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Poland opportunity for a wealth of winter sports. Apart from the
The mountains along the southern border of Poland include traditional skiing and snowboarding, Saas-Fee offers
a wide variety of resorts, ranging from fashionable towns winter-canyoning in the Gorge Alpine. Taking place in the
such as Zakopane to smaller, more atmospheric villages. Fee gorge between Saas-Fee and Saas-Grund, the tour led
In the west, on the Czech border, are the Karkonosze by a mountain guide features climbing through the frozen
Mountains, which reach a peak height of 5,249 feet. On gorge using cable pulleys, hanging bridges, ladders and
these mountains are Karpacz and Szklarkska Poreba ski iron pegs. Highlights include climbing past frozen water-
resorts. In the middle of Poland are the Beskid Mountains, falls. Saas-Fee also features ice-climbing tours, for all
reaching almost 4,000 feet, and Szccyrk, Wisla and Ustron levels of expertise, from beginners to advanced. Saas-Free,
ski resorts. On the Slovakia border in the east are the High known for its ice-climbing, was home to the Ice Climbing
Tatra Mountains (nearly 8,000 feet), home of Zakopane, World Cup in January 2011. (saas-fee.ch)
the “Winter Capital of Poland.” (zakopane-life.com)
Schwarzsee is home to a new bed and breakfast, Anna’s
Russia Bed and Breakfast, featuring remodeled rooms, wi-fi
In Sochi, the site of the 2014 Winter Olympics, the men’s Internet and balconies overlooking the mountains and
and women’s ski halfpipe event will make its debut. The rise lakes. It is located within a few steps of Schwarzsee’s ski
in popularity and international interest in the sport through lifts, restaurants, shops and tourist office. (annasbnb.ch)
the Winter X games influenced the International Olympic
Committee’s decision to include the event. The games will Along with skiing, Switzerland offers another way to
take place in two clusters in Russia—one in a mountain enjoy the snow with over 150 toboggan runs. The longest
cluster in Krasnaya Polyana and another in a coastal cluster toboggan run in Europe, “Big Pintenfritz,” runs for over
in Sochi. The Sochi Olympic Park will be constructed by the nine miles with a vertical drop of 5,351 feet as it starts
Black Sea coast in the Imeretin Valley. (sochi2014.com) at the Faulhorn winding down to Grindelwald. Prodalp-
Flumserberg features a two-mile toboggan run from Prodalp
Sweden to Tannenheim, ideal for families.
For those craving some mountain time in Scandinavia,
Sweden’s 34 ski resorts offer a variety of options.
Edsasdalen is located in a beautiful old village with Saas-Fee, Switzerland
opportunities to cross country ski from your doorstep.
Thirteen runs are accessible on the mountain via six
different ski lifts and are able to accommodate 2,300 skiers
and snowboarders per hour. At Klappen, which is a part of
the Salen Ski Area, skiers and boarders have access to
87 miles of downhill skiing with 86 different runs and
100 ski lifts. A pass enables you to ski at both Klappen
and another Salen resort, Lindvallen. (visitsweden.com)

Switzerland
Bergün, a popular skiing and sledding destination, is set
to open a new railway museum in the summer of 2012.
Visitors can learn about the history of the Albula railway
tunnel, built in 1898, that connected the villages of Bergün
and Bravogn with Stugl and Stuls. Topics will include
the beginning of the steam age combined with special
exhibitions and a model railway shop. (berguen-filisur.ch)

After a three-month closure, Pilatus Kilm on Mount Pilatus,
reopened to the public in February. The work done on the
area included remodeling at the Pilatus-Kulm Hotel, featuring
a new sun terrace, and a new self-service restaurant in the
Hotel Bellevue. Accesses to the Oberhaupt viewpoint and
dragon gallery are also opened to the public. Building work
is set to be completely done on the mountain by May 2011,
with a reconstructed panorama gallery opening. (pilatus.ch).

Saas-Fee, the main village in the Saas Valley, is located Switzerland Tourism
close to the glaciers of Dom and Allalinhorm, providing

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