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Downhill snowsports

Downhill snowsports, which include skiing and snowboarding, are popular sports involving sliding down snow-covered terrain with skis or a snowboard attached to your feet.

Skiing is a major travelling activity with many enthusiasts, occasionally known as "ski bums," planning entire vacations around skiing at a particular location.

Understand

The idea of skiing is very old — cave paintings depicting skiers date back as far as 5000 BC! Downhill skiing as a sport goes back to at least the 17th century, and in 1861 the first recreational ski club was opened by Norwegians in Australia. The most common type is "Alpine skiing", where the foot attaches to the skis at both the toe and the heel. In "Telemark skiing" the technique is different; the heel remains unattached ("Nordic skiing"), which allows skiing in flat or uphill terrain. There are also Nordic skis suitable for serious cross-country skiing. (Skis were traditionally used as a means of transport in Telemark.)

Snowboarding is much newer. Although people made their way down slopes by tying flat boards to both feet as far back as the 1920s, it wasn't until 1965 that the first modern snowboard was sold. Snowboarding was invented and largely popularized in the U.S., but today it has international followers, although nowhere near as many as skiing. Snowboarding initially became popular with Generation X, who brought a "skateboard punk" attitude that put them at odds with skiers and ski resorts, leading many ski resorts to ban snowboarding. Today, much of that distinction has been lost, and skiers are just as likely to be punks as snowboarders. However, a rare few ski resorts do still ban snowboards (including Alta and Deer Valley in Utah, and Mad River Glen in Vermont).

Other downhill snowsports include sledding/tobogganing (which is the basis of the Olympic sports of luge and bobsledding), tubing, and ski jumping.

Planning your visit
Since very few people live near a snow-covered mountain, most skiing happens at ski resorts, which offer the skiing location, equipment rental and sales, dining, and lodging all within a small village. Sometimes nearby resorts that can be skied with the same ticket are grouped together.

To ski on the mountain, you purchase a lift ticket. This serves as your admission, and lets you use the ski lifts to get from the bottom of the mountain back up to the top.

Naturally, you also need some equipment: skis or a snowboard, of course, but also cold weather clothing.

Unless you're only going for a single day, you need lodging. And because you'll be getting a good workout, you will probably want some food and maybe a nice après-ski drink.

Children
Normally children are accepted to a skiing school from 3 years old.

When choosing a destination and accommodation to travel with a toddler, consider the following:
 * Dining in your hotel is much easier and time-saving than going out. Consider half-board packages or at least a hotel with its own restaurant (but not full-board, as you'll likely prefer to have lunch in a restaurant near the slopes).
 * If you'll be returning to your room during the day (such as if parents are taking turns babysitting), distance from your room to the skilift matters twice. Any time spent going to and from your room will count twice as much in reducing your time on the slopes.
 * Make sure you'll have enough activities for a toddler at your destination (and even better at your hotel): child-friendly swimming pool; open-air playground; rent sleds and ride him on a small children's slope.
 * Après-ski is rarely compatible with travelling with a toddler — you'll likely find yourself looking for quieter streets and cafés in the village.
 * Make sure there is no danceclub or bar that can be heard from your hotel (or at least from your room) in the hours a toddler normally sleeps.
 * Make sure there is a babysitting service and/or a kindergarten, and the personnel there speak your toddler's native language.

On the slopes
The mountain is divided in to various trails (also called "runs" or "pistes" [rhymes with "least" in British English and "list" in American English]), each of which is rated according to its difficulty.

There are also beginners' slopes, also called bunny slopes, which are very short and very shallow. Some may be reserved for classes, but otherwise they are open for anyone to use. Although bunny slopes are good for a little bit of practice, they can actually be difficult due to their shallow grade and lack of length.

At the bottom of the slopes are lifts that take you to the top of the mountain. When you queue up to use the lift, your lift ticket will be scanned to make sure it's valid for that day and time (although staff may not opt to scan it every single time). Then you just ride the lift back to the top of the slope, and head down the slopes again.

There are almost always multiple lifts and often crossing trails; if you're not careful, you could take the wrong lift and end up not where you started. Be sure to look at the mountain's map before going anywhere so you can be sure of where you should go on your way down, and which lift you need to take to get back up.

Ratings
There are different rating systems in different parts of the world, and none are standardized; don't assume an "easy" trail on one mountain is the same as an "easy" trail on another mountain!

Be sure to check the legend and rating system at each mountain before going out on to the trails.

In North America and Australia, the usual scale is:
 * Ski trail rating symbol-green circle.svg  Green circle  – easy
 * Ski trail rating symbol-blue square.svg  Blue square  – intermediate
 * Ski trail rating symbol-black diamond.svg Black diamond – difficult
 * Ski trail rating symbol-double black diamond.svg Double black diamond – very difficult
 * Ski trail rating symbol-terrain park.svg  Orange/yellow oval  (or other symbol) – terrain park, with jumps, half-pipes, or other obstacles

In Europe a similar color system is used, but not always with the shapes:
 *  Green  (in some countries) – easiest
 *  Blue  – easy
 *  Red  – intermediate
 * Black – difficult
 * Double or triple black diamond (in some countries) – very difficult
 *  Orange  (in some countries) – extremely difficult
 *  Yellow ,  orange square , or  red diamond  – an "off-piste" or "ungroomed" trail which is left in its natural state and is not regularly patrolled

In Japan a color system is also used, although it may vary at locations catering to foreigners:
 *  Green  – easy
 *  Red  – intermediate
 * Black – difficult

Buy
Whether it's your first time or your hundredth, the one thing you must purchase is a lift ticket or lift pass. It's your admission to the mountain, and your ticket to use the ski lifts to get back to the top.

Lift tickets are almost always available in single-day, multiple-day, and season tickets. Discounts may also be available for children, students, large groups, etc. As with any bulk purchase, a multiple-day or season ticket will usually save you money if you use it enough.

The other thing you'll need is equipment. This largely falls in to two categories: skis/snowboards, and cold weather clothing.

Skis and snowboards
For skiing, you need the following:
 * Skis – these come in matched pairs, one for each foot. Unless you specify otherwise, by default you'll get Alpine skis, with bindings for standard ski boots. If you need a different type of ski or binding, check that they'll be available where you're renting/buying.
 * Ski boots – these specialty items are usually made from hard plastic. They keep your feet from leaning side to side, but pivot front to back so you can lean forwards. Plastic flanges on the toe and heel attach them to matching clips on the skis. Most modern boots are closed with buckles for a tight fit.
 * Optionally, ski poles – these are used for balance as well as propulsion.

Snowboarding requires a somewhat different set of equipment:
 * Snowboard – strictly speaking, this is actually two pieces of gear: the flat board with upturned ends, and the bindings that strap your boots to it. Bindings must be adjusted for how widely you stand, the angle of your feet, and your stance. Your stance is which way you face going down the slope, either "regular" (left foot forward) or "goofy" (right foot forward); it's important because the front and back foot are usually set at different angles, and because some snowboards are directional, with one side designed to be in front. (Don't let the names deceive you; many people naturally ride goofy, possibly more than ride regular.)
 * Snowboard boots – unlike ski boots, these are fairly stiff all around, but are thickly padded and reasonably comfortable to walk in. Some have laces, but ratcheting wire systems are simple to use and becoming more common. Generally boots don't attach directly to the snowboard's bindings, but are simply held in place with ratcheting straps.

Clothing
All the other gear you need is not specific to the sport, but is just meant to keep you warm and safe:
 * Snow pants – available as regular trousers or the less common "bib" style (like overalls). They consist of multiple layers with insulation to keep you warm. The outside is wind- and water-resistant, so that the snow and weather won't make you cold or wet. Zippered pockets keep your possessions from falling out if you take a spill. Ventilation zippers let you get airflow to keep cool — remember, you're getting a workout.
 * Snow jacket – like snow pants, the jacket is layered, insulated, and made from specialty fabrics to keep you warm and dry. Features the same zippered pockets and ventilation zips as well. An extra feature on some is a special hook for your lift ticket; this puts it front and center so it's easy for staff to scan. Most jackets also have a hood, which should be large enough to fit over your helmet.
 * Gloves – your extremities need special care, particularly when you'll be sticking them in the snow repeatedly to get back on your feet. Ordinary gloves just meant for keeping warm won't suffice; as soon as they get wet, you'll be in worse shape than if you weren't wearing them at all! Look for cold- and snow-rated waterproof gloves specifically designed not to allow any water inside. Straps help them seal to keep snow from getting in the opening, or to seal against your jacket. Extra straps attach them to your wrists or jacket so you can take them off without losing them. Mittens don't separate the fingers, which keeps them warmer but reduces dexterity; some mittens keep the index finger separate as a nice compromise. You can also wear glove liners made from various materials designed to retain heat. Small pockets on the back of the hand are meant for inserting a chemical warming pad.
 * Socks – these protect your feet from rubbing against the boots and getting sore, and of course keep them warm and dry. Never wear cotton socks, as cotton soaks up and retains water (both sweat and snow), not only making you miserable but also putting you at risk of frostbite. Instead choose wool, synthetic, or wool/synthetic blend socks with a good fit — no loose fabric, especially around the toes and heel. One thick sock is better than two layers of thin socks, which could shift around and chafe. When buying socks, it's helpful to get two or more thicknesses; if you find that one boot fits tighter or looser than the other, you then have the option of mixing pairs of socks, wearing a thicker sock on the foot that fits looser and a thinner sock on the foot that fits tighter.
 * Goggles – aside from keeping snow out of your eyes, goggles also act as sunglasses. (Remember, the sun is out, there's less atmosphere between you and it than normal, and snow reflects additional sunlight in to your eyes.) As with regular sunglasses, look for good UV protection and polarization. If you wear glasses, you'll have to get extra-large goggles designed to fit over your glasses (which can be expensive), buy prescription ski goggles (more expensive), or wear contact lenses or do without vision correction.
 * Helmet – less for protection against cold than against hard-packed snow, ice, and any other obstacles you may run in to. Although many people omit them, professionals and amateurs alike have died from head injuries, so think twice before passing on one! Helmets are designed to use without a cap, and better ones have vents since your head can actually get quite warm. But if you do plan to wear a cap underneath, make sure your helmet will fit when you're wearing a cap, or else it won't give you the protection you need. (Likewise, if you think you may remove your cap at some point, make sure the helmet won't be too loose.)
 * Head and face warming – The least standardized element, this can be just about any warm winter scarf or cap that you have. If you're wearing a helmet, you generally don't need a cap, but without a helmet, a cap is a must. The best choice would be something warm and wind-proof, as a stiff breeze can rob you of a lot of warmth. Face protection is also very important, as your nose, lips, and ears can become cold and frostbitten very easily. Various types of balaclavas, ski masks, caps, and face scarves all help to protect your mug. Despite the name, a "ski mask" isn't necessary as long as it's not excessively windy or cold; even a thin scarf around your mouth will quickly trap warm air to insulate your lips and nose.
 * Layered clothing – underneath your snow outfit, you should dress in layers. Your base layer — the one closest to your skin — should be chosen carefully to keep you dry. Cotton soaks up and holds on to water (sweat and snow) so avoid wearing cotton as your base layer. Instead, wear thermal underwear (long pants and a long-sleeve shirt) made from non-cotton materials, or "performance" clothes designed to wick away sweat so you stay dry. With your skin protected, you can add additional layers for warmth, as desired. However many layers you have, it's a good idea to add one more T-shirt or thermal layer just in case; then you have it if you need it, and can take it off during the day if you get too hot.

While you're at it, don't forget winter clothing for the rest of the trip. When carrying things to and from your car, going out for dinner, or lounging around your room, you'll want street clothes suited to the cold weather. Warm pajamas are a good idea, as it can be difficult to keep bedrooms warm at night in some lodgings. Don't forget boots or other shoes suitable for walking through snow and ice.

Buy or rent
Renting is more expensive even after just a few days, but until you decide you're committed enough to the sport to purchase your own gear, it makes sense to rent for a few trips.

Before you rent, check what clothing is available in the rental package. Some places don't offer clothing rentals (jackets and pants), meaning you'll have to buy your own.

Even with an "all-inclusive" rental package, there are some items that are rarely included, which you'll have to buy for yourself: underclothing, socks, head and face warming, and sometimes gloves and goggles.

On a budget
In general, skiing and snowboarding are not the cheapest of activities. However, as with most travel activities, careful planning ahead can save you a good deal of money.
 * Prices vary greatly among different countries and specific resorts, so make sure to look around. For example, in Europe, resorts in Switzerland tend to be more expensive than those in neighboring France. Some resorts have a stronger focus on students or young people than others, which often results in lower average prices and more budget options for accommodation and food.
 * Avoid holidays. Many destinations get crowded during national or even regional holidays and prices tend to rise according to demand. When traveling to another country for your ski-trip, make sure to look up national holidays there, and in countries from which many come to this resort. Compare prices for different weeks to see when the peaks are (but peaks can also depend on when conditions are good).
 * Last minute bookings of course come with the risk of unavailability, but can save up to 30% or more.
 * In many cases, groups are cheaper as group accommodations (e.g. 6 or 10 people) are available in many resorts and are often cheaper per person.
 * Check out all-inclusive or at least combined deals, which provide one price for accommodation, rental of equipment and tickets. This can be especially interesting if you don't have ski equipment of your own. In some cases, transport (or at least regional transport from the airport or a major train station to the resort) can also be included.
 * In many resorts, apartments are at least as readily available as hotel rooms (sometimes even more so). If you're on a budget, it often pays off to prepare your own meals.
 * Even without a kitchen, you can still prepare some meals in a hotel room. Many meals can be kept with only a refrigerator or a cooler with ice: sandwiches, pasta or potato salad, chips and other snacks, etc. If there's a microwave in your room, in the hotel's dining room, or in a lunchroom on the slopes, you can also cook or reheat frozen meals (although hotel fridges usually have very little freezer space), casseroles, soups, breakfast burritos, etc. With hot water, you can make instant noodles, oatmeal, boiled eggs, and of course drinks.
 * If possible (and not much more expensive), consider accommodation very close to the pistes. It will allow you to head home for lunch instead of being forced to eat out.
 * If you're making your own way to the resort by car, consider taking at least the most expensive foods/ingredients and other supplies with you. Note that many ski resorts are a good drive away from cities or "normal" villages. Supermarkets and shops in the resort (especially in smaller ones) can be rather pricey.
 * If you're renting your equipment, check if your materials are covered under your travel insurance. If not, consider taking an insurance at the spot. Many rental shops offer that option for a rather small fee (e.g. < in France). It's not at all uncommon for a ski or stick to break and costs of replacement or repair are often high.

Do without

 * See also Stay healthy below

A few items are not strictly necessary or can be substituted, but not many.

Wearing regular sunglasses, or no eye protection, is possible if it's overcast and not too bright out.

If you're visiting a "warm" location (air temperatures above freezing) and tolerate cold well, you may be able to skip some of the layered clothing and face/head protection.

Beyond that, it's not a good idea to skip any of the equipment. Although "warm" mountains always have beginners who think they can get away with just wearing jeans, you run a real risk of frostbite and permanent injury doing this, not to mention being miserable after your jeans soak up several hours worth of snow.

Do
There are many types of skiing within alpine skiing, from contests to downhill (going straight without turns) to moguls (going around the bumps). Cross country skiing is usually also available. Nowadays most resorts allow snowboarders as well, but if you plan to do so double check beforehand.

Most resorts also offer a variety of other activities such as horseback-riding and ice skating. There are also usually great stores for shopping and wonderful restaurants in the area that are worth looking into after a day of hitting the slopes.

Ski resort areas are also frequented during the summer months because of their numerous hiking, mountain bicycling, etc. opportunities.

Sledding is in its most basic form a low-height activity, especially for children. More competitive forms include bobsled and luge. While sleds are usually not allowed within lift systems, other slopes can be found.

Getting dressed
Before hitting the slopes, you'll need to get dressed. Most of the equipment is simple and straight-forward to put on. The legs of your snow pants usually have an elastic inner layer ("gaiters") that goes over your boots to keep snow out. Snow jackets may have similar layers to seal your gloves; they may also have one around your waist (a "snow skirt"), but beginners don't usually need to use it. Helmets usually have a slot at the back to hold the goggles' strap in place.

Attach your lift ticket where it's easily visible; some jackets have a spot meant just for this, but otherwise attach it to a zipper, pants belt loop, or somewhere else on your front. Usually zipties or metal hooks are provided to attach it to the jacket's fastener or zipper; ask staff for help if you're not sure how to attach it. Make sure your lift ticket won't fall off, as it's often your only proof of admission.

If it's convenient, you may be able to take what you need with you (e.g., wallet for purchasing lunch) and leave everything else in your car or hotel room. Otherwise, there are usually coin-operated lockers where you can leave your street clothes, valuables, etc.

Getting around
Getting around in skis is pretty easy. Lay the skis on the ground, and then simply step in to each one toe-first. They'll click in to place, and it releases the catches that keep them from sliding around when they're unattached (this applies to the typical downhill skis, there may be other types of bindings). Once you have them on, you can shuffle around on flat ground or even move uphill a bit by pushing off like an ice skater does, or using poles if you have them. Some skis allow freeing the heel for still easier movement.

On a snowboard you need a way of freeing one foot for propulsion on flat ground, so typical snowboard bindings just have quick-release straps that hold your boots in place. One strap goes over the top around the ankle, and the other goes over the toes (either directly above, or straddling the top and front corner of the boot's toe). The "highback" is a plastic support for the back of your leg, which can flip down on many bindings for compact carrying and storage; it supports your leg, forcing you to bend your knees a bit and giving you more control over your turns. Raise the highback into position, locking it in place if required on your bindings, and place your foot in the binding as far back towards the heel as you can. Strap in your front foot (left if you ride regular, right if goofy) and leave it attached all the time, but don't do anything with your back foot yet. You'll need your back foot free to push yourself around on flat ground. You can glide for a short ways by standing your back foot directly on the board, adjacent to (not in) the binding; this is a skill you'll need to learn in order to dismount lifts. Before heading down a slope you have to strap in your back foot, and release it again at the bottom to ride the lift.

Riding a lift
Beginner's slopes sometimes have a "magic carpet" lift. This is basically a conveyor belt in the ground, which is simple to use even with no experience. Slide closer and closer, and when it's your turn, just step onto the belt with your skis or snowboard. At the top, the snow will be packed to create a downward slope at the end of the lift. Lean forwards, and let the momentum push you off the end onto the slope; you may have to nudge your way forward a bit in order to slide down.

The most common type of lift for many slopes is a chair lift, an open-air bench that lifts 2-4 people into the air. Getting on these is the easy part. After queuing, when you're second in line, you'll wait behind a marked line so the preceding chair can pass in front of you. As soon as it does, shuffle your way up to the next "wait here" line. The chair will come up behind you, and you just plop your bottom in to it as it scoops you up. Lift your feet so your skis/snowboard don't drag until you're up in the air.

Getting off a chair lift is a bit trickier. As you approach the top, there's a bit of an uphill so you don't catch your skis/board, followed by a flat section. On skis, just point your skis straight forward; on a snowboard, turn so you're ready to move forwards (torso facing sideways), and put your back foot on the board next to the bindings. When you reach the flat part just before dismounting, put your weight forwards so you'll be stable coming down the hill. As the chair moves forward it will give you a bit of a push down the hill, and you're off. Once on flat ground, move out of the way as soon as you can so that others can dismount without running into you.

Many beginners have a hard time dismounting without falling, so don't feel bad about it. But, if you do fall, try to fall forwards away from the lift and other people. If you stop too close to either, the lift operator will slow down or stop the lift to make sure no one gets hurt, which delays everyone else. It's a normal (sometimes frequent) occurrence, particularly on beginner slopes, but it's good etiquette to do your best not to delay others.

Going down the slopes
Now it's time to head downhill. As you do, always lean forwards. Your instinct is to stay "upright", but because you're on a downward slope, you're actually leaning backwards. This leaves very little weight on the front of your skis or snowboard, which gives you less control and causes you to go faster. If you lean forwards, keeping your weight on your front, you will be able to control your speed and direction much easier. It feels unnatural at first to lean so far forward, and you'll require constant reminding, but it will help your technique immensely.

On skis, beginners are often taught "french fries to go fast, pizza to slow down". When your skis are parallel to each other ("french fries"), you'll accelerate downhill or coast on flat ground. To slow down, point your skis towards each other in front like a disconnected V ("pizza" or "wedge", also called "snowplow" because it does kick up a lot of loose snow). Don't let your skis touch each other or cross; that's a sure-fire way to lose control and fall. This basic "french-fries–pizza" technique is easy for kids and adults to start learning with, and is enough to let you regulate your speed and even do basic turns.

Once you start to get the hang of it, work on controlling your speed by zigzagging across the slope, rather than snowplowing in a straight line (which breaks up a lot of the nice powder). As you get more advanced, you should learn how to stop and turn by keeping both skis parallel and sliding sideways, much like how ice skaters stop.

On a snowboard, you first need to stop and strap in your back foot. Once you do this, you can try to stand up, although keeping your balance while doing so may be difficult. For beginners it may be easier to hold your board in the air and roll over on to your stomach, so that you can stand up backwards instead of forwards.

For snowboarders, "forwards" means turned to the side with your lead food (left foot if regular, right if goofy) furthest down the hill, and your back foot furthest up the hill. Likewise, "sideways" actually means having your chest or back facing straight down the slope. Turning "sideways" is how you stop: turn so your chest is facing straight down the slope, and rock back onto your heels so the long edge of your board digs in. (You can do a "toe-side stop" as well, by facing up the mountain instead of down and digging in with your toe edge instead of your heel edge. Beginners usually prefer heel stops, since you can see where you're going.) You can also use this technique to go down the slopes slowly: control the pressure on your heels to limit the amount of braking you get. But as with skis, this is called "snowplowing" and you should advance beyond this technique as soon as possible, since it's slow, takes up space, and flattens a lot of powder.

Turning is done by "carving" a long edge of your board in, either toe-side or heel-side. A good way to start learning turns is to do a "falling leaf". This is a simple way of zigzagging your way down the slopes like a leaf falling from a tree. Facing "sideways" looking down the mountain, start on the far right side of the slope. Get moving, but stay on your heel edge so that you track from right to left across the slope. When you reach the left edge, stop. Now repeat the process, this time going from left to right. You can stay on your heel edge, which seems easy (and requires less work) but isn't ideal, because you're actually switching which foot you have in front. Instead, try to switch to your toe edge, this time facing up the mountain. (If you ride goofy, you'll have to reverse left and right in order to use the same technique.) The falling leaf technique is much better than snowplowing: it doesn't kick up as much powder or get in people's way, and it's a stepping stone to the next step.

By now you want to get a little more speed. To do that you'll need to start pointing yourself straight down the slopes. When you feel you're going fast enough, turn (whichever direction you like) and come to a stop. Then point yourself down the slope again. These are called "J turns", "C turns", or "garlands", because of the shape it makes when you do them in succession.

As you get more advanced, you can learn to control your speed by making S-turns back and forth to lose speed rather than sliding or stopping. To do this, you need to learn to connect turns, transitioning from heel to toe, and toe to heel. The trick is that you don't go from a turn directly to the other kind of turn. If you do, the edge of your board will dig in, and you'll be violently flipped over. Instead, you have to straighten out first and get your board flat on the snow for a bit before starting the turn in the opposite direction.

Lessons
Virtually all ski resorts have a ski school where you can sign up for lessons. It's recommended that you learn to ski at a smaller, cheaper mountain nearer to your location before going off to a major ski resort, so you won't have to buy an expensive ticket to just use the bunny hill (which would be the same more or less anywhere).

Some tips that can help you in choosing a right skiing school:
 * It helps a lot if a school doesn't allow new members to join a group in the middle of a course (i.e. on the 2nd and later days of group training). This guarantees that you won't repeat the same basic set of exercises every day.
 * It's best if your instructor is a native speaker of your first language (or another language you are very fluent in); otherwise, most instructions are "do like me", but it's difficult for the instructor to explain what exactly you're doing wrong or what you should do differently.

Stay safe
Ski terrain can often be very dangerous and can lead to hazards that can potentially injure or kill a careless skier. Do not ski any terrain that is above your skill level and pay attention to all signs and ski patrol instructions. Always ski in a group, or let someone know where you will be. Start each day with some easy slopes to warm up, instead of skipping directly to the hardest trail you think you can manage.

Heed avalanche warning signs and avoid areas where avalanche buildup can occur. If an avalanche does occur, ski sideways to get out of its path. If you can reach a tree or rock, hold on to it for as long as you can; even 1-3 seconds can make a difference.

Injuries are common for beginners, as everyone falls down a lot when they first learn to ski or snowboard. Wearing a helmet of course provides protection for your most important body part, and goggles are just as important; it only takes one flying pebble or poke from a tree branch to permanently injure your eyes. But also pay attention to your wrists and knees. Beginners often try to catch themselves with their hands or knees, leading to sprains or broken wrists. You can wear a wrist guard or knee brace if you're sensitive in these areas, but the best solution is prevention. If you feel you're about to fall, turn it into a controlled sit or drop instead of an uncontrolled fall. Fall with your whole body; land with your whole butt and back rather than just your tailbone, or with your forearms and chest rather than your hands. At the same time, tuck and roll. Tuck your arms and legs instead of letting them flail so they don't get twisted or overextended. Roll as you fall, to distribute the impact across your body rather than concentrating it in the first part to hit.

If you injure yourself on patrolled terrain, ask a fellow skier to fetch the resort's ski patrol for you. Lift operators can help contact them. Mark the location of an injured person by planting skis or snowboards in an upright cross (like an "X") just uphill.

Stay healthy
Skiing takes place in some of the most treacherous terrain in the world under very cold conditions. Be sure you are properly protected against the cold so you will not suffer from frostbite or hypothermia. When you are skiing you will be exposed to the elements all day and need to act accordingly. If you feel particularly cold, particularly if you begin to shiver, call it a day and head indoors to warm up.

When the sun comes out, the reflection from the snow around you can cause serious problems as well! Be sure to wear snow goggles or sunglasses to protect your eyes from snowblindness and wear sunscreen to protect yourself from sunburn. Snow can reflect more than 50% of the light that hits it, so wear sunscreen even if it's cloudy outside! You'll thank yourself later.

Consider packing some anti-inflammatory painkiller to deal with minor soreness and aches. Other items to keep in your first aid kit might include ice packs or heat pads.

Eat
Most ski resorts have one or more lodges that include cafeterias or restaurants. Skiing is a demanding sport that requires more calories than your normal diet may support. Experienced skiiers usually carry energy bars with them or high-calorie, fat-rich snack foods to tide them over between meals.

Drink
Après-ski (French for "after skiing") is a fancy word for "going out drinking after skiing". Once the sun goes down, everyone's day is pretty much done (unless there are lighted ski trails, but even these are only open for a few hours), so there's not much else to do except party.

Sleep
Because of their remote location, lodging in and around ski resorts tends to be expensive, with prices dropping off the further from the slopes you get.

The most highly regarded lodgings are ski-in ski-out. Literally, this means some kind of ski trail abuts the lodging, and you can step out the door, strap on your skis, and get to and from the slopes entirely on the snow. (This may be more difficult for snowboarders, because the trails to the lodging may be rather flat, and without poles like skiers have, snowboarders are likely to coast to a halt.)

However, not all ski-in ski-out lodgings are actually ski-in ski-out. Many times, this merely means that the location is close to the ski slopes, but a bit of a walk may be involved. Or it may mean that only a select few units in a building are ski-in ski-out.

The appeal of ski-in ski-out is that you don't waste any time trudging back and forth from the slopes. When you want to take a break, you can return home and leave again later with almost no time lost.

For a bit less money, you can choose lodging that's near the slopes, but not ski-in ski-out. You'll have a few minutes' walk or maybe a shuttle ride, but you still don't have to worry about driving, changing boots, and locking up your car.

As you get further from the slopes, prices continue to drop. There's usually a sharp difference between lodging on and off the mountain. If you lodge off the mountain, at least twice a day you'll have to traverse the road up to the ski resort. These are generally long, narrow, winding roads that may take 15 minutes to half an hour or more, depending on how far away you stay.

The extra driving may not sound like much, but a short mid-day rest can do wonders for your stamina, letting you stay on the slopes longer overall. This option becomes increasingly impractical if it takes you half an hour or more just to get to and from your lodging.

However, every resort is unique, so it pays to do some research. In some locations, driving to the ski resort doesn't take long, and it may be very practical and economical to stay someplace 10 minutes away for much cheaper than lodging on the slopes.

Connect
As ski slopes are typically in very rural areas (and to that: hilly), cell phone service may be weak, unreliable, or non-existent. On the other hand, such resorts may have good coverage locally.

Walkie-talkies are excellent for keeping in touch with your mates while on the slopes; many models are made for use outdoors: big, sturdy and with buttons that can be handled with gloves on. Some models accept earphones. However, despite advertising claims, the actual range of typical personal use radios is generally no more than 1–3 miles/kilometres and often much less. Line of sight gives good connection on significantly longer distance. There is no global standard. Using radios from your home country elsewhere may cause illegal interference: for example, walkie-talkies from the U.S. overlap with frequencies for the UK fire brigade and the Russian police.

Destinations
Major skiing destinations include:

Africa

 * Lesotho
 * South Africa
 * South Africa

Asia

 * Iran
 * Lebanon
 * China
 * Japan
 * South Korea
 * Israel
 * Mount Hermon

Europe

 * Andorra: Arinsal/Pal, Soldeu, Pas de la Casa
 * Austria: see Skiing in Austria
 * Bosnia and Herzegovina: Jahorina, Kupres
 * Bulgaria: Bansko, Borovets, Pamporovo
 * Finland: see Winter in the Nordic countries
 * France: see French Alps
 * Georgia: Bakuriani, Gudauri
 * Italy: Canazei, Cortina, Livigno, Madonna di Campiglio, Moena, Via Lattea (Sestiere and others)
 * Norway: see Winter in the Nordic countries
 * Romania
 * Russia: Krasnaya Polyana
 * Serbia: Kopaonik, Zlatibor
 * Slovakia
 * Slovenia
 * Sweden: see Winter in the Nordic countries
 * Switzerland: see Winter sports in Switzerland
 * Turkey: Ilgaz National Park, Uludağ
 * UK: Scotland
 * Ukraine: Bukovel

Canada

 * Alberta
 * Lake Louise
 * Banff - Sunshine Valley, Norquay, Fortress
 * Jasper - Marmot Basin
 * British Columbia
 * Whistler
 * Fernie
 * Rossland - Red Mountain
 * Nelson - Whitewater
 * Golden - Kicking Horse
 * Kamloops - Sun Peaks
 * Penticton - Apex Alpine
 * Ontario
 * Blue Mountain
 * Quebec
 * Mont-Tremblant

United States of America

 * Alaska: Alyeska
 * California: Lake Tahoe, Mammoth Lakes
 * Colorado: see Colorado
 * Idaho: Sun Valley
 * Maine: Sugarloaf, Sunday River
 * Montana: see Montana
 * New Hampshire: see New Hampshire
 * New Mexico: see New Mexico
 * New York: Hunter Mountain
 * Utah
 * Alta and Snowbird in Little Cottonwood Canyon (no snowboarders are permitted at Alta)
 * Brighton and Solitude in Big Cottonwood Canyon
 * Park City, Deer Valley, and The Canyons in the Park City area (no snowboarders allowed at Deer Valley)
 * Snowbasin and Powder Mountain in the Ogden area
 * Sundance
 * Vermont: see Vermont
 * Washington (state): Mount Baker
 * West Virginia: Snowshoe
 * Wyoming: Jackson Hole

Argentina

 * Las Leñas
 * Catedral Alta Patagonia
 * Cerro Castor
 * Cerro Chapelco
 * La Hoya

Chile

 * Portillo
 * Pucon
 * La Parva
 * Nevados de Chillan
 * Valle Nevado
 * El Colorado

Australia
See Winter sports in Australia

New Zealand

 * Mount Ruapehu
 * Taranaki
 * Southern Alps

title: Downhill snowsports


text:
Alps

The Alps are a range of mountains in Europe caused by uplift in the European Plate as it is impacted by the African Plate moving north; they stretch from Italy through France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, Austria, and into Slovenia.

The highest peaks in Europe outside of the Caucasus Mountains are located in the Alps. Mont Blanc (4,810 m), Dufourspitze (4,634 m) and the world-famous Matterhorn (4,478 m) are well known alpine four-thousanders.

Many areas of the Alps are covered by eternal snow and ice. The largest glaciers are located in the Valais and Bernese Alps of Switzerland. The Aletsch Glacier with its 23 km length and 900 m depth is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia and Liechtenstein are often referred to as the alpine countries because much of their territories are geographically and culturally dominated by the Alps. The regional provinces of Bavaria, (Germany) and South Tyrol (Italy) also offer a distinctly Alpine flair.

Ski resorts
The Alps are home to some of the largest and most well known ski areas in the world. Much like the mountains themselves they can be found across multiple countries, in some cases making it possible to ski into another nation.

Major ski areas are:

Austria

 * Bad Gastein
 * St. Anton and Lech
 * Schladming
 * Zell am See

Germany

 * Garmisch-Partenkirchen
 * Oberstdorf

France

 * Chamonix
 * Le Grand Massif
 * Portes du Soleil
 * Tignes / Val d'Isère

Italy

 * Seiser Alm
 * Courmayeur
 * Alta Badia
 * Val Gardena
 * Plan de Corones (Kronplatz)
 * Carezza

Switzerland

 * Crans-Montana
 * Davos
 * Grindelwald
 * Gstaad
 * Portes du Soleil
 * Saas-Fee
 * Samnaun
 * St. Moritz
 * Verbier
 * Zermatt

Understand

The Alps make up a barrier between Europe's temperate and mediterranean climate zones, as well as the border between two of Europe's major cultural spheres; Latin Europe (with heritage from the Roman Empire) and Germanic Europe.

It is so notable that the name Alps has also been given to other mountain ranges, most notably the Southern Alps in New Zealand and the Japan Alps in Japan.

Tourism (and the economy in general) is very much geared towards skiing, snowboarding, and other winter sports throughout most of the Alps. In ski resorts some of the hotels and other facilities may close. There is now an increase in summer time sports, such as mountain biking, golf, parapenting and whitewater kayaking, which is fuelling growth of the Alps as a year-round tourist destination. The Alps have always been popular as a mountaineering and hiking destination, but clearly this is nowhere near as lucrative for the locals as the tourist invasion during the winter season.

While agriculture used to play a huge role in the daily lives of people in the Alps, it has been reduced to folklore and subsidised remnants. While cheese and other products are still produced in similar ways to bygone eras, the sturdy cow-herder on his "alm" or "alp" watching the animals during the summer is only an afterthought and not the centrepiece of life up there as it once was

Talk
The Alps skirt, straddle, or wholly encompass 7 European countries: France, Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, and Slovenia. In addition to the standard dialects of the national languages there is a myriad of local dialects – often differing drastically from valley to valley. However, in most major towns or tourist destinations some English will be spoken. In general language borders follow national borders, but this is not always the case. German is the official language in Germany, Austria and Liechtenstein and a large portion of central, northern and eastern Switzerland. It is also spoken in Italy's South Tyrol. French is spoken in southern and western Switzerland, France and along the French border in Italy as well. Slovenian, in addition to Slovenia, is spoken by a minority in north-eastern Italy around Trieste and the Italian-Slovenian frontier. Lastly, some people in France near the city of Nice are Italian speakers. Romansh, the fourth official language of Switzerland, is now spoken only in small parts of Switzerland and you will get by just as well with German in those areas.

By plane
Major international airports in or near the Alps include the airports of Geneva, Zürich, Basel , Milan, Munich, Innsbruck, Vienna and Salzburg.

By train
While the Alps are rather centrally located within Europe, they have been a barrier to all types of travel for millennia. The 19th century brought with it a number of still impressive technological feats "taming" the Alps. While there are efforts to replace some tunnels and bridges with newer, shorter and faster routes, some passes are still used by trains today. The adjacent railways all offer various international tickets into and out of the Alps, most notably Deutsche Bahn, SNCF and ÖBB (Österreichische Bundesbahnen). While the Swiss national railways enjoy a very good reputation, they are rather new to the international business, though there are cooperations with SNCF and DB. For most international tickets special offers are available if you book early and/or avoid peak periods like weekends or holidays.

By bus
Long-distance buses are still mostly a new concept west of the former "iron curtain" and thus getting into the Alps from outside the area can be difficult and expensive. There are of course Intercity buses in Germany serving hubs like Vienna, Zürich or Salzburg and during the ski season chartered buses clog the streets with ski-groups, but other than that options can be sparse. Intercity buses in France also available in the mid-2010s. In Switzerland the "Postauto" has long been a mainstay on mountain roads and a crucial link to the rest of the country for those places not served by any railway.

By car
Driving is often a practical way for getting around, especially on the countryside. The roads often get very congested in July and August when people from further north head to the beaches of the Mediterranean. The same goes for the ski resorts in winter (though minus the travel trailers). In the winter many mountain roads are closed to traffic and copious amounts of snowfall may mess up the traffic. Due to the high costs associated with tunnel building, some railway-only tunnels have trains carrying cars and their passengers running through them. Depending on your itinerary, taking such a train can save you a lengthy detour, time, money or a combination of all three. Sometimes making use of these offers lets you avoid toll roads. Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia have a flat-rate toll system where you pay once for a certain amount of time (in Switzerland the shortest possible period is one year, in Austria it is ten days with the next shortest being one month, in Slovenia it's one week) to use all normal highways, though there are roads that cost extra (and can in theory be used even by those not paying the general toll). In Italy and France there are distance-based tolls, and in Germany there is (as of 2016) no toll for passenger cars. Trying to avoid toll roads is not only difficult and making your trip longer than it has to be but usually not worth it in terms of money either.

By train
Like elsewhere in Europe, train may be the best kind of public transport. If you like rail travel through scenic landscapes, the Alpine countries are certainly worth considering.

However, in some cases train travel may take longer than you expect as the terrain forces all travel to take long detours. For instance, considering the straight-line distance from Geneva to Turin, a train ride between those cities takes ridiculously long. Some major routes are upgraded with new tunnels and bridges for that reason, but construction is expensive so some routes will still be circuitous for the time being.

Switzerland in particular has an excellent rail network with very good on time performance and one of the densest networks in the world. However, there are surprisingly few high speed lines and prices can be expensive as one in four Swiss people has a half-fare travelcard, reducing prices 50% and fares are calculated accordingly. Add the general wealth of Switzerland to the equation and you will have to shell out quite some money for good service.

By bus
Smaller places, especially in Switzerland, are often connected by (post) buses to larger towns.

By plane
Flying may be an option if you want to get between the largest cities and time is important. Unlike Norway with a similar terrain, airports in the Alps are more of points for getting into the region rather than getting around.

Alpine pearls
Alpine Pearls is a consortium of 22 tourism municipalities in 6 alpine countries. The tourism association's objective is to support and promote Soft Mobility: that is offering the possibility for guests to arrive without a car at the holiday destination and to have easy access to public transportation on site and numerous offers of environmentally friendly holiday programmes. The cooperation's members fulfill strict quality criteria like town centres with reduced traffic, transfer services, environmentally friendly leisure time facilities, the guarantee of mobility without car and ecological minimum standards. The individual member municipalities (referred to as Pearls) benefit from the exchange of experiences among each other.

See

 * Beautiful alpine scenery.
 * The Jungfraujoch and the highest railway in Europe, Jungfraubahn, leading up to it. There's almost 3 km of altitude difference between Interlaken and the summit station. View on the largest glacier in the Alps.
 * The view from the Aguille du Midi near Chamonix or its counterpart the Helbronner point in Italy.
 * On the Gornergrat train, from Zermatt, you can view over 29 four-thousanders (mountain peaks above 4,000 metres).

Do
The best things to do in the Alps will vary from region to region, but in general mountain sports would be the thing to do!

 * Downhill snowsports. (see also Winter sports in Austria, Winter sports in Switzerland)
 * Climb mountains or go hiking.
 * Go mountain biking. In many places you can take bikes up the ski lifts during the summer.
 * Go whitewater kayaking or rafting.
 * Go paragliding

Eat
The cuisine in this region developed to rely on dairy and imported dry ingredients when fresh food was scarce during the winters. Melted cheese fondues of many types are available, as are muesli and chocolates. Cheese is a local speciality available in myriad varieties.

Drink
A typical alpine thing to drink is liquor with herbs and spices that grow in the area

Stay safe
Because the Alps have few major metropolitan areas, violent crime is relatively low in this expansive region. In the larger towns and cities normal levels of crime will exist but these are nothing that can not be accounted for with a little common sense. Most commonly crime is relegated to the level of petty theft, pick-pockets, etc.

Venturing out of town for outdoor activities, especially in winter, there are dangers related to cold weather and mountaineering. Know what you are doing. Especially note the danger of avalanches.

Go next

 * The Pyrenees Mountains are on the border of Spain and France.
 * There are mountain ranges even higher than the Alps, including the Andes in South America and the Himalayas in Asia.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Alps


text:
Alquezar

Alquezar is a small town of about 300 people (2018) standing on the rocks in Aragon, north of Spain. It is in the Sierra y Cañones de Guara Natural Park, and there are various campsites in the local area to cater to outdoor enthusiasts. Popular activities include canyoning, walking, rock climbing and abseiling, as well as ornithology (since vultures nest on the steep faces of the Rio Vero canyon).

Understand
The town looks very much like Poble Espanyol in Barcelona, but this time it's genuine old-time architecture, not an imitation.

Locals earn their living only by providing tourist services; no commercial agriculture is done in Alquezar. Many weekend travellers come to town for a relaxed stay among the rocks for old folks and beginner-level activities for families. Also there are daily bus excursions with old folks visiting Alquezar for several hours: tourists see the Collegiata, eat at the central square and leave. Excursion buses arrive at the central square. Weekday travelers are mainly French, with a few Belgians, Netherlanders and Italians mixed in.

The surrounding area to the south towards Barbastro, in the direction of the flatter Ebro basin, is part of the Somontano, an area known for its fine wines. There are more than 60 limestone caves with prehistoric cave paintings in the surrounding area, which has led to the region being declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1998. A good example is the cave at Arpán on the A-2205 road heading north towards Bárcabo.

History
Situated on a limestone outcrop of the Eocene age to the west of the canyon of the Rio Vero in the Sierra y Cañones de Guara Natural Park, the village grew up around a castle and the Collegiate church of Santa Maria, which was consecrated in 1099.

The name of the village comes from the Arabic القصر al qaçr for "fort" or "castle" (renamed as Alcazar in Spanish). The castle became the main defence point of the nearby city of Barbastro.

Get around
Maps of the town are freely available in the tourist office and at several stands around the town. Most traveller-oriented businesses can be found on the map.

The town is small enough to be fully accessible by foot.

There are several free parking lots around the town. Some hotels have their own private parking space.

Stone pavements are not comfortable for those with high-heeled shoes or a child carriage, but alpine boots are not required either, unless you do some serious trekking.

See

 * City's striking clocks adding to feeling of living in a medieval town.
 * City's striking clocks adding to feeling of living in a medieval town.

Do

 * Swim in a public pool (25 m) near La Marmita de Guara albergue
 * Quad bikes. Operators:
 * Guara Quad
 * Via ferrata: much less popular than canyoning, advance reservation essential. Same operators as for canyoning.
 * Walking treks along the Río Vero Canyon
 * Birdwatching all year round but specially winter, when is easy to find wallcreepers on the cliffs around.
 * Rock climbing: performed by Vertientes Adventura (see below) in the evenings and canyoning off-season, and by many other activities operators.
 * see more in Aragon:Do.

Canyoning

 * See also: Aragon:Do:Canyoning.

Alquezar is the main starting point for canyons in Aragon. Canyoning operators expect customers to drive by their own car from Alquezar to the start of canyon. Operators include:

Buy
The cheese made of sheep milk from the near town of Radiquero has won several prices.

Also there are several wineries in the region with the distinctive D.O. Somontano that is worth to try.

There's nothing unique to the town or region to be bought in Alquezar. Only chorizo sausages are worth buying as local souvenir (the same as elsewhere in Spain); cheese is made of sheep milk and is not really distinctive. Other local grocery items available are honey from Barbastro (many varieties up to Eucalyptus), and olive oil (as cheap as €30 for 5L).

Some local versions of Kukuxumusu are available.

Restaurants and cafes
Stewed rabbit, partridge, and veal dishes are the best bet in most local restaurants.

Drink
Sangria sometimes tastes like glintwein on the rocks, although it shouldn't by the traditional recipe. Wines from the region: D.O. Somontano

Stay healthy
Although the town is a base camp for multiple types of outdoor activities, it has no resident doctor or hospital. Outdoor activity operators advise travellers to head to Barbastro which has a national hospital.

title: Alquezar


text:
Alresford (Hampshire)

Alresford (pronounced "ALLS-ford") is a country market town on the River Arle in Hampshire. In many ways Alresford is the quintessential English small country town, with the friendly atmosphere and English traditions maintained throughout the ages.

Understand
Although the overall look of Alresford is that of a Georgian market town, the area is believed to have been inhabited since the Bronze Age. The settlement of the locality began with the village of Old Alresford, mentioned in the Domesday Book. In the late 12th century, a "Great Weir" was constructed to create Old Alresford Pond, and at this point a (comparatively) new settlement sprang up alongside: this second town is known as "New Alresford", although it is over 800 years old. Locals refer to it as simply "Alresford", only adding the prefix in the case of Old Alresford, which remains a sleepy but picturesque little village.

Its "vibe" is in part because it is sufficiently inconvenient for commuters to London that the demographic of the town is mostly families and retirees, many of whom have lived there for generations. Young people who grow up in the town frequently move away for their career, then return to start a family. As a result, there is a strong sense of community, and a warmth towards visitors and locals.

The oldest and most picturesque part of the town is where Broad Street meets East Street and West Street. These three streets are lined with beautiful Georgian townhouses and shops.

By road
Alresford is just off the A31, between Winchester and Alton.

By bus
The 64 (Winchester to Alton) runs though Alresford twice an hour and the 67 (Winchester to Petersfield) runs through Alresford every two hours.

Timetables are available on the Stagecoach Bus website.

Winchester has bus, rail and National Express links to all over the country. Alton has rail and bus links.

By steam train
One of Alresford's main attractions is the Watercress Line, a preserved railway which runs from Alresford to Alton, and has a number of special events throughout the year. Alton has direct trains to London Waterloo running at least hourly, half-hourly during most of the day. There are also bus links to Guildford (65) and Basingstoke (28/X28).

Get around
Alresford is a small town, and its attractions are concentrated into a fairly small area. As a result, walking is the easiest mode of transport. If you have a car, it's best to park at Station Yard, Perins School, Broad Street (except Thursday, which is Market Day), West Street, or Arlebury Park.

Buy
Alresford has several boutiques along its three main streets, and a number of small specialist shops selling items such as antiques, china, pictures and food.

Souvenirs of the town, including tea trays, mugs and calendars, can be bought at the Alresford Gift Shop, and antique photographs of the town can be purchased from Alresford Heritage, through Oakleaf Stationery Shop, 56 West Street, Alresford.

title: Alresford (Hampshire)


text:
Alsatian Vineyard Route

The Alsatian Vineyard Route (Route des Vins d'Alsace) is a mostly rural route in Alsace, France. The route stretches from Marlenheim in the north near Strasbourg, to Thann in the south and east to Mulhouse. The route goes along medieval wine producing villages situated on the slope of the Massif des Vosges.

Regions
The route is officially divided into four regions: going from the South to the North, Thann-Colmar, Colmar-Ribeauville (Rappoltsweilen), Ribeauville-Obernai, Obernai-Marlenheim.

Towns and villages

The Alsatian Vineyard Route includes 67 towns and villages; their website has a map listing them all. The website also offers a brief description of suggested towns to visit.

The towns of Kaysersberg, Ribeauvillé, Riquewihr, Eguisheim,  Turckheim and Bergheim are all close to Colmar, the latter having a large medieval city centre.

The villages of Eguisheim, Hunawihr and Riquewihr have the distinction of belonging to the association of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France (the most beautiful villages of France).

Other destinations
Nearby destinations are Strasbourg, Basel (Basle), Baden-Baden and the Black Forest. Do not miss Haut-Koenigsburg, a reconstructed medieval castle at the top of the mountains near Sélestat.

Talk
Since Alsace used to be entirely German speaking until WW II, Alsatian German is still common. The stocks of German tourists in the area also contribute to the fact that you can get along everywhere with German. French is the only official language and is spoken by everyone, apart from elderly people who still prefer to avoid it. English is usually only basically understood.

Get in
Since the Alsatian Vineyard Route is a rural area, accessibility with public transport is highly limited. If you drive a car you will find the signs very helpful guiding you to the next stop along the route. The roads are small though and not lit, so avoid traveling in the dusk if you can.

By train
Strasbourg and Colmar are along a main rail line between Paris and Basel. Although there is TGV service along this line, regional (TER) trains may be a better choice if travelling between Strasbourg and Basel as they are cheaper, not much slower and don't require reservations.

The medieval districts of Strasbourg and Colmar are within walking distance of the railway station.

Few of the small medieval towns are accessible by train. Turckheim has a number of TER (regional) trains per day from Colmar. The Turckheim station is just across the river from the old town.

Tourist taxi
An alternative to renting a car or to using public transit is to hire a tourist taxi (Voiture de tourisme avec chauffeur) at Colmar. The driver can easily take you to visit several of the medieval towns near Colmar allowing as much time as you wish to stroll each of them. (Most towns are very small and can be easily seen within 60-90 minutes.) A2T Alsace Transports Tourisme offers such a service. Some observations from a 2007 visit: The driver may speak only phrase-book English. If you understand French, the driver might offer some background on the sites, but is not required to do so. Have a list of towns you wish to see; suggestions are: Riquewihr, Ribeauvillé, Kaysersberg, Eguisheim, Turckheim, Bergheim. Let the driver choose the most efficient route. The number of towns you see depends on how much time you purchase and how long you linger in each town. It may be cheaper to purchase a block of time such a half or full day. The tourist office at Colmar might be able to help book a tourist taxi.

Get around
You can get around on foot within any town you visit.

See
All wine villages along the route are medieval and were almost perfectly preserved. They are normally tiny, which allows you to go through such a village in about half an hour. Bigger villages are Ribeauvillé, Riquewihr, Kaysersberg, Thann, Molsheim, Obernai, Barr and Guebwiller. Colmar is a small city and requires at least a half day.

Itineraries
You can tour the route for several days depending on how much of it you want to see. For one of the four regions specified above a day should normally suffice.

Eat
Alsatian food: Sauerkraut, tarte flambée (flammeküche), Kugelhopf, Black Forest cake and macarons.

Drink
Try local Alsatian wine, which is excellent! Unusually for France, the wine labels prominently feature the grape variety. Riesling ages well and takes on a minerally, almost petrol flavor over time. Gewurztraminer is a wine you will love or hate. Floral, spicy, and perfumed, it is an ideal wine for spicy food such as curries. Pinot Gris is the French name for the now ubiquitous Pinot Grigio of Italy. Pinot Noir is the only red wine widely produced in Alsace.

Respect
Some of the locals might be offended if you refer to their small, medieval town as a "village" (village in French). Instead use the word "town" (or ville if you are speaking French) instead of "village". Apparently, the locals are proud that their town is sufficiently large or prominent to be called a "ville" (ville in French applies to both cities and towns). Ironically, the Alsatian medieval towns of Eguisheim, Hunawihr and Riquewihr belong to the association of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France (the most beautiful villages of France).

Stay safe
Don't drink and drive. The law regarding this is very strict in France - 0.25 mg of alcohol per litre of blood is the limit, which is so small you may as well write off driving altogether if you've had a glass of wine. Given the rural character of the area, you may be tempted to chance it on the assumption there'll be no police about, but that would be in ignorance of the Gendarmerie Nationale, whose specific job is to enforce the law in the countryside and on roads. This is not to mention the fact you'll be driving unfamiliar roads with foreign traffic rules and a language barrier to overcome, which is hard enough when sober. But slowing down is no hardship. Take your time, have lengthy stops at each town, spend a night and soak up the atmosphere. If you're really in a rush, make sure there's a designated driver who doesn't drink, or else book a local taxi to drive you around.

Go next
Elsass

title: Alsatian Vineyard Route


text:
Alsen

Alsen is a small town in the Red River Valley, in northeastern North Dakota. It had a population of about 30 people in 2019. Coordinates are Latitude 48.63N & Longitude 98.59W.

Understand
This town was founded in 1889, and was originally named Storlie, after several local families of Norwegian origin. Several Danish families who had settled in the area renamed it after Alsen Island in Denmark.

Get in

 * By car: from Devil's Lake, 38 miles north on State Hy 20, and 5 miles east on State Hy 66.

title: Alsen


text:
Alston

Alston is a small town in Cumbria, North West England. Alston lies within the North Pennines, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Alston is noted for its cobbled streets and 17th-century stone buildings. The Pennine Way, the UK's first National Trail, passes by the edge of Alston and the Sea to Sea Cycle Route (C2C) passes through the town.

Understand

It shares the title of the 'highest market town in England', at about 1,000 feet (300 m) above sea level, with Buxton, Derbyshire.

The landscape of the area is built up from limestone, sandstone and shale. The area is rich in minerals, in particular lead deposits, and the landscape has been heavily influenced by the effects of varying methods of mining over the centuries. Historically the area has been mined for lead, silver, zinc, coal and fluorspar. The nearby Roman fort of Whitley Castle (Epiacum) may in part have been sited to control and protect the lead mines there.

Get in
There are good transport links into Alston. Although the railway is no longer running, main roads extend to Alston from Carlisle, Hexham, Penrith, and Barnard Castle. Each of them is 20–30 miles distant.

By foot
Alston and Garrigill are on the Pennine Way.

Get around
Wrights' buses run a daily service in the summer months to Penrith, Newcastle (via Hexham), and the villages of Garrigill and Nenthead.

Alston is set in a designated area of outstanding natural beauty. There are many walks to be had on the moor, and the Nenthead and Garrigill walks are good, 8-mile (13-km) round trip walks which can be taken along the rivers Nent and Tyne respectively.

See

 * Killhope is a lead mining museum east on A689 in County Durham, see Stanhope. It's closed for refurbishment in 2024.
 * Killhope is a lead mining museum east on A689 in County Durham, see Stanhope. It's closed for refurbishment in 2024.
 * Killhope is a lead mining museum east on A689 in County Durham, see Stanhope. It's closed for refurbishment in 2024.
 * Killhope is a lead mining museum east on A689 in County Durham, see Stanhope. It's closed for refurbishment in 2024.
 * Killhope is a lead mining museum east on A689 in County Durham, see Stanhope. It's closed for refurbishment in 2024.

Eat
Like much of Cumbria, after the Foot and Mouth crisis in the early 2000s, many businesses combined and diversified, leaving Cumbria with a gastronomical edge.

Drink
Alston used to have many pubs considering its small size. There are fewer than 2000 people living on the whole moor and the village used to 10 pubs. Each pub had its own individual character and many of were free houses, serving local beers from the microbreweries of Cumbria. In 2014 just four pubs remained open (Cumberland, Angel, Turks Head, and Victoria), and one hotel/restaurant (Alston House), although the Cumberland and Victoria also provide accommodation.

In Alston Moor
Here is a guide to the pubs of Alston Moor.

Go next

 * Haltwhistle
 * Penrith
 * Hexham

title: Alston


text:
Alta

Alta is the largest town in the county of Finnmark, in Northern Norway. Alta is the regional hub and has some 21,000 inhabitants (2022). The town is found at the inner or eastern end of Altafjorden. Alta town is the centre for Alta municipality (Norwegian: Alta kommune, Sami: Álttá suohkan) that includes Altafjorden and adjacents fjords, islands and valleys. Alta is an entry point to the great Finnmarksvidda and the great interior of northern Nordic area.

Understand
Alta is also known as "the Aurora Borealis city". The town centre stretches over a relatively wide area. Elvebakken area near the river mouth is also home to the airport that is virtually in the centre. The second historical part of the centre is Bossekop (sami: Bossugohppi). A new centre emerges between the two.

The tourist information seems to move around on a daily basis, so the first thing you might do is wind up traveling all over Alta looking for it. As of 2012, the information center is in the Nordlys hotel, on the left, just as you enter town from the South. (You may notice other information signs as you travel through Alta, but almost all of them point to centres that have closed.) Alta river is regarded as the best salmon fishing river in Norway, ahead of the great rivers of Trøndelag. The upper part of Alta river in the early 1980's was developed for hydro power and tall concrete dam was built in canyon and the flow of the river changed. This hydro power project was highly controversial and one of the most important environmental conflicts in Norway. Alta river with is canyon is still one of the finest rivers in Norway. The canyon begins some 30 km from Alta town.

During the second world war the German occupant used Alta as a base for the northern fleet. The warship Tirpitz, the largest in the German navy, were kept in Kåfjorden near the town. There were several allied attacks on the ship, the fatal one after the ship moved to Tromsø for repair. At the end of the war the German forces evacuated civilians from Finnmark and burned everything. In Alta town only the church remained, in Kåfjord, Talvik, Sopnes and Kviby churches also survived.

Fun facts
Jafet Lindeberg and others with experience from the copper mines in Kåfjord started gold digging in Alaska, and triggered the gold rush at Nome. Lindeberg emerged as one of the richest men in USA and was nicknamed "King of Alaska". Lindeberg and his associates originally came to Alaska as herdsmen for the live reindeer exported from Alta. The reindeer export was an attempt to create a new business for the inuits. A number of emigrants of Sami origin also traveled to Alaska along with several hundred reindeer. Among them Samuel Balto that gave name to Balto the husky. Later the Lomen family of Minnesota (who had emigrated from Valdres) established a large reindeer industry and arranged "reindeer processions" in the streets of US cities as a marketing trick. These reindeer processions may have reinforced the image of St Clause traveling by reindeer.

By car
Alta sits on E6 (Norway's main road North-South) and E45 to/from Finland terminates downtown Alta. Because of Alta's northern location and long distance from continental Europe driving is usually not a viable option, except if Alta is part of a road trip through Scandinavia. The shortest drive from Copenhagen is more than 2,000 km, and the full drive through Norway is also more than 2,000 km (about 36 hours drive).
 * Through Sweden, Finland and Kautokeino is the fastest from south Scandinavia to Alta: E4 to Luleå, then E10 and 392 and 403 past Pajala to the border to Finland, then E8 and road 93/E45.
 * From Tromsø: E6 is the only option.
 * From Nordkapp: E6
 * From Kirkenes/East Finnmark: E6

By bus
Search here for bus connections.

By foot
Alta is not a large city, but distances inside it are larger than might be expected. E6 is 12 km long inside the densely populated area.

See

 * – The Raipas point on the world heritage listed Struve Geodetic Arc is not far from Alta as the crow flies, but the road there goes on the other side of Altaelva (Alta River) to the settlement of Raipas. Next to the road there's a parking, from where you will hike uphill for a couple of kilometres to the summit of Lille Raipas around 250 m ASL.
 * – The Raipas point on the world heritage listed Struve Geodetic Arc is not far from Alta as the crow flies, but the road there goes on the other side of Altaelva (Alta River) to the settlement of Raipas. Next to the road there's a parking, from where you will hike uphill for a couple of kilometres to the summit of Lille Raipas around 250 m ASL.

Sleep
Search sites such as booking.com find around 5 places for accommodation in or near Alta.

 * Cheap
 * Mid range
 * High end
 * High end
 * High end

Go next

 * Troms: Lyngen, Tromsø
 * Finland
 * Nordkapp
 * Kirkenes, Russia

title: Alta


text:
Alta (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Alta:

Norway

 * Alta — The largest city in Northern Norway.

United States of America

 * Alta (Utah) — A ski resort town in Utah.

title: Alta (disambiguation)


text:
Alta (Utah)

Alta is a small town at the head of Little Cottonwood Canyon in Salt Lake County, part of the Wasatch Range region of Utah.

Understand
Home to Alta Ski Resort and legendary Utah powder.

Alta is a small town on the outskirts of Salt Lake City. It is primarily a ski resort at which snowboarding is prohibited. The resort is for both local skiers and avid outsiders wanting to enjoy the mountain.

While Alta exists only as a ski resort today, the town has an interesting history. It was a mining town in the 1800s to 1900s. The first verified silver claim in Alta was staked in 1865. In 1937, the mayor of Alta gave acres of surface rights to the U.S. Forest Service for development of a ski area. Norwegian skiing legend Alf Engen was hired to help develop the area, and Alta opened its first ski lift in 1938. The first Collins lift was constructed in 1938 out of pieces of old aerial mining tram. As home to the second chairlift in US history, Alta played a major role in the creation of the modern day ski resort model. Skiing remains the main industry in the town.

In addition, Alta keeps up with the modern times, and is going green. The Alta Environmental Center states its primary goal is to strive for sustainability and to continuously investigate viable ways to decrease Alta Ski Area's carbon while maintaining a healthy business.

Get in
Alta is 25 miles southeast of Salt Lake City at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon.

By car
State Highway 210 brings you to Alta. The nearest interstates are 15, 80, and 215. There is only one road in and out of the valley. Storms or avalanches may shut down the one road leading up the canyon and it is possible you may be unable to leave until the conditions clear.

By plane
It is a 45-minute drive from the Salt Lake City International Airport, with direct flights from most major cities.

Shuttles from the airport:

 * Alta Shuttle +1-866-274-0225
 * Canyon Transportation +1 801 860-7544
 * Ted's Transportation +1 801 541-3736
 * Tri M Transportation +1-800-671-0030
 * Ute Cab Company +1 801 359-7788
 * Wasatch Mountain Service +1-800-365-8511
 * Wave Transportation +1 801 532-1433
 * Yellow Cab +1 801 521-2100

Get around
Overnight parking in Alta is limited. Avalanche and watershed restrictions prohibit overnight camping and dogs. If you are staying in Alta it is not necessary to have a car. Most lodges and condominiums are slope-side or provide transportation. For day trips, there are two parking lots at the Albion and Wildcat bases.

There are times when Little Cottonwood Canyon Road, State Highway 210, may be restricted to travel due to avalanches, storms, or other reasons. AM 530 has up-to-date road information and canyon activities. It is required by state law that you carry chains in your vehicle or have snow tires on the vehicle from November 1st through May 1st.

Between Alta and Snowbird

 * Alta Bypass Shuttle: Free. From 8:30 to 11AM the free white bypass shuttle bus makes a continuous loop past Blackjack Condos, The View, Powder Ridge, Superior Point, The bypass Houses, upper and lower Sugarplum Village, Collins Ticket Office and Wildcat Ticket Office. The free white bypass shuttle sits at the bottom of the Collins chair from 3 to 5PM and returns skiers immediately to their condominiums or houses.
 * Public Transportation (UTA): Free Zone. Utah Transit Authority operates a ski bus route from many locations throughout the Salt Lake Valley. The UTA ski buses transport skiers and gear. Because of convenient schedule times, skiers can enjoy a full day, morning, or afternoon half-day of skiing.
 * Alta Shuttle +1-866-274-0225
 * Canyon Transportation +1-800-255-1841
 * Ted's Transportation +1 801 541-3736
 * Tri M Transportation +1-800-671-0030

See

 * Wasatch forest; The Uinta portion of the Forest, established in 1897, was the first National Forest in Utah. The Wasatch National Forest was established in 1906 and the Cache National Forest in 1907 to protect valuable resources. Timber, water, forage, wildlife and fisheries, oil and gas, and recreational opportunities are all found in these mountains and are managed by the Forest Service to ensure sustained ecosystem health.

Do
The main attraction of Alta is the quality skiing, not the night life. Thus, there is little to do but ski, eat, drink, and sleep. The mountain is for skiers only. Snowboarders may enjoy Snowbird, a resort less than a ten-minute drive down the valley with much the same quality snow.

There are trails for skiers of all levels, from beginner to die-hard. Lessons, rentals, demos, and tours are available.

Eat
Mid-Mountain

Base

Sleep
There are five lodges to choose from in Alta, each tailored to the type of experience you want to have on your ski trip. (More $ = more expensive)

There are also condos and vacation homes to choose from in the area.

Connect

 * General Information: +1 801 359-1078
 * Snow Report: +1 801 572-3939
 * Fax Number: +1 801 799-2340

Mailing address

Alta Ski Area PO Box 8007 Alta, UT 84092 U.S.A

Go next

 * Salt Lake City - Alta is a short drive from Salt Lake City, which offers a wider variety of events and attractions than will be found in the small ski town.

title: Alta (Utah)


text:
Altai

The Altai mountains are a mountain range in the area where Russia, China, Kazakhstan and Mongolia converge. They are the namesake of the controversial Altaic languages family, which includes Japanese, Korean, Manchu, Mongolian and the Turkic languages, though this grouping is disputed by many linguists.

They are the namesake of more than one place called Altai or Altay:

China

 * Aletai (also known as Altay) - a city in the autonomous Xinjiang region

Kazakhstan

 * Altai (Kazakhstan) - the easternmost region of Kazakhstan

Mongolia

 * Altai (Mongolia) (also known as Altay) - capital city of Govĭ-Altai province
 * Altai Tavan Bogd National Park - in Bayan-Ulgii province
 * Govĭ-Altai - a province in the Gobi region

Russia

 * Altai Republic - a republic in Western Siberia
 * Altai Krai - a region in Western Siberia

title: Altai


text:
Altai (Kazakhstan)

Altai is a mountainous region in the extreme east of Kazakhstan. It is home to some of the country's most beautiful alpine scenery, with remote wildlands and clear lakes. Here, the mining industry is adjacent to the untouched Altai nature and magnificent landscapes.

Ust-Kamenogorsk is the largest city in the region, the center of non-ferrous metallurgy. Other destinations

Cities

 * — or Öskemen, is the capital of East Kazakhstan
 * — a town and former Russian military outpost up in the mountains
 * — a pre-revolutionary workers' settlement knowns as Zyryan or Zyryanovsk until 2019
 * — a mining town, and the center of the mining industry.

Other destinations

 * (Kazakh: Марқакөл, Marqaköl; Russian: озеро Маркаколь, ozero Markakol') — a lake and popular tourist destination
 * — a reserve east of Ridder comprising alpine meadows, taiga, tundra, and deciduous forests
 * — a mountain resort known for its mineral waters near Belukha, the highest point of Altai

Understand
The region is dominated by the Russian population.

The region is located in the southwestern lower part of Altai, the natural boundaries are the Charysh and Irtysh rivers.

Get in
Ust-Kamenogorsk is the transportation hub for the region, and receives flights, trains and buses from elsewhere, particularly Almaty and Astana.

See
Etno Park, in Ust-Kamenogorsk, is a semi-kitschy place with replicas of traditional homes and an enormous mosque, collections of former Soviet military equipment like tanks and planes, flowers, and a zoo.

Do
Go to an ice hockey game: Ust-Kamenogorsk is home to Kazakhstan's most famous team: Kazzinc-Torpedo. The team plays in the Russian 2nd league.

title: Altai (Kazakhstan)


text:
Altai (Mongolia)

Altai (Altay) is the capital city of Govĭ-Altai province. Straddling the western edge of the Gobi Desert where the Altai Mountains rise out of the sands, the region seems to symbolize emptiness. To the south of the city is the massive Great Gobi Strictly Protected Area 'A' and 'B'. Area A lies to the east with part of the park in Bayanhongor, and Area B is smaller and to the west. Together they cover some of the driest and more remote parts of the Gobi. Many high snow-capped mountains are closer to the city in the Altai range just to the south and west.

Understand
With a population of about 18,000 (2017), Altai is one of the smallest provincial capitals in Mongolia in one of the least densely populated provinces in the country.

Govĭ-Altai is home to many rare mammals like the Govi Bear, wild Bactrian camels, Argali sheep, black-tailed gazelles, and wild cats. Many other large mammals like wolves, foxes, marmots, and birds and reptiles live in different parts of the province.

Get in
Buses and microbuses leave for Altai from Ulaanbaatar from the Dragon Center every day at noon. It is also possible to take a shared jeep from either Hovd or Bayanhongor and sometimes Uliastai.

By plane
Grass runway located just outside the city has flights to Ulaanbaatar and Bayanhongor.

Eat
If you get tired of eating at the Entum Hotel, you could eat at one of these:

title: Altai (Mongolia)


text:
Altai Krai

Altai Krai (Russian: Алта́йский край uhl-TIGH-skee krigh) is in a region Western Siberia. It is located immediately west of the semi-autonomous Altai Republic. Both regions are named after the stunningly beautiful Altai mountains and are home to the Altai people, an ethnically Turkic group living in the region for over 10,000 years. During Soviet times, Altai (both Krai and Republic) were very popular tourist destinations, particularly for adventure tourists interested in fishing, hunting, mountaineering and related mountain sports. In beauty, the Altai Krai is comparable to the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska or the Swiss Alps.

Altai Krai borders Novosibirsk Oblast to the north, Kemerovo Oblast to the northeast, the Altai Republic to the southeast, and Kazakhstan to the south and west.

Cities

 * - the capital of the region.
 * - the gate to Mountainous Altai.

Smaller towns

 * - locally renowned resort and health center.
 * - the birthplace of Vasily Shukshin, Russian writer and actor.

Climate
The winters in Altai are severe, with temperatures in the -30 (Celsius) not uncommon. In the summer months, Altai enjoys a continental mountain climate with hot dry air and cool nights.

Get in

 * From Mongolia: there is a bus from Tsagaannuur,Mongolia to Astana,Kazakhstan that passes through Altai Krai and the Altai Republic.  The roads in Altai are excellent (as of July 2009) and travel by road is the preferred and most scenic option.
 * From Kazakhstan: the return leg of the above bus.
 * Barnaul Gherman Titov International Airport

Itineraries

 * Chuysky Highway (Чуйский тракт) is a road from Novosibirsk to Mongolia, that goes through Berdsk, Biysk and down south to Altai Republic, where the landscape changes from steppes plain to scenic mountains covered with snow. The highway is very popular among motorist and cyclists.

Do

 * A variety of adventure resorts exist in Altai Krai. In Russian, these camps are affectionately known as Bazi Otdiha (Rest Bases).  At most camps, the traveler can expect to rent horses, indulge in a banya, or rent fishing or river equipment.  The bases are inexpensive and welcoming of Western-style backpackers.  They offer campsites and can serve as a valuable resource for information about particular sites/passes and mountain locations.

title: Altai Krai


text:
Altai Republic

Altai (Russian: Респу́блика Алта́й rees-POOB-leek-uh uhl-TIGH) is a republic in Western Siberia, which has an amazing variety of landscapes: from boundless steppes to impassable taiga forests.

The Altai Mountains are the highest in Siberia. The Altai Republic and nearby Altai Krai were very popular hunting, fishing and adventure tourist sites during Soviet times. The region is popular for rafting, kayaking, rock climbing, horse riding, fishing and hunting.

Understand
The region borders Kemerovo Oblast to the north, Khakassia to the northeast, Tuva to the east, Mongolia to the southeast, China to the south, Kazakhstan to the southwest, and Altai Krai to the northwest.

The people of this republic are mainly ethnic Altais, a Turkic ethnicity. The following a wide variety of religions including Russian Orthodoxy, Shamanism and Buddhism. Thus, this region is Russia's most religiously diverse.

The modern Altai economy is based largely upon agriculture, but nowadays the tourism industry has undergone an exponential growth. Despite the rapid growth of tourism, the region is one of the poorest and most underdeveloped places in Russia.

Other destinations
Altaisky Nature Reserve along with the Katun Nature Reserve and the Ukok Plateau Nature Refuge were listed as one of UNESCO World Heritage Sites under the name "Golden Mountains of Altai"

Talk
The Altai are a Turkic ethnic group closely related to Kazakhs and speak their own language of Altai. Altai and Kazakh are the official languages, along with Russian, of the Altai Republic. However, Russian is spoken nearly universally.

Get in
Altai Republic has no railway and one mid-sized airport in Gorno-Altaisk (located 9 km to the west). There are regular flights from Moscow and some other Russian cities.

Another good way is to get a marshrutka or bus from Biysk or Barnaul. Taxi from Biysk is quite cheap too.

Get around
Marshrutka is the most common way of public travel there. It is a type of taxi, which goes once it gets full. Information about routes can be found at the bus station in Gorno-Altaisk. Locals don't tend to know information about buses and marshrutkas (May 2021) and it may be difficult travel that way along the Chuysky Highway.

Hitchhiking is quite common too. Sometimes you can stop even a child on a horse. Alternatively, you can rent a car in Gorno-Altaisk or Barnaul.

See

 * Lake Teletskoye - one of the largest lakes in Russia, after Baikal.
 * 77 km away from the capital at the village Kamlak there is the Gorno-Altaisk Botanical Garden, situated on the unique natural corner Shishkular-Katail-Chisty lug (Шишкулар-Катаил-Чистый луг). It is a department of Russian Academy of Science and an interesting place to visit. The collected plants range 1535 species from Altai, Siberia, the Far East and even North America.
 * KM723-732 from Novosibirsk: A series of ancient (10,000BC) rock paintings and carvings can be seen on the main road that passes through the Altai Republic.
 * Seminsky pass - the highest point on the Chuysky Highway.

Campsites
So far there are three big congregations of private campsites, rest bases and guesthouses, majority of them in the north, where the climate is warmer:
 * Northern shores of Teletskoye lake close to Iogach and Artybash villages.
 * Complex of campsites along the Katun river, known as 'Biryuzovaya Katun', Бирюзовая Катунь, all accessible from Chuysky Highway, which runs parallel to the river.
 * Riverside campsites continue south with tributary Chemal and are mostly concentrated in Chemal village.

To get there tourists buy tours in big cities or call to the owners beforehand and then arrive. One can try their luck and certainly will find a stay on the spot.

Mountain climbing
For serious mountaineers and hikers, there are two mountains to consider. Permits must be arranged weeks or months in advance.

 * Belukha - get there via Ust-Koksa.
 * Aktru - get there via Kurai. Blue Lake is accessible from base camp and doesn't require a permit.

Hiking

 * Mount Sinyukha near Manzherok
 * Mount Sarlyk near the Seminsky pass
 * Karakol Lakes near Elekmonar (5 km north of Chemal)

There are plenty of options for day and multi-day hikes all around the region.

Eat
Eat at cafes, which are cheap and quite good. Cafes are common all around Russia, even in small villages.

Stay safe

 * Be aware of ticks, mainly in summer.
 * The region is prone to earthquakes.

Stay healthy
Tap water is considered unsafe for drinking, and should be avoided. Being one of Russia's poorest regions, only 60% of the area's population has access to safe drinking water. Sanitize all water, and drink only water that is bottled.

Hospitals are well equipped and the staff are well trained, but good quality health care in Altai is virtually non-existent. Most of the hospitals are equipped with neglected technology, and serious operations are seemingly impossible to do here.

Go next
Cross the border into Mongolia and visit Bayan-Ulgii Province, its capital, Ölgii, has a large Kazakh population living much the same way they did 100 years ago. Also visit Altai Tavan Bogd National Park and Tsambagarav National Park to enjoy large snow-capped mountains, petroglyphs, Turkic Stone Men, and Kazakh Eagle Hunters.

title: Altai Republic