This is a city of views; the compulsory three being the fortress, the terrace bar at the Hotel Stein, and the Monschberg mountain, host to the Museum of Modern Art.
People regularly go missing here, such is the allure of exploring the backcountry of its 5,500 acres of unadulterated terrain, so I'm glad we are in the time-weathered hands of mountain host John Klisch.
The Tibetan and Naxi peoples who inhabit this region treat them, and their mountain hosts, as embodiments of deities and spirits.
That's why, about five years ago, Big Sky introduced "mountain hosts," volunteers in yellow parkas who provide free introductory tours on skis, recommending their favorite runs and telling skiers which ones have collected new powder or turned icy overnight.
The hospitality extends from valets positioned at the lift base to help skiers with their equipment to a team of some 40 uniformed, mostly part-time "Mountain Hosts" on the slopes, giving directions, checking skiers' speed at "Slow" signs and helping anyone who might, say, have put a ski on backwards (true story: "How she jammed her boot into the binding was beyond me," said host Michael O'Malley).
Located 45 minutes east of Salt Lake City, Deer Valley was always posh it was the first resort to put footrests on all its chairlifts, mountain hosts offer complimentary ski tours, and snowboards are still verboten but it just got posh-plus-plus-squared.
The 3.9 sqkm area of ice-free cliffs in Princess Astrid Coast called Svarthamaren Mountain hosts Antarctica's largest known inland colony of breeding seabirds, almost 1 million (250,000 pairs) Antarctic petrels.
Not only that, but Grouse Mountain hosts a reindeer farm, Santa house and ice-skating rink along the mountaintop; a procession of decorated ships cruise along the harbor for the unique Carol Ships Parade of Lights Festival; and an enormous Santa Claus Parade is held in the city center.
Wyoming's majestic mountains host a starry lineup of musicians, including the violinist James Ehnes playing Barber and the pianist Louis Lortie playing Ravel.
Inghams (01483 345 825) offers flights and chalets from £430 per person Val d'Isère "Its breathtaking mountains host some of the world's top alpine events," says Hugh. "Outstanding restaurants and an excellent snow record have made this a popular resort with British skiers".
Cliffs and mountains host a diversity of arctic and alpine plants including Alpine Pearlwort, Mossy Cyphal, Mountain Avens and Fir Clubmoss.
