Mark Megahan
Elite jet setters can ski with ease from one country to another. Those pesky international borders were erased a long time ago. Europe’s Schengen Area, established all the way back in 1995, allows free travel between 29 countries. Skiers are the ones who appreciate that the most. They love the idea of breakfast in one nation and lunch in another, with breathtaking views of snow capped mountains, including the Matterhorn, in the background.
Extreme cross country skiing
Elite Alpine travelers love to take cross country skiing to extremes. Several European “ski domains” sprawl conveniently across international borders. The biggest challenge is deciding how to pack your wallet for the day.
It’s hard, one pundit says, “to suppress a little thrill when you find yourself skiing into new territory, changing languages, cuisines and even, occasionally, currencies along the way.”
At the Portes du Soleil, you have an opportunity “ski from France into Switzerland.” That ski domain consists of 12 linked resorts.
Right next door, the French resort La Rosière is connected to Espace San Bernardo, in the country of Italy. That turns “two smallish resorts into a much bigger playground.” Switzerland also happens to share the iconic Matterhorn with Italy “from opposite sides of their borders.”
For Swiss skiers who don’t like Italy, one of Austria’s biggest “party resorts,” Ischgl “is connected to the more sedate Samnaun in Switzerland.”
One thing cross country skiers need to remember is how crucially important it is to “catch the last lift back to your base, or you’ll face an expensive taxi ride or hotel stay.” Veterans of the experience suggest “to be on the safe side, bring your passport.”
Sunniest slopes in the Alps
La Rosière, in the Savoie region of France, boasts “some of the sunniest slopes in the French Alps.” It’s also more “family-friendly” than other resorts in the country. Offering “panoramic views over the Isère Valley,” it has runs “more geared towards beginners and intermediates.”
That doesn’t mean the pros won’t have fun there too. “advanced skiers will want to explore the large freeride area at the top of Mont Valaisan at 2,800 meters.”
From Fort de la Redoute at the lofty 2,390 meter level, you can have an espresso enjoying “panoramic views from the glass-floored terrace” before zooming cross country through “the narrow red run over into La Thuile in Italy’s Aosta Valley.”
One of the biggest attractions are the “varied pistes and mountain restaurants serving generous plates of pasta” throughout Espace San Bernardo. Along with the “compacted runs of snow” and Italian food are “two long and rather tedious drag lifts” which are shut down in bad weather. So, experts advise, “save your French-Italian excursion for a sunny day.”
In La Thuile, “you can take advantage of the chance to go heli-skiing, which is not allowed in France, but it’s legal to be dropped off in Italy and ski over.” One of the most popular trans-national ski destinations are the paired resorts of Ischgl, Austria and Samnaun, Switzerland. One country has the nightlife while the other has “duty-free” shopping. They both have great skiing.
“It’s no exaggeration to say that high-altitude Ischgl is the liveliest resort in the Alps, with huge, big-name concerts launching and closing the season and a dancing-till-dawn nightlife. It’s also a magnet for snowboarders.” On the other hand, “back in the 19th century, when the only road to Samnaun was through Austria, the Swiss decided to give this tiny village duty-free status — the only one in Switzerland. So when you ski across the border, you can stock up on duty-free goods.” The old smugglers trails are now cross country ski circuits.
