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Switzerland: The Land of Cool Ski Lifts
- Thread starter thetrailboss
- Start date
lerops
New member
In Switzerland, you are very likely to find trains to go back to your original town. I skied in Andermatt for a few days last year. It is a few connected towns with multiple peaks. I ended up all the way at the other end at the end of the day. Took the train back since lifts were closed. Then you have shuttles running in town from the train station to anywhere you want to go.
It is a different skiing culture though. I saw people wearing their ski boots from Zurich train station to the mountain. Most of the time, you have to change trains, etc. They just grow up doing it.
Sent from my iPhone using AlpineZone
It is a different skiing culture though. I saw people wearing their ski boots from Zurich train station to the mountain. Most of the time, you have to change trains, etc. They just grow up doing it.
Sent from my iPhone using AlpineZone
OK, time to get back to the topic at hand. Next stop for me was a day skiing at Flumserberg, located south and east of Zurich. It was less than an hour via train. For a locals place, this is pretty insane.
The scale of this map is pretty small...
First, the trip there is pretty cool because you take a train. It isn't hard t figure out if you're on the right train:
The train station is literally right across the street from Flumserberg's Gondola from Unterterzen:
A pretty long two-stage gondola that climbs out of the valley and up to one of two main base areas. In a good season one can ski the "Terza Ski Run" from Seeben, 1622 m, down to the midstation at Oberterzen, 665 m. Unterterzen is at 425m and right on the Walensee (Lake). One can also start at the eastern end of the valley by ascending from Flums to Tannenheim.
Tannenboden Base and Lift B2, a typical older HSQ that offered some low angle terrain and access to Chruz. In hindsight I should have just gotten on the old school B1 Gondola and gone right up to Maschgenkamm, which was above the rain/snow line (elevation 2020m).
Lift B1--an older Gondola that only runs cabins that hold folks:
B3, an older HSQ:
Good view from B3 before the clouds rolled in. That is Maschgenkamm way up there:
Seeben-Stelli Six Pack:
Cool lodge/inn at Seeben:
The scale of this map is pretty small...
First, the trip there is pretty cool because you take a train. It isn't hard t figure out if you're on the right train:
The train station is literally right across the street from Flumserberg's Gondola from Unterterzen:
A pretty long two-stage gondola that climbs out of the valley and up to one of two main base areas. In a good season one can ski the "Terza Ski Run" from Seeben, 1622 m, down to the midstation at Oberterzen, 665 m. Unterterzen is at 425m and right on the Walensee (Lake). One can also start at the eastern end of the valley by ascending from Flums to Tannenheim.
Tannenboden Base and Lift B2, a typical older HSQ that offered some low angle terrain and access to Chruz. In hindsight I should have just gotten on the old school B1 Gondola and gone right up to Maschgenkamm, which was above the rain/snow line (elevation 2020m).
Lift B1--an older Gondola that only runs cabins that hold folks:
B3, an older HSQ:
Good view from B3 before the clouds rolled in. That is Maschgenkamm way up there:
Seeben-Stelli Six Pack:
Cool lodge/inn at Seeben:
Maschegenkamm is a major subpeak where three lifts converge--a HSQ, the gondola, and a new bubble six pack that terminates in a concrete bunker under the lodge. Views up here would be stunning. Skiing was fun.
B8, Bubble Six Pack offering some good blue terrain. Base is Panuol, elevation 1800m:
Looking toward Grueb. The mountain in the distance is Sachsmoor. Note the six pack bubble underneath it.
The upper deck of the lodge:
B8, Bubble Six Pack offering some good blue terrain. Base is Panuol, elevation 1800m:
Looking toward Grueb. The mountain in the distance is Sachsmoor. Note the six pack bubble underneath it.
The upper deck of the lodge:
More soon.....
SnowbirdDevotee
New member
This is very good advice. But the taxi thing isn't really a necessity whatsoever if you use common sense to give yourself enough time to get back. If you have the cash and recent snowfall has been good, then hiring a guide could be a good idea - but it isn't necessary. Although I never skied Chamonix I know it is the kind of place you would have to be very careful to stay on the marked routes.
I was over there 3 times and did it on the cheap. For St Anton and Verbier, I was able to arrive on the 7:30am flight and after taking a couple hr train ride be skiing by 1pm that day. Jet lag screw you up a big, but wasn't really a problem with the excitement of very big mtn skiing going on. I enjoyed the skiing at Zermatt the least because I couldn't find a mogul on the entire damn hill, but had a blast anyway skiing mile and miles every day, and taking all the trams -love those things! Zermatt by far had the coolest town and scenery. Room and food are expensive, but last year I had a $140/nt room for 2 in Le Chable/Verbier with a 300 yd walk to ski lift.
The train the OP mentioned in Zermatt was the coolest thing going for all of my trips. Both St. Anton and Verbier had plenty of marked and safe expert terrain w/ moguls. They have these orange polls all over the hills marking the slopes. The "insurance" iyou can buy is a big fog - on what it is good for, does it cover you outside of the orange polls etc.
I had powder in Verbier, because it snowed. But no snow, no powder, but good conditions for St Anton and Zermatt. In the storm at Verbier there were guided skiers paying $$$ to ski the same slopes/stuff I was skiing.
If you live on the east coast you really should try to figure it out and get there. The trains aren't that hard to figure out. Catch them right at the airport - Geneva or Zurich. Last day ski to 3-4p and catch train back to airport for morning flight.
I would go last week of Jan. It might take that long to get good coverage. Feb is apparently big holiday/school vac time and can be crowded. I wouldn't trust it in March because the mtns are all lower elevation (except on top) at bottom and could be iffy. Of course it could be real good then in March, like it is now, but all resorts everywhere starting early March.
http://www.epicski.com/t/145467/verbier-switzerland-trip-report/0_60
http://www.epicski.com/t/101032/st-anton-this-week/0_60
http://www.epicski.com/t/89239/zermatt-not-my-kind-of-skiing/0_60
jimk
Well-known member
Those white bearskins remind me of the ponchos they used to give you on the old Spruce Peak chair at Stowe on cold days about 40 or 50 years ago. From that trail map it looks like the skiable vertical of this "locals" place is about 3300 feet!!
I think I am going to be at Snowbird on Apr 1 and Alta Apr 3. Let me know if you are there and want to make some turns with us.
I think I am going to be at Snowbird on Apr 1 and Alta Apr 3. Let me know if you are there and want to make some turns with us.
Back to Flumserberg.
Their relatively new six-pack bubble ("Leist-Sechser") that takes you to their highest point in and around some cool looking mountains:
Their version of "Mid-Burke" lodge:
Heading out of the backside and towards the return T-Bar (B9) back to Panuol:
Another self-serve T-bar:
So let me get to a highlight...my first ride on an EIGHT PERSON BUBBLE CHAIR. Yep, EIGHT people. Talk about a beast. Prodkamm-Achter (C2 lift) with loading carpet:
This doesn't do it justice...
And the bubble and safety bar automatically opens. Note the tension springs:
Simply insane.
Their relatively new six-pack bubble ("Leist-Sechser") that takes you to their highest point in and around some cool looking mountains:
Their version of "Mid-Burke" lodge:
Heading out of the backside and towards the return T-Bar (B9) back to Panuol:
Another self-serve T-bar:
So let me get to a highlight...my first ride on an EIGHT PERSON BUBBLE CHAIR. Yep, EIGHT people. Talk about a beast. Prodkamm-Achter (C2 lift) with loading carpet:
This doesn't do it justice...
And the bubble and safety bar automatically opens. Note the tension springs:
Simply insane.
benski
Active member
Only other 8 pack I have ever seen is on Greek peeks website :roll: I assume there aren't many of them.
Last edited:
Hawk
Well-known member
Did any of the bubble chairs have heated seats? A couple at St Anton did. That is totally Shi-Shi.
Puck it
Well-known member
I will over there in Zurich and Interlaken in mid April. Skiing is going to be pretty much done except for the high altitudes. Wengen is closing 4/17. We are staying at the Victoria Jungfrau in Interlaken. We plan on going up to Piz Gloria and taking the railway up in to the Jungfrau.
jimk
Well-known member
I visited Interlaken and Grindelwald in May/June 1983 with my wife. Stunning lakes and mtns region!!! Rode a chairlift out of Grindelwald and took a hike from top. Rode ferry to nearby Brienz, a wood carving village. Neat stuff, but expensive. I did no skiing that trip. You gotta try to find some skiing while there just to say you did it
Watch Clint Eastwood's Eiger Sanction before you go to get stoked!
Puck it
Well-known member
I will be back there. Recon trip.I visited Interlaken and Grindelwald in May/June 1983 with my wife. Stunning lakes and mtns region!!! Rode a chairlift out of Grindelwald and took a hike from top. Rode ferry to nearby Brienz, a wood carving village. Neat stuff, but expensive. I did no skiing that trip. You gotta try to find some skiing while there just to say you did it
Watch Clint Eastwood's Eiger Sanction before you go to get stoked!
WJenness
Active member
The attachment didn't post right.
Care to try again?
That 8-pack is amazing.
If anyone in the US gets an 8-pack, I hope they're witty enough to call it "The Ocho" or "Dodgeball", or some other reference to that movie.
-w
VTKilarney
Well-known member
Italy and France are supposed to have an open border under the Schengen treaty. I think what you observed had more to do with illegal immigration and is temporary. But I could be mistaken.
VTKilarney
Well-known member
Trailboss,
I noticed that there were a lot of non-skiing days during your trip? Was this by choice?
I noticed that there were a lot of non-skiing days during your trip? Was this by choice?
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