For those new to skiing at Sierra Nevada it’s a great family
ski resort!
A few facts and numbers:
There are 105km of ski-able pistes,
serviced by a transport system capable of moving 49,411 people per hour.
Ski Lifts – 18 in total – 2 cable
cars – 15 Chair lifts (2 - 6 man) and 1 drag lift.
Pistes / Runs / Attractions – 119
including half pipe, snow park and green, blue, red and black runs
Approximate splits by run types:
Black (expert) – 8
Red (Difficult) – 50
Blue (Easy) – 40
Green (very Easy) – 18
So the resort has runs for all abilities, and is a perfect
place to learn to ski with large open green slopes, and blue slopes, especially
around the area called Borreguiles (is located at the main cable car station up
from the village).
The ski resort is the
village of Pradollano, where there are numerous hotels, parking, restaurants
and bars.
There are also plenty of good things to do in Sierra Nevada,
which are not skiing related - the toboggan run in the Mirlo Blanco
kids park area, piste basher rides, BMW off road rides, mountain biking,
hiking, etc.
As you reach the outskirts of Granada you follow
the signs for Sierra Nevada.
Check weather conditions, as if there is significant snow, quite reasonably you will not be allowed up
the mountain without snow chains on your vehicle!
As you arrive in Pradollano, you follow the main road into a
large underground car park, its about 15-20 euros for the
day. Into here and get parked up.
If you are missing some gear, or need to hire
gear, no problem. Chances are the ‘lucky
lucky’ men will be offering you cheap gloves and hats before you step out of
the car, and there are plenty of ski hire shops in the main squares as you get
out of the lift from the main car park.
Next up you need your lift passes. Again these are sold in the kiosks, and from
vending machines, on the main square. The vending machines, which take credit cards, are multi lingual!
You are then ready to hit the slopes.
Depending on your abilities will decide where
you head next!
Most people take the main
high capacity Al Anadlus cable car from the edge of the village at Pradallano,
which takes you up to Borreguiles, at which point you have a wide choice of
runs to go at, with 3 large capacity chair lifts taking skiers and boarders up
to a range of red, green and blue slopes.
If this is really busy, a lesser known alternative, unless this blog is
read by millions, is the lower capacity but often quieter Borreguiles cable
car which goes from the back of the shopping centre at the top of the steps to
the right of the ski lift ticket sales area.
Or for those happy with blues you can take the Jara
chairlift up into the mountains just to the right of the main Al Andalus cable
car.
And you are off! Ski Schools are aplenty in the village too and you can book onto group or private lessons.
There are plenty of places to eat and drink on the slopes,
although not quite as quaint and pretty or as expensive as those found in the
Swiss and French resorts.
Borreguiles is
the main area for this with many large capacity self-service eateries.
Many choose to head all the way down to
Pradollano, and dine in the restaurants a little lower down. We enjoy the Crescendo Bar at the bottom of the
Borreguilas cable car, and the very upmarket chill out terrace at the bottom of the
Aguila red run. Both offer great food
and atmosphere!
Living here on the Costa Tropical, we are more than a little spoilt . Having such a great facility just over an hour's drive away means you can check out the weather and travel when you
know it’s going to be good!
It's very easy over cooked the kids by clothing
them in multiple layers!
On a good day
usually a ski jacket and long sleeved T shirt will suffice for adults with the only places really cold has been in
the wind on the chair lifts.
Lunch is
usually spent in a T Shirt in the sun.
With Sierra Nevada being so far south its often very warm (how daft does
that sound!). And bear in mind the fact it is so far south, with the reflection
of the sun off the snow thrown in – you really need to apply the high factor sun
lotion.
