Simon Calder - Summer in the Alps
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What happens in the Alps once all the winter skiers have left? As Simon Calder finds out, there is still plenty of life.
By Simon Calder
Almost anywhere in Europe, from Morecambe to Mykonos, is much more popular in the summer than in the winter. But above a certain altitude it all goes into reverse. Ski resorts in the Alps make almost all their money between December and April, and are effectively dormant from May to November - at least in the eyes of much of the travleling public.
It doesn't have to be that way. Indeed, for anyone with an appetite for activity and adventure, summer is the best time to explore the Alps. Sure, skiing and snowboarding isn't usually possible - except at the very highest altitudes - but all kinds of other activities most certainly are.
When the snows melt away, many of the ski runs become excellent mountain-bike trails - and many of the ski lifts happily accept riders and their bikes. Ski resorts themselves turn into excellent bases for activity holidays, particular hiking in the mountains, and the locations for ice-rinks revert to their summer function as, perhaps, tennis courts. With easy access from the UK, plenty of sunshine, clean air, no crowds and extremely good pricing, a summer holiday in the Alps is the height of good judgement.
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