Arosa Lenzerheide

Logo of the Arosa Lenzerheide ski area

Arosa Lenzerheide is a winter sports area in Switzerland . It was created in 2013/14 by connecting the existing ski areas of Arosa and Lenzerheide . With 225 kilometers of slopes and 43 cable cars, it is the largest connected winter sports arena in Graubünden .

Location and description

Lenzerheide Arosa GRAUBÜNDEN

Arosa Lenzerheide is located in northern and central Grisons

The winter sports area in northern and central Grisons extends from the innermost Schanfigg over the Urdental into the neighboring western valley with Lenzerheide, Parpan - Valbella and Churwalden . It covers an altitude range from 1230  m to 2865  m . Outstanding summit connections with aerial tramways and panorama restaurants are the Weisshorn and the Parpaner Rothorn , which also mark the highest mechanically accessible point in the ski area.

Arosa Lenzerheide also has 103 km of prepared cross-country trails and 4 fun parks (“Park'n'Pipe Tschuggen ”, “Wood Ranch” and “Bärensnowpark” in Arosa and “Jibarea Stätz” on the Lenzerheide). There are also 11.5 km of toboggan runs and 140 km of prepared winter hiking trails . In summer the region is a popular hiking and mountain biking area .

The technical cable car connection between Arosa and Lenzerheide is via a 1694 m long and almost 70 vertical meter cable car built in summer 2013 - the Urdenbahn - from Hörnligrat to Urdenfürggli , which is also accessed from the Lenzerheide side with two detachable six- seater chairlifts . The Arosa Bergbahnen and Lenzerheide Bergbahnen are mainly responsible for the operation of the ski area .

For an efficient and safe connection between the east and west sides of Lenzerheiden, a fixed-grip four-seater chairlift “Obertor” was built in the Parpan Heimberg – Proschieri area in 2015. Other infrastructure projects implemented in 2015 that are directly related to the regional connection are the snow-making system in the Hörnli - Plattenhorn area and the replacement of the Churwalden - Alp Stätz chairlift with the eight-person "Heidbüel" gondola with Porsche Design gondolas.

In the summer of 2016, a snow-making system was installed between Parpan / Proschieri and Churwalden to secure the valley run there. Appropriate infrastructure was also built in the Pradaschier – Churwalden area. In Arosa, the new construction of the Brüggerhorn chairlift and the permanent installation of two roofed conveyor belts from the Innerarosa ski school center to the valley station of the Kulm gondola were realized. Selective terrain corrections were already carried out beforehand in order to be able to open individual sections of the slopes in the Arosa area earlier. On February 8, 2020, the Heimberg chairlift was opened for the transport of pedestrians.

Railway facilities and restaurants

The Arosa Lenzerheide tariff association comprises 43 cable cars . 14 of these are in Arosa, 12 on the east side of Lenzerheide (with Urdenbahn and Obertor chairlift), 13 on the west side of Lenzerheide (with Obertor chairlift) and 4 in Churwalden. Pure exercise facilities such as rope lifts and conveyor belts (“magic carpets”) are not listed here. The following system types are available (as of 2019/20):

• 4 aerial tramways
• 4 gondola lifts
• 18 chairlifts (17 detachable)
• 15 ski lifts

Lanes marked with (F) can also be used by pedestrians.

Arosa

1. Weisshornbahn 1st section (F)
2. Weisshornbahn 2nd section (F)
3. Urdenbahn ( Hörnligrat ) (F)
4. Hörnli Express (F)
5. Kulm cable car (F)
6. Brüggerhorn chairlift (F)
7. Tschuggen-Ost chairlift
8. Hörnli chairlift
9. Carmenna chairlift
10. Plattenhorn chairlift
11. Tomeli ski lift
12. Tschuggen-West ski lift
13. Ried ski lift
14. Prätschli ski lift

Lenzerheide, Valbella, Parpan (east side)

1. Rothornbahn 1st section (F)
2. Rothornbahn 2nd section (F)
3. Urdenbahn ( Urdenfürggli ) (F)
4. Heimberg chairlift (F)
5. Weisshorn Speed chairlift
6. Motta chairlift (F)
7. Urdenfürggli chairlift (F)
8. Obertor chairlift (east)
9. Scharmoin ski lift
10. Crappa Grossa ski lift
11. Fastatsch ski lift
12. Dieschen ski lift

Lenzerheide, Valbella, Parpan (west side)

1. Scalottas chairlift (F)
2. Tgantieni chairlift (F)
3. Pedra Grossa chairlift (F)
4. Stätzertäli chairlift
5. Lavoz chairlift
6. Stätzerhorn chairlift
7. Cumascheals chairlift
8. Obertor chairlift (west)
9. Valbella ski lift
10. Proschieri ski lift
11. Gertrud ski lift
12. Crestas ski lift
13. Fadail double ski lift

Churwalden

1. Heidbüel gondola lift (F)
2. Pradaschier chairlift (F)
3. Windegga ski lift
4. Pradafenz ski lift

The Urdenbahn (Hörnli – Urdenfürggli aerial cableway)

The heart of the ski area connection is the Urdenbahn, built and operated by Arosa Bergbahnen, between the Hörnligrat and Urdenfürggli.

The Urdenbahn with the red suspension ropes in the opening winter 2013/14

The Austrian-Swiss cable car manufacturer Steurer built two parallel single-track double-cable pendulum lifts, each with a cable field without supports . There are two pull rope loops, whereby the return of the ropes takes place on the track of the other track. 17 large support cable riders are used for appropriate stabilization. Two glazed Kuechler design cabins from Gangloff , each with six automatic doors and a capacity of 150 people each, act as a means of transport. The hourly transport capacity is 1,700 people in each direction. If the number of passengers is low or there are technical restrictions, only one train can be used. In the event of a passenger evacuation, the recovery concept provides for the use of winches between the two cabins.

In order to keep the operating energy within limits, the driving programs of the two railways are coordinated. The journeys are controlled in such a way that the generator output of one train is optimally linked with the motor output of the other. This prevents unnecessary energy being consumed from the middle of the lane at full load. The two stations were built using the open construction method, so that they blend in more inconspicuously into the landscape. The passengers get into the cabin via folding platforms and through three doors at the same time. The cabins can be unloaded and refilled in around two minutes. While the cabin leaves the station, the access platforms are automatically folded up and serve as safety rails.

The Urdenbahn (Hörnligrat station) under construction in 2013

The construction of the Urdenbahn followed an ambitious schedule. The work contract with the cable car manufacturer was concluded in May 2012 and the objections of the nature conservation associations withdrawn in December 2012. Thomas Gurzeler, the former director of Arosa Bergbahnen, took over the construction management on a mandate basis. The construction project initially seemed to be progressing faster than that of the Heimberg and Motta chairlifts. At the beginning, a cable car with distinctive half-timbered supports was set up between the Hörnligrat and the Urdenfürggli. In the area of ​​the western station, however, the first extensive earthworks did not start until the end of June due to the snow conditions, while the snow on the Hörnligrat had already been removed in order to be able to start the construction work early. Due to an unexpectedly wet spring and geological problems on the Urdenfürggli, which had to be responded to with additional stabilization work, the construction work was delayed considerably. The civil engineering work was only completed in mid-September to the point that assembly of the station superstructures could begin. The suspension ropes were delivered from Lenzerheide to Urdenfürggli using heavy-duty trucks. The haulage ropes were transported from Arosa. In mid-October it became known that the work was six weeks behind schedule.

The Urdenfürggli station in 2015

In the weeks that followed, the assembly work ran at full speed. At the beginning of November the suspension ropes were pulled from the west station on Urdenfürggli to the east station on Hörnligrat and initially tensioned with a weight of 90 tons. The ropes reached the final empty rope tension of 150 tons a few weeks later. The first of the two 150-person cabins was brought to Arosa on November 8, 2013 from the production site in Bern on a low-loader. There it was temporarily stored and then transported to the Hörnligrat at walking pace by remote-controlled pneumatic transporter. The assembly was carried out by a mobile crane after the completion of the east station and the tensioning of the ropes had been completed. The delivery of the second cabin took place some time later, which again entailed an expensive special transport to the now deeply snow-covered Hörnligrat.

Despite all efforts, the Arosa Bergbahnen had to announce in a press release on November 8, 2013 that the planned opening date in December 2013 would not be kept and that the connecting cableway could only be put into operation in the second half of January 2014. However, the construction and rope work in Urdental could largely be completed before the Christmas holidays. As a result, various commissioning work was carried out before the internal acceptance by the Arosa Bergbahnen and finally the official acceptance by the BAV at the beginning of 2014.

The Hörnligrat station in 2014

After the opening on January 18, 2014, which was celebrated with a ceremony, winter operations ran largely without disruption despite the busy use of the railway. In the first 93 days of operation, the Urdenbahn transported 335,000 people, on peak days around 11,000 frequencies were recorded. In the summer of 2014, a six-week trial run took place during the main season in order to evaluate the corresponding usage needs of hikers and mountain bikers. The result was satisfactory despite the mostly cloudy weather. Arosa Bergbahnen then carried out the final construction work. Among other things, the four suspension rope concrete bollards at the stations were clad and the work on the surrounding area was completed.

Technical specifications

• Track length: 1682 m
• East station Arosa: 2496  m above sea level M.
• West station Lenzerheide: 2562  m above sea level M.
  

  Cable car cable of the Urdenbahn above the Urden lake
• Difference in altitude: 66 m
• Payload per cabin: 150 + 1 pers. / 12,080 kg
• Dimension suspension ropes: 76 mm
• Dimension of pull ropes: 42 mm
• Average drive power: 850 kW
• Maximum travel speed: 12 m / s (fastest aerial tramway in Switzerland)
• Average travel time: 5 min (including waiting time in the cabin)
• Installed delivery capacity: 2 × 850 people / h

Award

New cabin for the Rothornbahn based on the Urdenbahn model

On the occasion of the German Design Awards 2015 presented by the German Design Council, the Urdenbahn was named “Winner” in the “Transportation and Public Design” category from among 2,250 nominated products. Lenzerheide Bergbahnen based itself on the design of the Urdenbahn cabins and, as part of the 2015 license renewal, had the new cabins for the Rothornbahn 2nd section also designed by Kuechler Design.

Trivia

December 20, 2014 saw Corinne and Steve Hafner-Stamm, the first bride and groom to say yes in a cabin on the Urdenbahn.

Restaurants

There are 44 restaurants and bars distributed throughout the ski area (as of 2019/20). Around half of these are also accessible for winter hikers.

Tschiertschen partner snow sports area

Tschiertschen with the Waldstafel chairlift

The Tschiertschen ski area on the left side of the Schanfigg is not part of the Arosa Lenzerheide fare network. The resort has around 27 kilometers of slopes and has 2 chairlifts and 2 ski lifts. It can also be reached from Arosa and Lenzerheide via freeride slopes from the Hörnli – Urdenfürggli area. For the “ski safari” (round trip) Arosa – Tschiertschen – Parpan / Lenzerheide – Arosa, Tschiertschen offers specially reduced transport rates.

Summer operation

The Arosa Lenzerheide region is also a well-known holiday destination in summer, and has also been featured together since spring 2018. In addition to hiking, Nordic walking and mountain bike opportunities, there are numerous attractions, such as the downhill trails on Rothorn, the flow trail opened in 2018/19 on the Hörnli or the over 3 km long summer toboggan run with rope park in Churwalden / Pradaschier. The Untersee and Heidsee also invite you to enjoy alpine bathing fun, with special infrastructure available for children.

In Arosa, locals, residents, vacationers and day guests can use various offers free of charge with the “All Inclusive Card”, including the boat operation on the Obersee , the Waldfestwiese rope park, the local museum , the Arosa bus and the local mountain railways.

The following cable cars are also in operation in summer (as of 2019):

Summer operation of the Rothornbahn with mountain bike park

Arosa

• Weisshornbahn (both sections)
• Hörnli Express
• Urdenbahn

Lenzerheide, Valbella

• Rothornbahn (both sections)
• Urdenbahn
• Tgantieni chairlift
• Scalottas chairlift

Churwalden

• Heidbüel gondola
• Pradaschier chairlift

History of the ski area connection

The ski slope on Gredigs Fürggli marks the geographical border between Arosa / Schanfigg and Lenzerheide / Churwaldnertal

The realization of the Arosa Lenzerheide ski area connection has taken 60 years since the first publicly known project ideas. Due to this remarkable and unique circumstance in Switzerland, the following is an overview of the most important cornerstones of the project:

First «Vision» 1953

Because of the geographical proximity of Arosa and Lenzerheide / Parpan, thought was given early on about a cable car connection between the two valley communities. As early as 1953 there was talk of an “interesting mountain railway project” in the Parpan / Parpaner Schwarzhorn area , with which “a connection between Parpan / Lenzerheide and Arosa would be established”. This project was not further specified, but 10 years later the municipality of Arosa granted Parpaner Rothorn AG a permit to build the Rothornbahn mountain station and restaurant in the municipality of Arosa, which is an important cornerstone of a possible connection between Arosa and Älpli - Gredigs Fürggli or respectively Älplihorn was laid.

Ideas for expanding the Arosa, Lenzerheide and Tschiertschen ski areas 1972–1992

The regional connection was not discussed in more detail until 1972. In that year, the communities concerned were given the opportunity to comment as part of a revision of the structural planning. While the then regional association Pro Schanfigg and the municipalities of Tschiertschen , Praden and the municipalities of Calfreisen , Castiel and Lüen as landowners commented positively on new ski-technical development and usage options, the municipality of Arosa wanted to keep this option open, but the one in the room Put back the connection via Urdental. In 1974 the Arosa municipal council rejected the application of the then Rothornbahn and Scalottas AG to build a “Rothorn 2800” ski lift in Totälpli because of “new measures in the field of spatial planning”. A year later, the same council in principle endorsed the above-mentioned ski lift project, but stated at the same time that “an examination of the mechanical re-development of ski areas in the Lenzerheide-Tschiertschen-Arosa area is necessary”. For the first time, arguments of landscape protection were put forward in the Arosa population, and so in 1976 they had no ear for (foreign) ski-technical uses of the Älplisee - Schwellisee and Urdental areas. In 1980, the Rothornbahn and Scalottas AG were granted a permit to build the Totälpli chairlift instead of the Rothorn 2800 ski lift.

The area of ​​the Urder Augstberg (here before the Urdenbahn was built) was the focus of connection considerations as early as 1972

In 1981, the municipality of Arosa agreed with the former civil parishes of Calfreisen, Castiel and Lüen that no mechanical development should be implemented in the Urdental that would enable a connection with Arosa. As compensation for this temporary waiver of use, these corporations received CHF 2,000 per year from the municipality of Arosa, Arosa Bergbahnen and Arosa Tourism. On December 11, 1981, the Arosa voters even passed a resolution for the attention of the Graubünden government, according to which the Urdental should be kept free from any tourist development. In order to underline its point of view, the Arosa municipal council invited the Graubünden government to hold talks on January 13, 1982. Comments were made such as “Neither Tschiertschen nor the rest of Schanfigg can expect any significant benefits from using the Urdental” and “We do not want any connection with Lenzerheide and will do whatever we can to defend it. Should a lift Urdensee -Urdenfürggli be built, we undertake not to build a connection between Urden and Hörnli for a period of 20 years ”.

In 1992 the Arosa municipal council even said that the possibility of a new touristic development of the Urder Augstberg area would be "finally dropped", since a realization in the next 10 to 15 years is unlikely and a merger between Arosa and Lenzerheide is generally controversial. The only sensible way to expand the Arosa ski area is in the Ochsenalp – Chüeberg area, in the area of ​​the former municipality of Molinis . Tschiertschen, on the other hand, was still interested in a connection with Lenzerheide. In 1993, to expand the Tschiertschen ski area, a possible Tschiertschen – Lenzerheide ski area connection was included in the regional structure plans Schanfigg and Mittelbünden as a so-called preliminary orientation. The Arosa-Lenzerheide connection was initially not dealt with further due to Arosa's still negative attitude.

Arosa – Lenzerheide – Tschiertschen project 1996–2000

At the beginning of 1996, Arosa Bergbahnen AG, Rothornbahn & Scalottas AG and Skiliftanlagen Tschiertschen AG decided to examine in detail the connection between the three ski areas of Arosa, Lenzerheide and Tschiertschen and to push ahead. A working group set up by the participating mountain railways prepared a comprehensive feasibility study with a spatial impact report and a preliminary study for the environmental impact report by February 1998 and presented this to the public in Tschiertschen, Lenzerheide and Arosa. The municipality of Arosa justified this change of heart with the fact that the economic framework had changed fundamentally in recent years and new scientific findings clearly showed that all ski areas affected by a merger would ultimately benefit. The board of directors of Arosa Tourism took a similar position. This opened the way for the first time to press ahead with the Arosa – Lenzerheide – Tschiertschen ski area connection in terms of spatial planning, even if there were initially many critical voices in Arosa.

A Weisshornbahn gondola

As a result, various preparatory measures were taken. For example, the Parpan municipal assembly on December 16, 1999 approved in separate votes both the basic decision for a ski area connection Arosa – Lenzerheide – Tschiertschen and the necessary planning adjustments as part of a partial revision of the usage plan. The liaison project was finally included in the Graubünden 2000 cantonal structure plan by the Graubünden government. Until then, the Arosa-Lenzerheide-Tschiertschen ski area connection project had been processed as a unit. However, economic considerations made it necessary to stage the entire project, and it was agreed to separate the two connecting projects Arosa-Lenzerheide and Tschiertschen-Lenzerheide in terms of planning and implementation.

This decoupling meant that the further implementation concept was henceforth limited to the Arosa – Lenzerheide ski area connection via Urdental. In return, it was intended that the community of Tschiertschen should receive compensation and general support from the Arosa Bergbahnen and Lenzerheide Bergbahnen to guarantee the spatial planning requirements and to secure the operation of the Tschiertsch ski area. At the same time, the debt relief of Bergbahnen Tschiertschen AG was pushed ahead. In the following five years, however, the implementation of the Arosa – Lenzerheide ski area connection came to a halt again, as the forces initially had to be focused on the upcoming mergers of the local mountain railways. These mergers, which led to today's Lenzerheide Bergbahnen AG (LBB AG) on December 19, 2005, were a necessary local political prerequisite for the connection with Arosa; a connection project between Arosa Bergbahnen AG and (solely) the former Rothornbahn & Scalottas AG would not have had a political majority in the municipality of Vaz / Obervaz for internal competition reasons.

Resumption and failure of the Arosa – Lenzerheide project 2006–2008

Ski slope on the west side of Lenzerheide with a view of Valbella

From 2006 the Lenzerheide Bergbahnen examined various project variants with the Arosa Bergbahnen in order to find a solution that would also be feasible in terms of environmental policy within a reasonable period of time. This was indicated because environmental organizations such as Pro Natura and WWF Graubünden had announced that they would vehemently oppose the proposed mechanical development of the Urdental with chairlifts and ski slopes. Regardless of this, the first step was to look for opportunities that would also expand the skiing offer in the area of ​​connection systems. In December 2006, the planners then presented two specific development options to the environmental organizations involved, as well as the municipalities, regions and cantonal authorities:

• a) Variant chairlifts with ski slopes in Urdental

The plan was to build three new chairlifts, Motta – Urdenfürggli, Urdensee – Urdenfürggli and Urdensee – Hörnli, and to set up the corresponding ski slopes. The valley stations in the Urdental would have been located west of the Urdensee at around 2273  m .

• b) Variant of the cable car with the Urdenfürggli intermediate station, without ski slopes in the Urdental

The planned gondola lift led from the Motta to the plateau north of the Urdenfürggli and from there on to the Hörnligrat.

In both variants, it was planned to demolish the existing Motta – Schwarzhorn 2-seater chairlift, as the main part of the Schwarzhorn slopes would also have been developed through the Motta - Urdenfürggli facility. The environmental organizations advised the mountain railways to also examine variants that completely refrained from developing the Urdenfürggli and whose lines ran as close as possible to the Parpaner Weisshorn - Tschirpen chain . If the slopes and supports in the Urdental were to be dispensed with, it would also be conceivable that the ski area connection could be realized for the environmental organizations.

The Carmennahütte in Arosa. In the background the Tschuggen

The mountain railways responded to these concerns, and they are now looking into a direct connection with gondola lifts , aerial tramways , 2S and 3S orbits . The comparison of all variants, including those with an intermediate station on the Urdenfürggli as a replacement for the Schwarzhorn chairlift, resulted in a 2.3 km long direct connection Motta - Hörnli using a 3S cableway for operational and landscape protection reasons. This variant then found its way into the further structure and use plans. With this solution the acceptance of the environmental organizations could be achieved, under the condition that adequate spatial planning compensatory measures would be implemented (landscape protection and quiet zones). The projected connecting cableway was only part of the overall concept for the Arosa-Lenzerheide ski area connection, which was adjusted in the course of the coordination process that followed.

In December 2006 the mountain railways asked the municipality of Vaz / Obervaz to take over the management and to initiate the spatial planning steps for the structural and land use planning in the affected regions and municipalities. The planning should be organized in such a way that the ski area connection would be implemented by 2008. After the Arosa community assembly had clearly accepted the necessary changes to the structure and land use planning, the voters of the Vaz / Obervaz community rejected the project, which was estimated at 22 million francs. The naysayers criticized, among other things, that the expected traffic and parking problems on Lenzerheide had not been resolved. In addition, in some places it was feared that Arosa could benefit more from the connection than Lenzerheide. After this negative decision, the Arosa and Lenzerheide mountain railways withdrew the project for revision, but it seemed as if the ski area connection would be off the table for the foreseeable future.

The Arosa – Lenzerheide project implemented in 2011

The 2011 project included the construction of the Urdenfürggli chairlift

A revised project was presented at the beginning of 2011. The project comprised the construction of three new cable cars in the Lenzerheide ski area, eliminating two existing ones. In contrast to the variant from 2008, the connection was no longer to be realized with a single connecting cable car from the Hörnligrat to the Mottahütte, but by an aerial tramway from the Hörnligrat to the Urdenfürggli. The latter should also be accessed with a chairlift from the Mottahütte. In the vote on the required spatial planning change on November 27, 2011, the connection was approved with 58% of the votes of the municipality of Vaz / Obervaz, which meant that the biggest hurdle for the connection project was overcome. Since Arosa had already agreed to a connection in 2008, there was no longer any need to vote.

Shortly afterwards, the two operating companies agreed that Arosa Bergbahnen should take over the construction and operation of the connecting cable car over the Urdental, while Lenzerheide Bergbahnen would be responsible for two new detachable six-person chairlifts from Garaventa . With the chairlifts, two existing systems on the Rothorn side were replaced and the cable car development of the Urdenfürggli was completed. The facilities that have been dismantled are the Schwarzhorn chairlift from 1994 and the Weisshorn 2 ski lift built in 1972. In the Arosa ski area, there were no changes to the existing slopes and cable cars. The renewed concerns of the environmental associations about the regional connection could finally be dispelled within the framework of negotiations, so that in spring 2013 - 60 years after the first vision - construction work could finally begin.

The opening winter 2013/14

The opening of the new Heimberg-Motta and Motta-Urdenfürggli chairlifts took place with the start of the 2013/14 winter season on the east side of Lenzerheide on December 14, 2013. The inauguration of the connecting lift between the Hörnligrat and the Urdenfürggli took place on January 18, 2014 with a big party celebrated on site, just one day after the Federal Office of Transport (FOT) had released the facility.

Symbolic wedding heart of the advertising media «Lenzer- Heidi » and Gigi von Arosa for the opening of the Urdenbahn on January 18, 2014

After the first - albeit shortened and meteorologically difficult - joint operating winter, both Arosa and Lenzerheide Bergbahnen recorded an increase in sales. However, you will only have reliable experience with the long-term benefits of the regional connection from around the fifth year of operation.

Winter season 2014/15

Due to the unexpected cancellation of the minimum exchange rate of 1.20 francs per euro introduced in September 2011 by the Swiss National Bank on January 15, 2015, the monetary policy framework for the Swiss tourism industry deteriorated significantly, which subsequently had an impact on the operating result. As a quick price adjustment is only possible to a limited extent in view of the general cost structure for Swiss service providers, the tourism managers at Arosa Lenzerheide and Saas-Fee launched a joint marketing campaign under the motto “We offer added value”. The declared aim of this new type of campaign in Switzerland was to introduce potential guests to potentially unknown added value of the two destinations in relation to the foreign competition.

Winter season 2015/16

Due to the new snow-making system on the Hörnli and favorable meteorological conditions, the first systems and slopes in Arosa were already operational on October 31, 2015, earlier than ever before. The official season started on November 28, 2015, however. Unfavorable weather conditions with little snow led to a significant drop in sales in December and January. In addition, the persistent weakness of the euro made itself felt for the first time during an entire winter season. Overall, the Arosa Lenzerheide ski area recorded 1.148 million guest entries, a decrease of 5.5% compared to the previous season (Graubünden mountain railways total minus 10.6%; Swiss mountain railways total minus 7.8%).

Winter season 2016/17

On November 12, 2016, the preseason opened with good new snow conditions with a weekend operation on the Hörnli in Arosa. The winter season for the entire Arosa Lenzerheide ski area started on December 3rd, 2016 and lasted until Easter Monday, April 17th, 2017. It was the driest and snowiest winter since measurements began. Regardless of this, and in spite of the ongoing challenging currency environment, sales development remained roughly at the previous year's level.

Winter season 2017/18

Advertisement for the new construction of the Brüggerhorn chairlift in winter 2017/18, postponed to 2019

As a result of warm autumn weather, the third “November high” on the Hörnli did not start until November 11, 2017 instead of October 28, 2017 as planned. The season for the entire ski area began at the beginning of December 2017. As a result, heavy rainfall in the first half of the season made for an extraordinary one snowy winter. This allowed, among other things, the preparation of various natural snow slopes that are usually not open. The very good snow conditions and a more relaxed currency environment ensured 1.184 million guest admissions by the end of March 2018, which corresponds to an increase of 7.1% compared to the previous winter (Graubünden mountain railways total plus 5.9%, entire Switzerland plus 6.9%). This is despite the fact that only 37% of the winter season had at least four hours of sunshine. The new Mottahütte could only be opened in mid-December 2017 as a result of a smoldering fire shortly before completion. It was also announced that the new construction of the Brüggerhorn chairlift planned for 2018 could only be realized in summer 2019 due to an unforeseen source protection zone conflict in the area of ​​the valley station.

Winter season 2018/19

At the end of October 2018, an early onset of winter brought large amounts of snow down to the plains. 65 to 72 centimeters of fresh snow was measured in Arosa; at 2500 m. ü. M. were 100 to 140 centimeters, at a height of 2000 meters 80 centimeters. As a result, far reaching rainfalls and a subsequent stable front side resulted in long-lasting foehn conditions , which severely affected the existing natural snow cover and initially made technical snow production impossible. Skiing on the Hörnli could therefore only start on November 24, 2018 as part of the fourth “November high”. From then on, however, artificial snowmaking could be intensified due to the low temperatures and completed before Christmas. Persistent rainfall in January, sometimes with record values, again resulted in above-average amounts of snow. In contrast to the previous year, almost half of all days in the 2018/19 winter season were so-called "sunny days" with at least four hours of sunshine. There was a lot of sunshine, especially during the main holiday season in mild February, but also on numerous weekends. These very positive circumstances, as well as the Christmas holidays, which were conveniently located, meant that in Arosa Lenzerheide by the end of the winter season on April 22nd, around 1.3. Million guest entries were recorded, which represents a new record since the opening of the ski area connection and corresponds to an increase of 7.6% compared to the previous year. On January 1, 2019, more than 30,000 first-time admissions (exactly: 30,580) were registered in a single day for the first time.

Winter season 2019/20

Due to various rainfall and low temperatures from the end of October 2019, the "November high" ski operation was closed on 16./17. November 2019 at the Hörnli. A week later, the first lifts were running on the west side of Lenzerheide. Snow fell repeatedly until mid-December. Subsequently, a stable foehn situation took effect for a few days, which clogged the snow cover. From December 21st to 27th, 2019, more snowfalls ensured very good slope conditions. The subsequent constant high pressure situation with lots of sunshine and widespread high fog in the lowlands as well as the favorable position of the holidays ensured above-average visitor numbers over Christmas and New Year. In January and February 2020, the transport frequencies were again increased slightly compared to the previous year, despite the extremely mild temperatures. However, the coronavirus introduced from China caused the "Skier Days" to stagnate quickly from the end of February 2020. The subsequent corona pandemic ultimately ensured that the 2019/20 winter season had to be abruptly terminated on Friday, March 13, 2020 as a result of official orders.

Synergy potential

The Urdental, which has always been used intensively as a freeride area , is a possible link between Arosa Lenzerheide and Tschiertschen

Due to the geographical conditions, there are realistic and economically and ecologically worthwhile connection possibilities to the small and financially not on roses ski areas of Chur- Brambrüesch / Dreibündenstein , Tschiertschen and Feldis .

While there is currently no publicly known interest in a connection in Feldis, the vision of a connection from Brambrüesch has temporarily experienced a certain renaissance in the course of the takeover of the Pradaschier ski area by a private Lenzerheidner investor group. However, according to the will of these investors, investments should first be made in the Churwalden infrastructure before a connection project with Chur is examined more closely. In autumn 2016, the Chur Bergbahnen (BCD) announced that they would not expand the winter sports offer on Brambrüesch. The connection with Pradaschier, which has been discussed for many years, is definitely off the table.

In Tschiertschen, despite resistance from environmental associations, the idea is to be better connected to Arosa Lenzerheide by setting up a groomed slope through the Urdental. At the 2016 general assembly of Bergbahnen Tschiertschen AG (BBT), this project was still rated as desirable and “financially secure”. In addition, the idea of ​​a connecting railway between Churwalden and Churer Joch was brought up for the first time.

In the run-up to the June 2015 session of the Grisons Grand Council in Arosa, the Mayor of Chur, Urs Marti, advocated increased cooperation between Arosa, Lenzerheide and Chur, including possible cantonal funding measures.

Awards (selection)

The Obertor chairlift connects the east and west sides of Lenzerheiden

The winter sports area Arosa Lenzerheide has already received various awards and recognitions, regardless of its short existence:

• Best Ski Resort 2016 - 3rd place in the area return rate
• Kassensturz : Swiss ski areas in the 2015 test - test winner in the categories "Families" and "Connoisseurs": 90 out of 100 points each
• SVSM Award 2014 for the Arosa – Lenzerheide ski area connection
• Test Skiresort.de 2014 - test winner area slope offer: total 4.5 out of 5 stars
• Best Ski Resort 2014 - 3rd place overall rating: 8.20 out of 10 points (Arosa area)
• Ski-Test.de: The best ski areas in the world - 10th place overall
• Opinion poll of the newspaper 20 Minuten 2014 - Best ski area in Switzerland: 4,118 of 38,468 votes

Varia

The Heidbüel Panoramabahn as an entry portal in Churwalden

The operation of the entire ski area costs around 290,000 francs per day, of which 140,000 francs are for the lifts. For snowmaking , the runway markings and the water and energy costs Arosa Lenzerheide are daily from between 25,000 and 30,000 francs. Ensuring safety by means of avalanches , piste markings and patrols / piste rescue devours 25,000 francs per day. 43,000 francs have to be spent every day on slope preparation and fuel for the slope machines . The costs for marketing, information or fees to the landowners amount to 52,000 francs per day.

The new entry portal in Churwalden won an “Award for Marketing + Architecture” on April 22nd, 2016 in the KKL Luzern in the “Hotels, restaurants, bars, tourist facilities, wellness facilities, residences” category. The jury was won over by the flow of movement of people and gondolas and the grooved structure of the facade.

See also

• List of ski resorts in Switzerland

Web links

Commons : Urdenbahn  - collection of images, videos and audio files

• Official website of the Arosa Lenzerheide ski area
• Adjustments to the cantonal and regional structure plan for the Arosa Lenzerheide ski area connection (PDF)
• Information about the Arosa-Lenzerheide ski area connection on the homepage of the Bündner Vereinigung für Spanzentwicklung (PDF)
• Documentation of the Lenzerheide-Arosa ski area connection on bergbahnen.org
• YouTube channel with videos from all cable cars in Arosa Lenzerheide

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Aroser Zeitung of November 21, 2014, p. 5.
2. ↑ Connection on the Lenzerheide one step further. In: Südostschweiz.ch. October 10, 2013, accessed January 11, 2014 . 
3. ↑ Thomas Hunziker: "We are delighted with the BAV's decision". In: Südostschweiz.ch. November 20, 2014, accessed November 22, 2014 . 
4. ↑ Construction of the snow-making system on the Hörnli begins. In: Südostschweiz.ch. September 18, 2014, accessed November 22, 2014 . 
5. ^ First Porsche gondola lift in the world in Arosa Lenzerheide. In: Südostschweiz.ch. September 16, 2014, accessed November 22, 2014 . 
6. ↑ Documentation - entry portal & cable cars Churwalden - Lenzerheide. In: bergbahnen.org. Retrieved May 3, 2015 . 
7. ↑ Arosa Lenzerheide winter sports paradise in: Supplement to Südostschweiz from November 20, 2014, p. 17.
8. ↑ Documentation - entry portal & cable cars Churwalden - Lenzerheide. In: bergbahnen.org. September 1, 2015, accessed November 1, 2015 . 
9. ↑ Lenzerheide Bergbahnen continue to invest. In: htr.ch. October 26, 2015, accessed June 26, 2016 . 
10. ↑ New snow-making system on Pradaschier. In: www.grheute.ch. August 19, 2016. Retrieved November 19, 2016 . 
11. ↑ Aroser Zeitung of June 24, 2016, p. 10.
12. ↑ Overview of cable cars in Arosa Lenzerheide. In: bergbahnen.org. Retrieved October 20, 2014 . 
13. ↑ s & bt magazine, cable car & business tourism, 1/2013, p. 64 f.
14. ↑ Arosa Tourism: Gondola Transport Arosa-Lenzerheide. November 14, 2013, accessed October 26, 2014 . 
15. ↑ Patrick Gunti: Philipp Holenstein, CEO Arosa Bergbahnen AG. In: moneycab.com. February 4, 2015, accessed February 22, 2015 . 
16. ↑ German Design Award 2015 - Excellent Product Design Transportation and Public Design. (PDF) In: designpreis.de. February 13, 2015, accessed February 19, 2015 . 
17. ↑ Aroser Zeitung of December 29, 2014, p. 13.
18. ↑ A bride and groom say yes in the Urdenbahn. In: Südostschweiz.ch. December 20, 2014, accessed December 20, 2014 . 
19. ↑ Aroser Zeitung of December 29, 2014, p. 15.
20. ↑ Hans Danuser : Arosa - as it was then (1947–1961) , Vol. 4, self-published by Danuser, Arosa 2000, p. 96.
21. ↑ Hans Danuser: Arosa - as it was then (1962–1978) , vol. 5, self-published by Danuser, Arosa 2001, p. 27.
22. ↑ Hans Danuser: Arosa - as it was then (1962–1978) , vol. 5, self-published by Danuser, Arosa 2001, pp. 181, 189 f., 205.
23. ↑ Hans Danuser: Arosa - as it was then (1979–1995) , Vol. 6, self-published by Danuser, Arosa 2002, p. 24.
24. ↑ Hans Danuser: Arosa - as it was then (1979–1995) , Vol. 6, self-published Danuser, Arosa 2002, pp. 46, 57, 71, 123, 153, 202.
25. ↑ Hans Danuser: Arosa - as it was then (1996-2003) , Vol. 7, self-published Danuser, Arosa 2004, pp. 55, 69, 121.
26. ↑ Arosa-Lenzerheide ski arena failed. In: NZZ.ch. June 1, 2008, accessed October 10, 2014 . 
27. ↑ Mountain railways benefit from ski area connections. In: Südostschweiz.ch. October 1, 2014, accessed October 26, 2014 . 
28. ↑ Solid result thanks to Arosa Lenzerheide. In: Südostschweiz.ch. September 26, 2014, accessed October 26, 2014 . 
29. ↑ Lenzerheide Bergbahnen: The 2014/15 financial year was a great challenge. In: seilbahn.net. October 23, 2015, accessed November 1, 2015 . 
30. ↑ Arosa Lenzerheide and Saas-Fee launch joint website. In: htr.ch. January 26, 2015, accessed February 19, 2015 . 
31. ↑ The snow sports season can begin. In: luzernerzeitung.ch. October 31, 2015, accessed November 7, 2018 . 
32. ↑ Aroser Zeitung of June 24, 2016, p. 10.
33. ↑ Winter season 16/17: Bündner Bergbahnen still required. In: seilbahn.net. June 2, 2017. Retrieved June 4, 2017 . 
34. ↑ Aroser Zeitung of April 28, 2017, p. 4 f.
35. ↑ Aroser Zeitung of April 27, 2018, p. 6 f.
36. ^ Nicole Glaus, Gaudenz Flury: New snow record in Arosa. In: srf.ch. January 15, 2019, accessed May 5, 2019 . 
37. ↑ Aroser Zeitung of April 26, 2019, p. 2 f.
38. ↑ Die Südostschweiz, January 3, 2019, p. 5
39. ↑ Pradaschier: New perspectives through change of ownership. In: Südostschweiz.ch. October 14, 2014, accessed October 26, 2014 . 
40. ↑ Nadja Maurer: New attempt for Brambrüesch-Pradaschier? In: Südostschweiz.ch. October 14, 2014, accessed February 14, 2016 . 
41. ↑ Bündner Woche, November 16, 2016, p. 17.
42. ↑ Tschiertschen dreams of a ski slope through Urdental. In: Südostschweiz.ch. October 29, 2014, accessed November 8, 2014 . 
43. ↑ Aroser Zeitung of November 4, 2016, p. 25.
44. ↑ Bündner Woche June 10, 2015, p. 9.
45. ↑ Aroser Zeitung of November 18, 2016, p. 11.
46. ↑ Swiss ski resorts in the test: who drives best where. www.srf.ch, February 3, 2015, accessed on February 4, 2015 . 
47. ↑ SVSM Award 2014: NRP projects clear. (No longer available online.) In: regiosuisse.ch. May 22, 2014, archived from the original on May 24, 2014 ; accessed on January 22, 2020 . 
48. ↑ Arosa-Lenzerheide test report. www.skiresort.de, February 20, 2014, accessed on November 8, 2014 . 
49. ↑ Rankings of the top ski areas in over 20 categories. best-skiresorts.com, November 6, 2014, accessed November 8, 2014 . 
50. ↑ The best ski areas in the world. skigebiete-test.de, October 28, 2014, accessed on November 8, 2014 . 
51. ↑ Bündner Week of February 19, 2014, p. 35.
52. ↑ One day ski area = 290,000 francs. www.suedostschweiz.ch, January 30, 2014, accessed on February 4, 2015 . 
53. ↑ 1 day ski area = 290,000 francs. podcasts.srf.ch, February 1, 2014, accessed on February 4, 2015 . 
54. ↑ Portal Churwalden receives "Award for Marketing + Architecture". (No longer available online.) In: www.htr.ch. April 27, 2016, archived from the original on May 1, 2016 ; accessed on January 22, 2020 . 

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