After the post bus twists around more than 16 serpentine switchbacks you arrive in Verbier. Planned in châlet style architecture more than 55 years ago, it's Switzerland's only purpose-built resort. In the ensuing years it's become an active and popular ski area attracting young skiers from all over, especially England. It's compactly developed so those who flock here find it easy to get to the lifts, ski shops, cafés, discos, the sports center, or wherever by foot or by the free buses.

Surrounded in a bowl dominated by Mont-Fort and Monte-Gélé in 'Les 4 Vallée s,' Verbier has an incredible amount of skiing! There are 245 miles of trails serviced by 95 lifts including the new 'Chondola' a gondola-chair combo between La Chaux and Les Ruinettes, the 30 person high speed gondola above Medran and the 150 passenger Mont-Fort cable car. Experts, of which there're many, take their chances on Monte-Gélor Lac des Vaux. Those finishing Tortin's 3,000 foot vertical of bumps have a new eight passenger detachable gondola to whisk them back to Verbier.  Intermediates are very happy at Ruinettes or Savoleyres; the latter has a new eight passenger chair to La Tzoumaz. Débutants can begin just above the village. The more adventurous can ski two days in Chamonix or Courmayeur or do the one day 'Super St. Bernard' to Italy. The most experienced might plan ahead and attempt the four day ' Haute Route' to Zermatt.

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