Arinsal - Vallnord - Andorra

INTRODUCTION

• Posted: Mar 29, 2012
• Last Updated: May 11, 2012
• Views: 191
• Likes: 2
• Category: Andorra » Vallnord
• Description: The key resort village in Andorra's Vallnord ski domain; offering the biggest on-piste vertical descent in the principality.
  
  Located in the mid- to north-west of Andorra, in the parish of La Massana, the Pal-Arinsal ski area comprises two lift-linked ski stations that were originally separate ...  moreThe key resort village in Andorra's Vallnord ski domain; offering the biggest on-piste vertical descent in the principality.
  
  Located in the mid- to north-west of Andorra, in the parish of La Massana, the Pal-Arinsal ski area comprises two lift-linked ski stations that were originally separate entities; Andorra's first full-size cable car has linked the two ski areas since the 2000/01 season, although there are still no linking pistes.
  
  There are really just two principal [blue-graded] arterial routes cruising down Arinsal's relatively narrow ski area, with a number of crossover variants. The upper slopes on Pic Alt de la Capa and Pic Negre offer some more challenging red and black runs, with Pic Alt de la Capa the jewel in the crown (on days when the powder hasn't blown away!).
  
  When conditions allow, with good snow coverage down to village level, Arinsal can claim the greatest on-piste vertical in Andorra: 1010 m from Pic Alt de la Capa, all the way down to the lowest chairlift base at Arinsal's Cota 1550 suburb; that's over 3300 ft of non-stop descent.
  
  Arinsal's true on-piste starting point is at the Comallempla 1950 m base area, high above the village, accessible by gondola directly from the resort centre or by chairlift from Cota 1550.  less

FACT FILE

• NB: Stats given are combined totals for Pal-Arinsal.
• Village Altitude: 1475 m (4839 ft).
• Ski Area Altitude Range: 1550–2560 m (5085–8399 ft)
  Vertical Drop = 1010 m (3314 ft).
• Extent of Ski Area: 707 hectares (1747 acres)
  7 Access Points.
• Pistes: 42 in total:
  7 Green
  15 Blue
  16 Red
  4 Black
  1 Snowpark (1 Halfpipe)
  1 Bumps Zone
  2 Freeride Zones
  2 Children's Zones
  1 Slalom/Carving Course
  No Nordic Circuits
  Total combined 'mileage' = 63 km (39 mi).
• Snowmaking: 271 cannons
  Covering 23 km (14¼ mi) of pisted terrain.
• Ski Lifts: 30 in total:
  1 Cable Car
  2 Gondolas
  12 Chairlifts (5 fast, declutchable)
  9 Button Tows
  2 Rope Tows
  5 Conveyor-belt Surface Lifts
  Total Capacity = 39,180 passengers/hour.
• Linked Ski Areas: Pal-Arinsal
  + separate non-linked sector at Arcalís,
  all included on the Vallnord Area Lift Pass.