemberaubender Ausblick bietet. Diese Wanderung lässt sich am besten mit einem „Raclette to go“ kombinieren, dieses verspricht ein kulinarisches Erlebnis inmitten der Winterlandschaft des Saastals.

Wenn du nach einem besonderen Abenteuer suchst, solltest du unbedingt eine Husky-Tour in Betracht ziehen. Diese einzigartige Erfahrung ermöglicht es dir, von einem Schlittenhundegespann durch die Saaser Winterlandschaft gezogen zu werden. Die Huskys sind bestens ausgebildet und nehmen dich mit auf eine unvergessliche Fahrt durch den Schnee.

Das Angebot „Kreuzboden by Night“ bietet zudem eine Schneeschuhwanderung mit Sonnenuntergang an. Während sich die Skipisten auf Hohsaas langsam leeren, steigst du in einfachem Gelände über den Hohlaubgletscher 500 Höhenmeter ins Lagginjoch. Mit den letzten Sonnenstrahlen kletterst du über den kurzen Klettersteig auf den Grat und geniesst die gewaltige Aussicht auf die umliegenden Viertausender und den Tiefblick ins Laggintal. In prächtiger Abendstimmung läufst du zurück nach Hohsaas, wo du kurz vor Einbruch der Nacht die Bahn wieder erreichst. Ein leckeres Käsefondue rundet den Abend ab.

Wenn dir das noch nicht reicht, dann kannst du noch an einer Fackelwanderung teilnehmen. Mystisch und romantisch zeigt sich bei der Fackelwanderung die Winterlandschaft rund um den Kreuzboden oder rund um das Dorf Saas-Fee.

Kulinarische Genüsse:
Ein weiteres Highlight deines Winteraufenthalts im Saastal ist die kulinarische Vielfalt. In urchigen Berghütten und gemütlichen Restaurants kannst du lokale Spezialitäten kosten, die deinen Gaumen verwöhnen werden. Vom herzhaften Käsefondue bis zur knusprigen Rösti – die Schweizer Küche ist ein wahres kulinarisches Abenteuer. Verpasse nicht die Gelegenheit, die köstlichen Gerichte der Walliser Küche zu probieren.

Doch damit nicht genug: In Saas-Fee gibt es ein Erlebnis der besonderen Art; ein Fondue mit einem Glas Wein oder Tee bei einer abendlichen Gondelfahrt der Saastal Bergbahnen. Eine einzigartige Atmosphäre erwartet dich hier. Die abendliche Saaser Bergwelt und die stimmungsvolle Beleuchtung von Saas-Fee werden sicherlich in Erinnerung bleiben.

Snowtubing und Schlittenfahrten:
Im Skigebiet Furggstalden oberhalb von Saas-Almagell erwartet dich das Abenteuerland des Drachen Kian. Das familienfreundliche Skigebiet inmitten einer atemberaubenden Bergwelt bietet Erholung für die Grossen und Spass für die Kleinen. Hier findest du ein Tipi, ein Iglu mit Kinderfilmen, eine kostenlose Snowtubingbahn für die ganze Familie und Kinder-Skidoos.

Schlitteln bietet eine weitere Möglichkeit, um den Adrenalinspiegel in die Höhe treiben zu lassen. Das Saastal bietet Schlittelpisten für Jung und Alt, die unvergessliche Schlittenabenteuer versprechen. Geniesse das ultimative Schlittelvergnügen auf der beleuchteten Piste oder bis ganz ins Tal. Oder wie wäre es mit einer Schlittenfahrt bei Nacht? „Kreuzboden by Night“ bietet genau das. Es erwartet dich eine 11 km lange Schlittenfahrt durch verschneite Wälder und kleine Weiler auf breiten Wegen und Pisten.

Eisklettern, Gletschertouren und Gorge Alpine:
Für Adrenalinjunkies bietet das Saastal Eisklettermöglichkeiten. Auf Schneeschuhen erreichst du die eisblauen Gletscherwände, an denen du sicher klettern kannst. Schöne Landschaften und ein einmaliges Erlebnis sind garantiert. Oder begebe dich direkt mit Schneeschuhen auf Entdeckungsreise auf dem Feegletscher, um die eisige Schönheit der Natur zu erleben.

Ein weiteres Abenteuer erwartet dich bei der Gorge Alpine. In Begleitung eines Bergführers durchquerst du die Feeschlucht von Saas-Fee nach Saas-Grund. Die spektakuläre Tour führt vorbei an gefrorenen Wasserfällen und über Hängebrücken, Leitern und Stahlseile. Highlights sind eine rasante Tyrolienne und eine spannende Pendelbahn.

Zip Lines und Winterklettersteig:
Damit sind die Erlebnismöglichkeiten im Saastal noch lange nicht ausgeschöpft. Für alle, die den besonderen Kick suchen, bietet die Region Zip Lines im Winter, die dir ermöglichen, mit rasender Geschwindigkeit über die spektakuläre Schlucht zu fliegen.  Wer sich gerne in steilem Felsen wagt, für den ist der Winterklettersteig die perfekte Herausforderung. Hier kannst du deine Kletterkünste auf gefrorenen Gipfeln und spektakulären Kletterrouten testen. Der Winterklettersteig im Saastal bietet ein einzigartiges Erlebnis, bei dem du die imposante Winterlandschaft hautnah erleben kannst.

Après-Ski und Unterhaltung:
Nach einem aufregenden Tag in den Bergen gibt es in den charmanten Dörfern des Saastals zahlreiche Après-Ski-Möglichkeiten. Geniesse regionale Spezialitäten in gemütlichen Berghütten oder erlebe das Nachtleben im Saastal, wo Bars und Clubs für eine unterhaltsame Atmosphäre sorgen.

Ob du den Nervenkitzel auf der Piste suchst oder die Ruhe in der Natur, im Saastal findest du alles, was dein Herz begehrt. Worauf wartest du noch? Pack deine Skiausrüstung, schnappt deine Schneeschuhe und mach dich bereit für die Winterauszeit deines Lebens.  

Die Frage ist nicht, ob du Abenteuer erlebst, sondern wie viele!

But what exactly can you expect? Let’s have a look at some of the many possibilities:

Skiing and snowboarding:
The Saas Valley is a true paradise for winter sports enthusiasts. Here you will find first-class ski resorts. With over 150 kilometres of ski slopes, nothing stands in the way of ultimate skiing pleasure. Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, you’ll find runs to suit your ability here. The Saas-Fee glacier ski area is an absolute highlight and even offers year-round skiing fun.

But that’s not all! The Saas Valley also offers breathtaking ski tours for the adventurous. Whether you are an experienced ski tourer or want to experience your first mountain adventure, there is something for everyone here. The majestic mountains and landscapes provide the perfect backdrop for unforgettable ski tours. Immerse yourself in unspoilt nature and explore the snow-covered peaks of the Saas Valley away from the slopes. Ski tours are a great way to enjoy the tranquillity of the mountains and breathe in the fresh mountain air to the full.

A special skiing highlight is sunrise skiing at 3,500 metres above sea level. Absolute silence, the first rays of sunshine and perfectly groomed slopes await early risers who want to make their first tracks in the fresh snow. A hearty breakfast in the Allalin revolving restaurant rounds off this unique experience. The colourful view of the surrounding mountains adds the finishing touch to the experience.

Snowshoeing and winter hiking:
The Saas Valley is not only an El Dorado for skiers, but also for hiking enthusiasts. Numerous winter hiking trails and snowshoe trails lead through the picturesque winter landscape. We particularly recommend the winter hike to the Mattmark reservoir, which offers breathtaking views. This hike is best combined with a “raclette to go“, which promises a culinary experience amidst the winter landscape of the Saas Valley.
If you are looking for a special adventure, you should definitely consider a husky tour. This unique experience allows you to be pulled through the Saas winter landscape by a team of sled dogs. The huskies are highly trained and will take you on an unforgettable ride through the snow.

The “Kreuzboden by Night” offer also includes a snowshoe hike with a view of the sunset. While the ski slopes on Hohsaas slowly empty out, you will climb 500 metres in altitude to the Lagginjoch on easy terrain over the Hohlaub glacier. With the last rays of sunshine, you climb the short via ferrata to the ridge and enjoy the magnificent view of the surrounding four-thousand-metre peaks and the view down into the Laggintal valley. In a magnificent evening atmosphere, you will walk back to Hohsaas, where you will reach the railway again shortly before nightfall. A delicious cheese fondue rounds off the evening.
If that’s not enough for you, you can also take part in a torchlight hike. The winter landscape around the Kreuzboden or around the village of Saas-Fee is mystical and romantic during the torch-lit hike.

Culinary delights:
Another highlight of your winter holiday in the Saas Valley is the culinary variety. In rustic mountain huts and cosy restaurants, you can sample local specialities that will tantalise your taste buds. From savoury cheese fondue to crispy rösti – Swiss cuisine is a true culinary adventure. Don’t miss the opportunity to savour the delicious dishes of Valais cuisine.

But that’s not all: Saas-Fee offers a very special experience; a fondue with a glass of wine or tea during an evening gondola ride on the Saas Valley cable cars. A unique atmosphere awaits you here. The Saas mountains in the evening and the atmospheric lighting of Saas-Fee will certainly remain in your memory.

Snowtubing and sledding:
In the Furggstalden ski area above Saas-Almagell, Kian’s adventure land awaits you. The family-friendly ski area in the middle of a breathtaking mountain world offers relaxation for the grown-ups and fun for the little ones. Here you will find a tepee, an igloo with children’s films, a free snow tubing track for the whole family and children’s skidoos.

Tobogganing is another way to get the adrenalin pumping. The Saas Valley offers toboggan runs for young and old that promise unforgettable sledding adventures. Enjoy the ultimate tobogganing fun on the floodlit slopes or all the way down into the valley. Or how about a sleigh ride at night? “Kreuzboden by Night” offers just that. An 11 km long toboggan ride through snow-covered forests and small hamlets on wide paths and slopes awaits you.

Ice climbing, glacier tours and Gorge Alpine:
For adrenalin junkies, the Saas Valley offers ice climbing opportunities. On snowshoes, you can reach the ice-blue glacier walls, where you can climb safely. Beautiful landscapes and a unique experience are guaranteed. Or set off on a snowshoe expedition on the Fee Glacier to experience the icy beauty of nature.

Another adventure awaits you at the Gorge Alpine. Accompanied by a mountain guide, you will cross the Fee Gorge from Saas-Fee to Saas-Grund. The spectacular tour leads past frozen waterfalls and over suspension bridges, ladders and steel cables. Highlights include a high-speed zip line and an exciting aerial tramway.

Zip lines and winter via ferrata:
The adventure possibilities in the Saas Valley are far from exhausted. For those looking for a special thrill, the region offers zip lines in winter that allow you to fly over the spectacular gorge at breakneckspeed.  The winter via ferrata is the perfect challenge for those who like to venture up steep rock faces. Here you can test your climbing skills on frozen peaks and spectacular climbing routes. The winter via ferrata in the Saas Valley offers a unique experience where you can experience the impressive winter landscape up close.

Après-ski and entertainment:
After an exciting day in the mountains, there are numerous après-ski options in the charming villages of the Saas Valley. Enjoy regional specialities in cosy mountain huts or experience the nightlife in the Saas Valley, where bars and clubs provide an entertaining atmosphere.

Whether you’re looking for thrills on the slopes or peace and quiet in nature, you’ll find everything your heart desires in the Saas Valley. What are you waiting for? Pack your ski equipment, grab your snowshoes and get ready for the winter break of a lifetime.  

The question is not whether you have adventures, but how many!

This blogpost was created in collaboration with Swiss Youth Hostels and Simon Hitzinger.
The original blogpost can be found here.

On Friday, I take the train from Basel to Brunnen where I meet my girlfriend Bel. We then head off to Saas-Fee together. The weather is anything but good. Our view on the journey through the mountains is obscured by thick fog and low-hanging clouds. But we’re not too bothered as we’re both looking forward to the next two days so much.

We arrive in Saas-Fee at seven o’clock in the evening. The weather has brightened up a little and we’re excited about staying at the hostel. We’re greeted by a steep and a not-so-steep ramp leading into the wellnessHostel4000. Gliding down them is lots of fun. Travelling up is not quite as easy, especially with a heavy bag on your shoulders. The effort really gets my muscles working.

Top tip: If you’re considering visiting the mountain village of Saas-Fee in a wheelchair, it’s advisable to ensure that you and any travelling companions are physically fit. If you don’t have a companion with you, it’s a good idea to use a power assist device to help you negotiate the undulating terrain that is typical at an altitude of 1,800 metres. The wheelchair-accessible room in the hostel is good. The bathroom has a lowered mirror, a wheelchair-accessible washbasin and a toilet with handles. There is also a floor-level shower with a shower seat that does not have a backrest. The bed consists of two single beds, which can be moved to allow space for a wheelchair next to it. During the night, however, the beds slipped apart several times.

Day 2: A tour of discovery tour at Aqua Allalin

I’m looking forward to the breakfast buffet. The weather looks foggy and grey, so today seems the perfect day to enjoy the hostel’s spa facilities. The relaxation area and fitness room are located on the lower floor of the youth hostel. The wellness area is beautiful and spacious, featuring lots of dark stone. It has an invigorating ice shower, a rejuvenating hot water shower called a ‘Feuerdusche’, a cascading rain shower called a ‘Regendusche’, a whirlpool, a steam bath, a gentler sauna called a ‘bio sauna’, a Finnish sauna and a large hot stone.

The friendly Spanish lifeguard guides me around and shows me all the different facilities. I ask him whether there is a special wheelchair for wet areas, but he answers no. Nevertheless, I go into the bio sauna briefly, because it doesn’t get so hot in there, which is better for the tyres on my wheelchair. There is also a swimming lift for the swimming pool, which I use when I go swimming. The water is wonderfully clear and enjoyably refreshing.

Feeling relaxed and warmed, we leave the wellness area and return to our room. We then set off for an evening walk. The village centre is small and hilly, which makes the trip a bit strenuous. But we are rewarded with beautiful views.

Day 3: Breathtaking views

At seven on the dot, I wake up without an alarm clock, give my girlfriend a kiss, jump into the wheelchair, look out of the window and get my camera. It’s the blue hour, just before sunrise. The light is subtle and balanced. The valley is still in the shade and the Feeg Glacier is glowing, surrounded by blue.

The trip was worthwhile for these moments alone. A few moments later, the first rays of sunshine reach the peaks of the Täschhorn and the Dom. At 4,545 metres above sea level, the Dom is the highest mountain in the whole of Switzerland. This was a fact I didn’t know before. The Dufourspitze is indeed higher, but the mountain straddles the border between Switzerland and Italy. I must say, the view is really impressive.

I have the feeling that in Saas-Fee everything starts a little earlier and ends a little earlier than I am used to. This means it’s worth getting up early. The breakfast buffet ends at 9.30 a.m. and check-out is at 10 a.m. The cable cars close at 3.30 p.m. or 4 p.m. It is striking how much everything is geared towards snow sports.

Nestled deep within the mountains, Saas-Fee is a sports paradise with breathtaking views. After checking out, we take part in the main sporting activity of the day: carrying our luggage back to the car! We’re quite exhausted when we reach the car. We load up our luggage and head back down to the Alpin Express. This is an excellent wheelchair-accessible cable car that is large enough to accommodate an electric wheelchair. We head off towards the revolving restaurant on the Mittelalallin summit.

To change to the Metro Alpin (the underground metro), wheelchair users must report to the ticket office downstairs so that someone can come and assist. Three men then help me on the train. The exit at the top still has a step but it isn’t too bad.

Once at the top, we are taken straight to the lift and enter the revolving restaurant.  We slowly circle around for an hour and enjoy the panoramic views. There is also a terrace underneath the restaurant. It’s accessible by lift and here you can enjoy the fresh air at an altitude of 3,500 metres and watch the snow sports enthusiasts enjoying the slopes.

There is a wheelchair-accessible toilet on the terrace level. To exit this level, I need the assistance of the train or restaurant staff who can operate the lift. Unfortunately, I can’t find anyone from there who can help.

So my girlfriend goes on a search – and finds what she’s looking for. We reach the metro and start the descent from the glacier. At the metro’s exit at the bottom, my girlfriend skilfully helps me navigate the sloping concrete step. After arriving in the valley, we take another stroll through the beautiful village and enjoy a coffee in the sunshine. Then it’s time for the long but scenic journey home with a stopover at Lake Grimsel.

I arrive in Basel at midnight, exhausted and inspired. I check how my plants are doing and then it’s off to my familiar bed. The power of the mountains has done me good. I would visit Saas-Fee again, but I would take my hand bike with me for support.

You can find more information about barrier-free travel in the Saas Valley here.

About the author

Hey, my name is Simon Hitzinger, but most people call me Hitzi. I am 30 years old and like to focus on the beautiful things in life. Photography helps me, so I guess that’s why I’m a photographer. After my accident in 2011, I learned that focus matters a lot. Suddenly, I couldn’t feel my body from my chest down. Do I focus on the light or the parts in shadow? I love being out and about and discovering new things with my camera.

Feechi, Saas-Grund

In Saas-Grund, at the bottom of the Kapellenweg and just west of the camp ground, you will find Feechi. This spot is ideal for families and has really easy access, both with a car or the bus. With more than 30 routes spanning various levels, Feechi is the largest climbing spot in the Saas Valley and has something for everyone. 

From April to November Feechi is a quick and easy spot to get on the rock. Just next to the river, there is a small sandy bank where kids can play, though on occasions the river is very full, so you want to pay attention. In the height of summer, Feechi has full sun from 12-3 PM, but in the morning or afternoon it’s shaded. Sometimes on days when the weather is poor up higher in Saas-Fee, just dropping these 200 meters down to Saas-Grund will offer you better conditions, suitable enough for climbing.

Zur Kapelle, Saas-Fee

This is probably the most well known climbing spot in the Saas Valley, and with good reason. It’s an easy 10 minute walk down from the parking lot, just next to the small chapel. With majestic views of Allalin, Alphubel and the Saas-Fee Panorama bridge framed by the gorge, you will also find a picnic table and bbq spot. There are 8 different routes spanning from 4a to 7a, making it a great place for families with kids who like to climb. Seen here are my 8 year old son and 11 year old nephew, having a blast. 

Saas-Almagell, Furggstalden

Just at the start of the Adventure Trail is a climbing area with multiple possibilities and a spectacular view of the Mischabel massif. There is a parking lot close to the spot, or you can take the chair lift in Saas-Almagell up to Furggstalden and walk 500 meters. I took my 3 year and 6 year old here and it was my little one’s first time ever climbing. The training crag offers 6 beginner routes and a short distance above this are the Goldfad and Hiischerflie routes, both grade 6 multipitches. If you visit in autumn you will find yourself immersed in the gold of the larches. As a side note, I recommend the restaurant Alpina in Furggstalden, they have delicious affordable food, a large terrace with sweeping views, and a play area for the kids. 

Saas-Balen, Siwitschuggen

Technically demanding and with long and steep routes, Siwitschuggen is the El Capitan of the Saas Valley. Heading north on the road, you want to turn east in Saas-Balen, just after crossing the bridge. Follow the switchback road up and park at the first hairpin turn. From here it’s about a 20 minute walk, if you were on foot it would be approximately 1 hr from the bus stop. Getting to the climbing wall demands close attention to the path as it’s not well marked. Look out for the stacked stone markers to guide you. Not suitable for kids, this spot is isolated, quiet and comes with an amazing view. It’s a bit of a mission to get here, but for grade 7 climbers it’s very worthwhile. Siwitschuggen has 20 different routes, most in grade 7. Seen here are my sister and brother in law, getting gnarly on Miss Siwi. The lower section has several routes which lead you under a 6 meter horizontal roof, the only one of its kind in upper Valais. 

The Saas Valley offers enough solid climbing spots for everything from a week long climbing holiday to a full on summer. Outside of the spots along the valley floor, there are several killer multi pitch routes, including ones on Jegihorn, Almagellerhütte, Furggstalden and Mischabel hut. For a comprehensive overview of all the climbing in this area, I recommend the «Oberwallis Climbing Guide». See you on the rock!

The first SaasFeestival opened on 16 July 2022 with a Family Day on Kreuzboden above Saas-Grund with children’s entertainment and music by z’Hansrüedi. The highlights of the first edition of the festival were the three evenings in the village square in Saas-Fee with Baschi, Anna Rossinelli Trio, Baba Shrimps, Pat Burgener, Freitagsauto and Die Nachbarn. The finale took place in the village square in Saas-Almagell with the local heroes from Wintershome.

The idea of the festival was and is not only to unite and focus on music and mountains, but also to promote sustainability and environmental protection. Therefore, the festival works closely with local businesses to support the local economy, offers environmentally friendly and local products and focuses on minimising waste. Saastal Tourismus AG, as the organiser, aims to establish a music festival with a local character and national appeal. The curatorial focus is on Swiss artists from the pop/rock genre, complemented by up-and-coming local bands.

In summer 2023, the SaasFeestival will enter its second round. The kick-off will once again be on Kreuzboden above Saas-Grund with a Family Day, including activities for children and music and stories by the Bruno Hächler Band. The highlight of the festival are the three evenings in the village square in Saas-Fee with Florian Ast, Dada Ante Portas, Black Sea Dahu, Andrea Bignasca, Üsserorts and Kalpetrane. The finale will once again take place on the village square in Saas-Almagell with Nickless and Frost & Fog.
This year, there will also be an Electro Session on the Mittelallalin. The HANZ UP #4 SaasFeestival Electro Session 2023, organised in collaboration with HANZ SOUNDZ, will take place on the terrace of the world’s highest revolving restaurant at 3,500 m above sea level on the Mittelallalin. The headliner on the highest dance floor in Switzerland is Miss Monique.

The SaasFeestival is a unique music festival. It combines the breathtaking landscape of Switzerland with top-class music and the idea of sustainability. By working with local businesses and using environmentally friendly products, the SaasFeestival helps to support the local economy and protect the environment.
We are looking forward to the SaasFeestival 2023 and are excited about the great musical artists.

The glaciers are among the most important tourist attractions in the holiday region. However, they are also among the natural resources most affected by climate change. For this reason, the Saas Valley has committed itself to protecting and preserving the glaciers. The entire holiday region has a common vision on sustainability. This vision and development strives for a balance between economic, ecological and social goals. It is also a design process and requires a new understanding of cooperation. Continually more travellers are paying attention to sustainability and looking for ways to make their trips more environmentally friendly. In the Saas Valley, there are numerous initiatives and projects that make exactly this possible. We would like to introduce some of them in this blog post.

A significant prerequisite in the Saas Valley is the car-free village of Saas-Fee. As early as 1951, this glacier village decided to remain traffic-free. As there was no road leading to Saas-Fee until then, the village has always been car-free. In the same year, the village became a member of the Community of Car-Free Swiss Tourism Resorts (GAST). Saas-Fee is also a founding member of the “Alliance in the Alps”, a community network of over 200 international alpine communities, who work to ensure that the objectives of the alpine convention for sustainable development in the alpine region are implemented in concrete terms. The community has set itself the goal of reducing individual transport in the region and is therefore focusing on alternative transport concepts such as electric mobility and public transport. This reduces the environmental impact in the region and strengthens the Saas Valley as a sustainable holiday region.

Another example of sustainable development in the Saas Valley is the Mattmark Power Plants. The hydroelectric power plants are an important source of energy for the Saas Valley and the surrounding regions. They produce clean energy from renewable resources and thus contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Mattmark Reservoir near Saas-Almagell is the largest earth dam in Europe. It holds around 100 million m3 for the electrical power supply. The hydroelectric power of the reservoir is used throughout the Saas Valley. The average annual production is 649 million kWh, which is enough for around 97,000 people per year in Switzerland. Visitors can book a guided tour of the power plants in advance and learn more about energy production.

An exciting initiative being implemented in the Saas Valley is the Quality Week. This week is an annual event in May where the tourism organisation and communities implement different campaigns and concepts aimed at promoting sustainable tourism in the region. These include mobility concepts, energy-saving measures and projects to promote the regional economy. During this week, the Mountain Clean-up Day with NIKIN will also take place. NIKIN is a sustainability partner of the Saas-Fee/Saas Valley holiday region and aims to have a positive impact on the environment by selling sustainable clothing and accessories and planting trees. Mountain Clean-up Day is an annual event where volunteers clean up the Saas Valley of litter. In doing so, the local communities work closely with schools and businesses to ensure that the Saas Valley remains a clean place in the future.

The municipality of Saas-Fee was awarded the GOLD Energy City Label in 2021. The label is awarded to municipalities that exemplify and implement a sustainable municipal energy policy.  It is the highest European award in the field of energy and climate and requires that at least 75% of the potential for action is implemented. The community of Saas-Fee exploits 78.6 % of the potential and thus scores excellently in the evaluation. In this way, the community guarantees the continuous implementation of energy and climate policy measures.

For its commitment to sustainable tourism, the community of Saas-Fee received an award as one of the Best Tourism Villages by UNTWO in 2022. This award is given to communities that are particularly committed to sustainable tourism. Saas-Fee and the Saas Valley were particularly convincing in their commitment to sustainable development.

The district heating network, which was built together with EnAlpin in Saas-Fee, offers businesses and households the opportunity to connect to renewable energy. Various hotels and properties already use this network, including the wellnessHostel4000, the Walliserhof Grand-Hotel & Spa, the boutique wellness hotel The Capra, and the community centre in Saas-Fee.
The heart of the district heating network is located in the technical centre of the car park in Saas-Fee. There, heat is extracted from the ambient air, especially in summer, and supplied to the connected properties. In summer, the heat is used to heat water. This also generates some excess heat. This is stored in 90 geothermal probes in the rock beneath the car park during the warm months. A borehole heat exchanger is a system for harnessing geothermal energy in which a pipe is inserted into the ground to extract or store heat from the earth’s interior. In winter, the heat from this reservoir is used to heat the village. Part of the energy for the heat pump is supplied by the photovoltaic system on the car park roof. The remaining part is sourced from EnAlpin’s NaturEnergie, which consists of 100% Valais hydroelectric and solar energy.

In addition, there is the ProKilowatt promotion programme of the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE). The programme promotes the conversion from non-renewable to renewable energy sources in Switzerland. Saastal Bergbahnen AG have submitted an application to ProKilowatt for subsidies for the shaft heating project at the snow-making facility. With the energy-optimised shaft heating system, the approximately 175 shafts can be heated much more efficiently. According to Saastal Bergbahnen AG, up to 75% of the heating energy can be saved. According to calculations, the measure can save up to 105,000 kWh in technical snowmaking.

Swisstainable is a platform that promotes sustainable tourism offers in Switzerland. It offers a variety of travel options that are environmentally friendly and socially responsible. This way, travellers can be sure that they are travelling sustainably and can enjoy the beauty of Switzerland at the same time. Travellers can travel to the Saas Valley in a number of environmentally friendly ways and enjoy an eco-friendly holiday.

Here are some tips for environmentally friendly holidays in the Saas Valley:

• Arrival by public transport: Travel to the Saas Valley by train or bus. The Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) also offer a luggage transport service to ensure that luggage reaches its destination comfortably and in an environmentally friendly manner. The Saas Valley is well connected to the Swiss rail and bus network.
• Use the free SaastalCard: With this card you can use public transport in the Saas Valley free of charge and thus do without your car and protect the environment.
• Stay in environmentally friendly accommodation: Choose accommodation that is committed to sustainability and environmental protection. Many hotels and guesthouses in the Saas Valley rely on environmentally friendly measures such as recycling, energy efficiency and local products.
• Support local businesses: Buy local products, visit local restaurants and support local businesses. This strengthens the local economy and reduces the ecological footprint.
• Responsible hiking: When hiking, stay on the marked trails so as not to pollute the environment.
• Avoid littering: Take waste with you and dispose of it in the waste containers provided. Avoid disposable products; use reusable bottles and drinking cups to reduce waste.

The holiday region of Saas-Fee/Saas Valley surprises us with its imposing mountain and glacier world, but also reminds us how important it is to treat our nature responsibly. We are committed to protecting the Saas Valley, as well as the other landscapes we directly touch, by adopting sustainable practices and reducing our ecological footprint. This is the only way we can ensure that future generations can enjoy the same breathtaking landscapes and experiences as we do now.

Why aren’t there enough sustainable outdoor brands already?
This is the question posed on Schwarzberg’s homepage. The answer?

Did you know that the textile industry is practically the most polluting industry of all? A lot of brands use sustainable or recycled materials in their production. But it still requires energy and resources to recycle raw materials and turn them into new materials. We try to reuse materials that have already been made but can no longer be used for their original purpose. Doing it this way extends the life of the materials while minimizing waste and the need to make new materials. You have to bear in mind that the best way to recycle is to reuse and upcycle because it sometimes takes more energy and resources to recycle a piece of paper than to cut down a whole tree.

We think that making touring backpacks out of paragliders is a brilliant idea that deserves attention, which is another reason I didn’t hesitate when asked to write this blog post.

But how do you come up with an idea like this? And how do you then put it into action? The idea of touring backpacks sort of came about by accident. Janine, who moved to Saas-Fee because of her love of the mountains, met Ivan and they came up with this idea togetherIvan, a keen ski instructor and kitesurfer, had been sitting on the idea of making backpacks from umbrellas for a while. He thought the material would be perfect, but didn’t have the skills required to make the backpack himself. Janine, who had actually given up a career in the textile industry to move to the mountains, immediately saw great potential in this idea, so she made the first touring backpack for Ivan using a paraglider. The first ‘test version’ was closely followed by 3 more prototypes. It soon became clear to both of them that the 4 prototypes wouldn’t be the end of it, and Janine started to make the first series of touring backpacks in her own home. Nothing changed in terms of production: the product would continue to be made in an environmentally friendly and sustainable way, giving paragliders a second life.

Saas Valley is also the perfect place for the pair to turn their idea into a business as sustainability is a top priority in the region. And they didn’t hesitate when it came to starting production. Ivan’s connections on the paragliding scene soon gave the two of them enough new material to start initial series production and sell them online on a website they created themselves. When it came to finding old paragliders, they were both very surprised at how many people had unusable paragliders lying around – at one point, they even had to stop accepting them as they had too many!

The thing that customers appreciate most about the product is its sustainability, and the material, which makes the backpacks very light yet extremely durable. Janine and Ivan were able to personally test this over the past year, using the prototypes for ski and snowboard tours and climbing tours – including the Weissmies climbing tour, which you can read about in our previous blog post. If you buy a backpack from Schwarzberg, you can be sure that the product you’ve bought won’t be available again. People on the mountain scene are aware of climate change and the impact it has on nature, so customers are happy to support an upcycling product like this one.

One thing is clear – sustainability is becoming increasingly important, which is why this kind of production process just makes sense. But how do you beat large corporations? It’s not necessarily about going up against big corporations, Janine says. Instead, it’s about offering a more sustainable alternative for those looking for something special that’s kind to the planet. Thanks to constant feedback from customers, the pair have been able to continuously work on new ideas, which is how spin-off products like the belt bags and small ‘material bags’ came about.

The backpack itself is also constantly being tweaked to offer customers the absolute best, so the latest Hagen model has stronger material in the bottom part of the backpack to protect against sharp touring shovel tips, and you can also attach a hydration bladder to the inside. The product aims to be completely sustainable so that the backpacks aren’t simply thrown away if there’s a bit of damage. So it’s not a problem if something breaks, just send the backpack back to Schwarzberg and Janine and Ivan will be happy to repair the damage. They now have their own small workspace in an apartment in Saas-Grund. They cut, sew and take photos of products in the two rooms there.

In terms of future company growth, they are still looking for extra employees in production to meet customer demand. Still, Janine and Ivan have already enjoyed much success and will continue to build on what they have achieved in the name of sustainability and for our planet.

The warming temperatures and the melting of the glacier have resulted in more crevasses and a danger of falling ice. The normal route was even closed at the beginning of this year as it was deemed too dangerous. Then the Saas-Grund Gemeinde approved a route change to avoid the fall line of potential breaking ice.

I spoke with several of our local guides about the normal route before going up this time. One told me he doesn’t take clients on the normal route anymore, another said he would only do it with a client that he knew well and whose abilities he had confidence in. Yet another told me the new challenges make it more fun, now it’s quite an adventurous route to the summit. 

Besides the normal route, there are 3 other routes to the Weissmies summit, each of varying difficulties. I had done all of the routes except for the Rotgrat, and I always wanted to do this route as it’s the ridgeline you see from the village. It’s the view I see every day from my living room. It didn’t used to be very popular, but since the normal route has become so much more challenging, more people are moving to the Rotgrat. It’s also not as technical as the Nordgrat and you can make a loop of it down the Südgrat or start from the Almageller Hütte.

But that’s not what I was looking for. I was in need of some training, as I was hoping to do the Mischabel traverse a few days later. So instead of spending the night in the Almageller Hütte or starting with a gondola ride to Hohsaas, I started from my house, planning to ascend the Rotgrat and descend the Normal route.

I left my house at 2:45 am and biked down to Saas-Almagell in the semidarkness. The moon was full, but in the trees along the road to Bodmen it was quite dark. I saw a flying object heading towards me and at the last second I turned my head away, only to have a bat crash into the side of my helmet. What a second cup of coffee!

At 3 am I met my buddy in Saas Almagell and we started up to the Almageller hut. The moon had set and it was a bit cloudy, but we did some speed walking in the darkness, encountering lots of animals, including a lynx and the usual suspects, the steinbock. At dawn we passed the hut, making our first stop at a small lake that perfectly framed Allalinhorn in the early light.

A few years ago, they repainted all the trail markers, so you really can’t get lost. This is also really important for those cases when the weather rapidly changes and you have less visibility. The Rodgrat offers great views over the Saas Valley, the trail is not very technical, and it is easy to scamper along if you are in good shape. There are also some fun mountaineering climbing sections. 

We ascended the ridgeline all the way to the glacier, where we donned our crampons and got on the rope. At this point the clouds were hovering right over the summit. There were a bit of hide and seek clouds, coming in and out all the time, so we felt comfortable enough to continue. When we did summit, after 7 hrs 20 minutes, including breaks for snacks and photos, it was a bit anticlimactic. There is no cross on the summit, just a stake with some Tibetan prayer flags. The weather didn’t live up to what was forecast, so it wasn’t possible to get any nice photos. 

But for me, the best part of the whole adventure was still ahead, the challenging descent down the normal route to Hohsaas. Standing at the summit looking down, we could see the vast difference from what the route was 5 years ago, and it’s current state. It was not going to be a straight shot, and nothing like the highway up to Allalin that it used to be comparable to. 

There was an obvious need to be cautious among so many risk factors. This was such a warm summer. All around us the snow was slushy with crevasses right and left. The trail had been closed for some weeks, and even though it was open now, no one was on it because of the looming dangers. 

From the summit, I made a quick call to my brother in law, Andi, a local guide. He gave me an update on the normal route from a fellow guide that had done it 3 days earlier. Andi encouraged me to descend this way, saying the worst thing that can happen is we have to make the call to turn around and go home the long way.

And so we began to descend through the labyrinthine. It was, no joke, an Indiana Jones style path to avoid doom in the form of huge seracs, massive crevasses, and step icy sections that had to be crossed. Slowly and carefully, we navigated this maze, hyper alert for any break in the ice, anything that might come crashing down around us. I snapped a photo at the little lake just above the top of Hohsaas and looking up at the glacier above it seems crazy that we just passed through there. You can’t really pick out the route at all. After a 12 hour day, I came home happily expended, tired but feeling that full body high from the adventure. 

Depending on your vantage point, Weissmies looks like there isn’t much ice left. It’s hard to tell if the glacier even connects top to bottom any more. Looking at the amount of water pouring out in summer, watching the glacier melt yearly, it seems obvious that very soon there will be no more glacier. But once we were in there, we experienced the north facing section to still be loaded with ice. It was a similar experience to when I went hunting seracs a few weeks before. The glacier still holds a meaty chunk of ice, it’s not dead yet. If your health allows it, I really encourage you to hire a guide and go see the glacier before it’s gone.

“I hope for a big snow year next winter, followed by a moderate summer, and I hope for everyone to treat global warming like the crisis that it is and to work together for change.”

Last year was a terrible winter, and coupled with the high temperatures this summer, the pace of the glacier melting has really quickened. Anyone can see the glacier is suffering, visibly receding in size, shrinking in depth each year. And it was this that motivated me to go on this mission, hunting seracs. I wanted to know, how bad is it really?

My father was a mountain guide, and above my desk at home there hangs a photo of him as a teenager, out on a mission with his father, who was also a mountain guide. My father is standing among the seracs, smiling proudly. I wanted to capture as much of this wonder and beauty as I can while it’s still here. One day they are going to be gone and all we will have left is what we document now. 

I called up a few mountaineering buddies to see if they would join the hunt with me. Equipped with crampons, ice axes, ropes and harnesses, we set off into the glacier, specifically looking for seracs. The glacier itself is a labyrinth, so you can’t just walk in a straight line. Often seracs are formed by intersecting crevasses. I had some hunches as to where we could find some of these giants, and I was right.

Moving through the glacier toward these huge ice towers showed us indeed how fast the ice is melting. There were rivers flowing right and left. We could also see the brown Sahara dust on the ice. These little specs of sand radiate the heat and accelerate the melting. This sand is nothing new but it’s usually just an annual occurrence. Over the last few years it’s happening more regularly and with more intensity.

But at the same time I was amazed at what we did find – how massive and thick the towers were in places. There are still huge masses of ice. At one point we came to a place where we could only continue by jumping over a crevasse. I’m glad to say that none of us found out how deep it was. And when we did arrive at the seracs, my friends, who are skilled ice climbers, were delighted to do some climbing. 

This glacier is a gem, I recommend anyone who is in good shape to hire a guide and go on a tour of this magical place, to see it as long as it still exists. There is nothing like experiencing this magic with your own eyes, it’s like being on another planet. My personal tip is to go in September or October, as this is when they are the most beautiful. The colder temperatures bring out the blues and greens in the ice, but you need to be there before the snow covers them for winter. 

I hope for a big snow year next winter, followed by a moderate summer, and I hope for everyone to treat global warming like the crisis that it is and to work together for change.

A person who has never visited the Mattmark and perhaps hasn’t even heard of it might well ask themselves what makes this place so special? That’s what I thought too when I heard about this place for the first time. For many people in the Saas Valley, the Mattmark is a true powerhouse, a place where you can think about something else, switch off and enjoy nature or escape from the stress of day-to-day life. But it is also a place that brings back painful memories.

I experienced this the first time I visited the Mattmark in August 2021. At the site itself, I was able to directly experience the power of the reservoir, and how breathtaking the image of the sun reflected in the turquoise water looked.

In order to do this blog post about the Mattmark justice, I enlisted the help of Rolf Zurbriggen. His father, Adolf Zurbriggen, worked at the Mattmark power plant as a dam warden for 31 years, where he led tours of the facility. This meant that Rolf had plenty of opportunities to get to know this unique construction. In order to gain a better understanding of everything, we need to turn back time, as our history of this impressive place starts back in the 17th century.

Early history

Mattmark was a 1.5 km² plain lying approx. 5 km below the Monte Moro pass. The Distel Alp was located to the rear. It was the largest alpine pasture in Saas and every community had an alpine hut there. In summer, more than 100 cows, sheep and goats grazed on the pasture. The lower end of the plain was closed off by a large glacial moraine. The Allalin glacier extended to the bottom of the valley and, as a natural dam, blocked the course of the Vispe, forming a so-called glacial lake. Again and again the lake broke its banks, causing serious devastation in the Saas Valley. There are 25 outbreaks documented in Saas historical records. The Mattmark flash flood, which occurred on 4 August 1633, hit the population of the Saas Valley hard. Almost half the people living there lost all of their worldly goods and they were forced to migrate.

In 1856, the parish priest of Saas had a hotel built, close to the blue rock. This was very important as a starting point for various mountain tours and also as a rest stop for people who wanted to travel from Saas-Almagell to Italy. In the summer months, the area also had plenty of visitors, thanks to the diversity of flora and fauna. From 1870 to 1895, smuggling was at its peak. Many of the men from the Saas Valley were working in the gold mines in Magugnaga. The Saas people and their Italian friends therefore knew each other very well and so selling coffee, cigarettes and saccharine in Italy was easy. These cross-border commuters mainly brought copper kettles for cooking, rice and other foodstuffs back home. Wedding rings were also much cheaper in Italy.

The beginnings, from the construction of the dam onwards

By 1920, engineers were in the process of investigating whether or not the Mattmark plain would be a suitable location for a dam to generate electricity. At the beginning of the 1950s, Elektrowatt in Zurich was interested in the site and in 1954 they proposed a pre-project. Elektrowatt was granted water use rights by 11 municipalities.

In 1959, the Mattmark AG power plant was established on the site of the Hotel Beau-Site in Saas-Fee. In order to facilitate starting work on the dam, a six metre-wide road from Saas-Almagell to the dam was built between 1958 and 1959. Prior to the construction of the dam, an injection screen was installed to seal the subsoil. The boreholes went right into the rock and they were filled with liquid concrete. A drainage gallery was built on top of it; through this gallery the workers could carry out their inspection rounds from the butterfly valve to the measuring chamber below the dam at any time.

From 1960 to 1967, over a width of 373 m and a length of 780 m, the filtered moraine material from the southern and northern moraines of the Allalin glacier was piled up. This created the largest earth dam in Europe, with a height of 120 m and a volume of 10.5 million cubic metres. At the same time, the tributary tunnels were constructed. Thus, the water from the Allalin and Hohlaub glaciers was channelled down on the left side of the valley, and on the right side, the water from the Furgg, Almageller and Trift streams was fed into the reservoir.

In 1961, the settlement of Zermeiggern, which had 20 houses, stables and a small chapel, was demolished. It had to make way for the equalising reservoir. On the right-hand side in Zermeiggern, 6 large canteens were constructed for the workers, to provide accommodation and catering. In the summertime, up to 1300 people worked on the power plant construction sites. Everything went according to plan until 1965.

The glacial ice avalanche and the years that followed

On 30 August 1965 at 5:10 pm, a terrible natural catastrophe took place. On that fateful day, 1 million m² of ice broke off the Allalin glacier and engulfed the construction site, including various barracks at Mattmark. A total of 88 workers, including 56 guest workers from Italy, were buried by the huge ice avalanche and lost their lives. The accident came as a great shock to the Saas population, Switzerland as a whole and Italy too. The names of the victims were engraved on a stone slab in the new chapel in Zermeiggern.

One year later, work to finish the dam had begun and it was completed in 1967. The inauguration and full operation of the plant took place in 1969. Since then, the reservoir has been operated as a storage power plant, which means that the reservoir is empty in May and full in mid-September. The two power plants produce 680 million kWh of energy between them. The plants mainly generate peak energy for the winter. Between 1983 and 1987, the company set up a pumping station in Zermeiggern to pump the water from the equalising basin back into the dam lake. Approximately 10 million m³ of water is pumped up per year.

On 24 September 1993, the Upper Valais was hit by a heavy storm. Brig was flooded. The Saas Valley and Visp were spared, thanks to the Lake Mattmark reservoir. It was possible to divert all the side streams back to the Mattmark reservoir and then later allow them to flow through the middle outlet. In October 2000, a similar situation occurred once again. Based on these insights, the canton converted the dam into a multipurpose reservoir in 2001. Ever since then, the canton of Valais has had a retention volume of 2.6 million m³ at its disposal.

In 2007, the reservoir was emptied in order to renew all safety installations such as the butterfly valves, the gates at the bottom outlet and also at the middle outlet after 50 years of operation. The residual water was discharged into the Vispe River via the bottom outlet in April. The power plant operator instructed the Cantonal Fishers’ Association to reintroduce rainbow and brown trout into the lake and Vispe River.

Mattmark today

In 2008, a new restaurant was built on the dam crest. The first floor houses the offices of Kraftwerke Mattmark AG and an exhibition space where people can watch a film about the origins of the dam at any time.

Today, not only does the dam supply electricity, it is also a wonderful place to go hiking. Visitors can do a short circular walk around the dam reservoir. At the back of the reservoir is the new Distel Alp hut. You can admire the black Eringer cows on all of the alps. You can do a longer walk by following the high alpine hike, which starts at the Felskinn cableway in Saas-Fee and leads over the Allalin and Hohlaub glaciers down to the Mattmark. You can hike on old smuggler routes from Mattmark to the Monte-Moro pass and enjoy the view of the Monte Rosa east face when visiting the Golden Maria. If you prefer travelling on two wheels, you can also ride around the reservoir lake on a mountain bike. When hiking around the lake, you might also come across the sought-after therapeutic plant, the medicinal rose root. It has a calming effect to counteract stress. As the plant is protected, it is bred by the Agroscope research institute.

If you want to get an idea of the history of Mattmark, I recommend the postcard exhibition by Thomas Burgener, who has been collecting written postcards for 40 years. From December 2021 to October 2022, Thomas will be exhibiting part of his extensive collection of postcards in Haus Alma opposite the Saas Museum in Saas-Fee. Around 250 original postcards from the Saas Valley from 1890 to the present day are on display on 10 panels. The exhibition shows the history of the picture postcard, including postcards from the Mattmark area.

In memory of the workers who died in the accident, the Mattmark Memorial half marathon has been organised since 2019. This is considered a challenging route, as there are 810 metres of altitude to conquer. The route starts at the round church in Saas-Balen. It then leads through picturesque larch forests past Saas-Grund and Saas-Almagell to Eienalpe. Taking historic paths, you then reach a pleasant climb to reach the dam wall. After this point comes the most pleasant section for the runners, consisting of 7 kilometres of a practically flat route around the picturesque Mattmark lake.

This is the animating story that motivated Rolf Zurbriggen to tell the Saas Valley’s visitors about what Mattmark was like in days gone by and how the wonderful dam came into being. This event is organised by Saastal Tourismus.

More information:

• Date & time: Every Tuesday | 2:00 pm
• Meeting point: By the information board in front of Restaurant Mattmark
• Price (incl. aperitif): CHF 12.00 | CHF 10.00 with the SaastalCard
• Note: German | From 5 people
• Registration: until the previous evening at 6:00 pm | Service Center Saas-Almagell + 41 27 958 18 88 | info@saas-almagell.ch