The little village of Riederalp is situated on a sunny terrace 1,000 metres above the spa resort of Mörel-Breiten (900 m a.s.l.), departure point for the cableway to the village, where cars are not admitted (peace and quiet and clean air). We’re in Switzerland in the Valais Canton, about 10 km from Brig in the Jungfrau-Aletsch-Bietschhorn area, the first UNESCO world heritage site in the Alps.
On arriving by the cableway from Mörel, you are at once in the middle of a group of picturesque chalets; there are also larger residential buildings, which however have been carefully designed to blend in with the environment. This is the village of Riederalp, altitude 1925 metres. You can ski through the village to get to the comfortable cablecar that goes up to Moosfluch (2335 m a.s.l.). From the top there’s an incredible view of the Valley below and over a wide area of the Alps. You can see Monte Rosa, the Matterhorn, and the Dom, among other peaks.
The Moosfluch run extends over a wide, well-groomed trail. The snow is perfect and there are a few changes in steepness which give you the chance to vary your curves. Our first impression, at 10 below zero, is that in these parts they really know what to do about snow, considering that not much has fallen from the sky so far. The Riederalp-Bettmeralp-Fiesheralp area (see map) is guaranteed snow thanks to an efficient snow cannon system, which can count on water reserves from both natural lakes and reservoirs.
On our second descent from Moosfluch, halfway down the slope, we turned left towards Bettmeralp. Here the main lifts consist of the gondola going up to the Bettmerhorn (2643 m a.s.l.) and the six-seat chairlift of Shöenbiel. From the top of the Bettmerhorn you can look straight down on to the Aletsch glacier, the longest in the Alps (23 km). The extraordinary beauty of nature here is indescribable – words fail us, you have to go and see it!
After a few hours of breathtaking skiing, surrounded by the silence that reigns in this part of the Alps, we stopped for lunch in one of the dozens of rest and refreshment places dotted throughout the skiing area. The menu offered typically Swiss fare: we can recommend the Roesti (a tasty, high-energy dish of potatoes fried with cheese and bacon), or a classic dish of frankfurters and sauerkraut. Local beer, white Valais wine or Rivella (a fizzy Swiss non-alcoholic drink made from milk) complete your meal.
Our day on Riederalp ended with one last descent from Moosfluch. Then, back to the cableway to take us to Mörel…some of us already planning a holiday around here!
Riedelalp photogallery 
Thanks to the Aletsch Riederalp Bahnen AG skilift company.
More information from: www.riederalp.ch
