Davos, Switzerland - February 2020
Swiss mountain town nestled in the heart of the Alps
Davos is an alpine resort town located in the Swiss Alps that’s best known as the site of the World Economic Forum typically held in January. The town is the quintessential mountain resort town with the mountains being the main attraction no matter the season. In the winter the valley boasts 6 different ski areas for skiing, snowboarding and sledging. The local transportation is excellent so no vehicle is necessary to visit. In the summer the lifts are open so hikers, mountain bikers and climbers can enjoy the mountains. It’s popular with hikers due to the unprecedented views and 435 mi (700 km) of trails.
The Swiss Alps
The Swiss Alps cover around 65% of Switzerlands land area and run along its boarders with France, Italy and Liechtenstein. Although Switzerland is only home to 14% of the Alps total square area of 72,422 sq mi (192,753 sq km) its home to most of the highest peaks and 48 of 82 alpine four-thousanders (4 thousand meter mountains) with the remaining 34 within 12 mi (20 km) of its boarder.
Tourism in the Alps started in the 1800s with British mountain climbers and local guides. The construction of facilities for tourism began in the mid-nineteenth century with the building of hotels and mountain huts and the opening of mountain train lines. The Alps host a large number of alpinists in the summer and skiers and snowboarders in the winters making it a popular tourist spot all year long.
The city of Davos
Davos is an Alpine town located at the top of the Landwasser valley at an elevation of 5,120 ft (1,560 m) with a population of around 11,000 people. It’s located in the heart of the Alps just under a 2 hour drive into the mountains from Zurich. It is Europe’s highest city trailed by Krusevo, North Macedonia at 4,430 ft (1,350 m). Its main economy is tourism and it is the regional center for the area. It is most often known as a ski town with 6 different ski areas and is the home of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting. It makes a great place for the annual meeting due to its world class accommodations, proximity to and views of the various ski areas and the seclusion provided by its location in the mountains. The city is also home to HC Davos, one of the more successful hockey teams in the National League with 31 league championships.
Davos Parsenn
Parsenn is the largest of six ski areas in Davos Klosters and has some of the longest runs in Europe. The longest run on Parsenn runs from the Weissfluhgipfel, the highest point on the mountain to the town of Kublis and runs for 7.5 mi (12 km). The Weissfluhgipfel, or the highest point on Parsenn, is seen here standing 9331 ft (2844 m) and is serviced by a short tram that can be accessed from the top of the 2nd funicular (cable railway that connects two points on a steep slope). The first funicular was opened around 90 years ago providing access to the mountain directly from the town. The 97km of slopes provide access to the towns of Davos, Klosters and Kublis with wide slopes and traditional mountain huts serving up Swiss food and beer including fondue. In the summer the mountain also offers mountain biking, hiking and altitude training on the trails accessible from the funicular.
Jakobshorn
The base of Jakobshorn is located in the southern part of the town of Davos with the peak rising from here to 8,500 feet (2,590 m) tall. The mountain has 42.1 km of slopes, 13 km of ski routes and 13 lifts. There is a small area for skiing at the base and access to the upper mountain through the main tram system (Jakobshornbahn) or the double chairlift (Fuxagufer). The mountain is most famous for snowboarding and its snowboard park “Jatz Park” including an illuminated super pipe. Due to the high altitude of 8200 ft (2500 m) the park stays open from early December to mid-April. In the summer the main two lifts (Jakobshornbahn trams) still run bringing visitors to the Jakobshorn peak providing a perfect take off spot for hang-gliders and starting point for hikers.
Rinerhorn Mountain
Rinerhorn is the southernmost of the six ski areas in Davos and stands at 8,294 ft (2,528 m). It is a skiing mountain with 51.5 km of slopes, 6 km of ski routes and 7 lifts. There is a 6 person gondola that leads from the base to the ski resort but the rest of the lifts are T-Bar lifts so snowboarders beware. You’re allowed on the mountain……at your own risk. It also has an 3 km toboggan run for sledging (the act of traveling or sliding downhill over snow on a sled) that also offers sking/slegding by moonlight two times a week from 7-11pm. Three of the resorts seven lifts go to the Hubel, Jounli, and Nullisch Grat peaks on the right side of the mountain as shown in this picture. No lift takes you to the Rinerhorn peak which is the highest point on the mountain. If you want to visit the Rinerhorn peak you need to take the Jounli lift to the top then hike.
Pow Stashes
One of the reason we went snowboarding in Switzerland was for the vast open, often untouched terrain and high average annual snowfall of 212 in (539 cm). While we were there it didn’t disappoint. We found a small off piste area after an overnight dumping and made most of the tracks you see here before too many others also found “our” spot. Being on the edge of the trail system with a cliff on skiers left (right side of this photo) this spot stayed hidden long enough to ride out some floaty powder on multiple runs. It’s moment like these that New England skiers/snowboarders need to travel to experience but never forget.
Eisbar/Iglu-Dorf
At the top of Parsenn on the Weissfluhjoch peak at 8,734 ft (2,662 m) is a man-made igloo that’s home to a bar, a fondue restaurant and a hotel. Davoser Kasefondue is a full service fondue restaurant with seating for around 20 people just as you walk into the igloo. Across from the restaurant seating area is full service Eisbar that serves the restaurant patrons and skiers alike providing one of the Swiss favorites, Gluhwein. The last service that’s offered at Iglu Dorf is the Igloo Hotel that offers 6 different igloo villages, all you can eat fondue with regional mountain cheeses and access to the whirlpool and sauna. They also provide a welcome drink and morning tea while still in your sleeping bag. This unique experience provides visitors of Parsenn a place to drink, eat and sleep high up in the mountains with access to first tracks on the moutain.
Igloo Dorf - Overnight Stays
The Igloo Dorf is located at the top of the 2nd funicular on Parsenn (Weissfluhjoch peak) in the same igloo as the Igloo Restaurant and the Snow Bar. It’s one of five igloo hotels throughout Switzerland that allow overnight stays in the winter once it’s cold enough to create the hotel. Each year the rooms are decorated with great attention to detail with a new theme by famous artists. The hotel boasts rooms for family and friends, groups, a romantic room with a private toilet and the exclusive suite with a private whirlpool. While visiting all guest can enjoy the outdoor whirlpool, the sauna or the cosy kota (wooden hut heated by an open fire). Guests also enjoy all you can eat fondue, night walks and a morning breakfast buffet. All rooms are equipped with thermal mats and expedition sleeping bags for temperatures down to -40°C.
Davos Congress
Davos Congress is a major convention center in Davos that opened in 1969 and has been host to the annual meeting of the Word Economic Forum since 1971. The conference center covers 129,000 sq ft (12,000 sq m) with three independent meeting areas, a plenary hall for 1,800 delegates and 34 additional rooms. It can host up to 5,000 delegates at one time.
The conference center provides all the organization and culinary as well as a breathtaking view of the mountains Graubunden. It’s also home to the Eau La La Wellness and Pleasure Pool Center that has indoor and outdoor pools, a diving area, a solarium, a water slide, and a fun park for kids on the first floor. The wellness center has a steam bath, multiple saunas and a rooftop bubble bath that opens to the sky and stars with an uninhibited view of the mountains.
Top of the World
OK, this wasn’t actually the top of the world but when you’re that high up in the mountains, the air is thin, it’s cold outside, the wind is blowing so you can barely hear your friends and the clouds are heavy hiding what’s below; it feels like you’re at the top of the world. I always try to remember to take pictures at meaningful moments of my life and this was definitely one of them. Even though it was physically difficult to get a good picture (think frozen fingers and foggy camera lens) it’s moments like these that are worth the extra effort to create a memory. It’s an amazing feeling to be in conditions like this on the top of a tall, steep mountain knowing the only way down is on the board (or skis) you brought with you. What a rush!
Food of Davos
I love to try local food anywhere I go but I’ve always had an affinity for Bavarian style food. While in Davos I tried way more food than I can show here but these were my favorites. On the top left, the Jagertee and sausage was enjoyed mountainside sitting outside at Berggasthaus Parsennhutte located at the bottom of the Parsennhuttenbahn. The goulash on the top right was from another on mountain restaurant called Berggasthaus Gotschnagrat located at the top of the Gotschnabahn on Parsenn which originates from Klosters. We ate inside for this meal because it was freezing cold outside and the wind was howling. The schnitzel on the bottom left was also enjoyed mountainside at Schifer Berghaus in an old moutain side house turned into restaurant located at the bottom of the Schiferbahn Gondola. Last is the steak and potatoes which was one of the better meals I’ve been served at a hotel. The Hilton Garden Inn Davos, where we stayed during our trip, served our group of about 40 people some amazing meals during our visit.
HC Davos Hockey
HC Davos is a professional Swiss hockey team that was founded in 1921 and they’re actually really good! The team has won 31 National League titles and 15 Spengler Cup trophies over its history. Their home arena, where this picture was taken, is Eisstadion Davos (Vaillant Arena) and is located in the center of Davos. The arena gained the name Vaillant Area in 2007 when the Valliant Group paid 3 million Swiss francs to help fund future renovations. The stadium holds 7,080 people with 3,280 seats and is used primary for hockey but also used for speed skating and bandy (a sport similar to hockey played primarily in Sweden and Russia). The teams last championship was in 2015.
