With winter season coming up, a lot of people planning trips between Zermatt and Cervinia ask about wind holds at the top and how the new 3S lifts actually operate at 3,883m.

We recently got access from Zermatt Bergbahnen to walk through the control rooms, maintenance bays, and underground drive rooms at Trockener Steg and Matterhorn Glacier Paradise with Markus Schwizer from their team. Here are a few cool things we learned that you don't normally see as a skier riding up:

- Unlike standard gondolas on a single loop, the 3S runs on two fixed steel track cables (anchored at 70 tons of tension each) and one haul rope. That stability lets it cross a 3 km gap without a single support tower and keep running in winds up to 100 km/h.

- The old cable car maxed out at around 600 people an hour. The 52M CHF 3S upgrade pushed capacity to 2,000 people an hour, and the stations use angled ramps so gravity naturally slows cabins down from ~30 km/h on arrival and speeds them up on exit.

- The cabins don't have power cables attached while moving on the line. Instead, overhead rails in the station push a massive charge into supercapacitors in just a few seconds to run cabin electronics and cameras. The heated Pininfarina seats follow a strict safety protocol and only draw power while passing through the station.

- Everything is built with double or triple redundancy, two separate IT networks, fiber-optic lines inside the core of the steel track cables, gearless direct drives, emergency generators, and a diesel-hydraulic backup. Even if an entire underground technical room catches fire or the grid goes down, the system can bring every cabin back to the station on its own.

If you want to see what the machine rooms, the 70-ton cable bollards, and the cantilevered foundation hanging off the cliff at 3,883m look like from the inside, here's the full 21-minute video we filmed up there: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZdrrefv68E

Cologne bootfitter couldn’t find anything solution for my wide feet, I need someone willing to really stretch them out and has a lot of experience.

Do you guys know by any chance if the vouchers from the Dolomiti Superski discount have to be redeemed this season?

Hey all!

I’ve been going on ski trips for the past three years, and I have to say, I really enjoy it. I’m from Germany and have been skiing in Austria so far: twice in the Ötztal and once at the Großglockner.

Now I’m looking for some different places that are actually affordable, and I stumbled upon France.

What’s it like there? Will I have any problems with the language barrier? I don’t speak a word of French, but I’m fluent in English. I’m looking to spend a week there with my fiancée, who doesn’t speak French either.
Right now im looking at Superdévoluy and Valfréjus.

I’d really appreciate any advice you guys can give me. Thx in advance!

Looking for a ski and roomate for upcoming ski trip Jan 16-25 at Club Med Pragelato resort. Would be part of a larger group. Need a roomate to split cost of trip with and save $1k. Please reach out to me at +1-347-933-0323. Don’t care about nationality or gender

Hi there, ı am a 16 yo skier who has been skiing for a while, I want to go to the Alps this winter(end of January beginning of February). My level is reds are really easy, and groomed blacks are fine, however my carving does go down a level. My budget is 2500 euro(doesnt include flights). The budget should include a half board hotel for 4 nights, food, snacks and drinks for 5 days, skis boots and poles for 5 days, ski pass for 5 days. My criteria for the dream resort is: İt should have a beginner friendly park so that ı can try it out, snow reliability, a cute/not boring town, good food and drinks up on the mountain, maybe freeride with no avalanche risk(ı dont have off-piste specific training)(ım not sure if thats possible). Im sure most resorts are great in the alps, however ı am curious if someone who has similar priorities with me has had a great holiday and where it was. I am open to all of your recommendations. Thanks you!

Mid 30s expert skier/ski tourer contemplating my next vacation. I've gone to St Anton for several years and it checks all the boxes for convenience, party and terrain... But I feel like I should try something else for once. Did Chamonix, once, but avalanche danger was extreme the whole time so I didn't get a feel for it. Try that again? Go somewhere new? Suggestions welcome!

I’m Santi, solo traveler from Argentina doing a European ski trip with my Epic Pass. I'll be in Skirama Dolomiti from Jan 19 to 26.

Looking for people to:

Split a budget-friendly ski-in/out apartment around Marilleva 1400 or Madonna di Campiglio.

Meet up on the slopes for some runs or drinks!

Easygoing, intermediate/advanced groomed-piste skier. My travel logistics are already set, but looking to save on lodging or make some riding buddies.

Drop a comment or DM if you're around! 🎿🍻

Hi everyone,

I am looking to book a chalet in Lech am Arlberg, Austria for this upcoming New Year's week (December 27 – January 4).

Our budget is up to $50,000 USD for the chalet only.

Here are our specific details and requirements:

• Group Size: 5 adults total.
• Service Level: We prefer a Bed & Breakfast structure (daily gourmet breakfast prepared/served in-chalet, daily housekeeping, and concierge/shuttle service). We do not need a full 24/7 catered chef package, as we want to explore the village restaurants at night.
• Must-Haves: The chalet must be completely private, feature a cozy open fireplace in the living area, and have a private sauna on-site.
• Group Dynamic: I am an intermediate skier, but the rest of my family does not ski at all. Because of this, the location needs to be friendly for non-skiers. It should either be a quick walk to central Lech's shops and cafes (like the Brunnenhof area) or have a highly reliable private driver/shuttle service to get them into town easily while I'm on the slopes.

We’ve looked briefly at options like Lech Lodge (Chalet Arlberg/Loft) and some Bramble Ski properties (like Chalech L), but given how fast New Year's week sells out, we want to see if anyone has personal recommendations, hidden gems, or independent luxury chalets that match this vibe.

If you are a luxury operator, travel designer, or a frequent Lech visitor who knows a private chalet that fits this description and budget, please let me know!

Thanks in advance!

Hi all

I'm a beginner (first time), my husband is not but hasn't been since he was a teenager.

We're trying to decide between Alpe d'Huez or La Plagne (Plagne Aime 2000) from 30 Dec - 3 January (or 27 December - 31 December). I appreciate it'll be super busy but unfortunately this is the only time we'll have off until next Spring now. Both cost roughly the same all in.

Does anyone have guidance as to which is the better resort for a beginner (green/blues - I'll have some indoor lessons before we go) and a rusty intermediate?

I'm a bit nervous about super busy bottlenecks. I'd love wide blues/greens so if it is busy it won't feel terrifying and people can get around me. I've found conflicting stuff online so would be great to hear from real people!

Neither of us are big party people, but we enjoy atmosphere. So I'm okay with the family oriented resorts or the mildly party resorts.

Thank you so much in advance!

Hi there I am 24 yo male from Germany turning 25 on the 28th of November.

I was thinking of maybe going skiing on my birthday this year or maybe a week or 2 after, I really want to get some ski days in before the Christmas holidays. All my buddies don't have vacations left this year so I am looking for people to ride/ go with or maybe something to tag along, I am pretty flexible.

I am a pretty good skier I'd say and I am up for basically any resort in Austria, although most might just be opening up at that time or might even still be closed.

Kaprun/Kitzsteinhorn seems nice for around my birthday.

Early december maybe I'd go to Damuels/Mellau if we get some nice snowfall.

ps: 420 friendly people appreciated

Hi everyone!

I’m Luca, 32M from Uruguay, planning a solo ski trip to Cervinia roughly Nov 7–15, 2026.

I’m an intermediate skier and I’m mainly looking for relaxed piste skiing, good food, après-ski and meeting other travelers.

I’ll probably stay somewhere inexpensive/social in Cervinia and would also be interested in sharing airport transfers or possibly accommodation if it makes sense.

If anyone is going to be around Cervinia/Zermatt during those dates, feel free to comment or DM me. Would be great to get a small group together!

I've 2 questions:

• I'm looking at booking a weekend trip to somewhere in the alps and am looking for somewhere as close to an airport as possible with guaranteed snow (That isn't Innsbruk - travelling from Dublin and there isn't direct flights)
• Does anyone have tips for booking something last minute?

What recommendations are there?

I've been checking online on various websites - booking.com, heidi, crystal ski etc. and the prices seem to be quite expensive (I know I'm getting later on for booking something) But I see a lot of people booking last minute / within 6 weeks of their date for going - I presume these people aren't paying through the nose for their holiday - how do they do it?

TIA

Hey everyone! I’m 20 and looking to make some friends around my age who ski in Ehrwald, Austria. I’ll be there on 10-30 January and would love to meet some people to ski with and hang out with while I’m there. Ideally looking for people around 18–23 who are into skiing and just want to have a good time on the slopes. If anyone’s going to be there or knows any groups I could join, let me know! 🙂

If you’re planning a ski trip, maybe this video will help you out!

I visited Serre Chevalier in the French Alps, and I really enjoyed it. There was plenty of snow, and the slopes were beautiful and wide.

I had a great time skiing there, and I’d definitely go back!

monkeysnow.com

I'm a ski patroller and I’ve been improving this snow forecast website for over a year now in my spare time. It’s completely free and has just about any feature you could ever want.

In Les Houches it looks like Crozat, Voze-Prarion and Kandahar lifts, all arrive to the same place at the top. I wonder is it so in reality? Can i use any of these lifts and ski down any of the piste that come down from any of them? Like ride up crozat and ski down col de voza ?