Spending a few days in Val d’Anniviers before the start of our annual April ski tour.
Anniviers Adventures
And finally…
We were hoping for sun and fresh powder on our last day in Andermatt and we weren’t disappointed. 25 cm of snow overnight and a cold but sunny morning – just what we like.
A few skiers had been down the Guspis before us – but not many.
Snow, wind, flat light and rain in the village
It wasn’t the worst weather ever in the Alps but it was still a bit grim. On piste, high up the snow seemed quite pleasant – but you just couldn’t see enough to be sure.
It is forecast to continue snowing this evening and for the sun to be out tomorrow morning. Fingers crossed.
One way up
The two stage cable car is the only way up the Gemsstock. Luckily there are multiple routes back down – on and off piste.
We took one of the routes down this morning. The breakable crust caused me a few problems but Tina showed how to do it.
The route emerges on the road up to the Gotthard Pass. It’s closed to traffic in winter so serves as a convenient run back to the village.
Forgot to mention that we met Snow White and her seven dwarves yesterday.
What a difference a day makes
Forget yesterday’s Gortex wrap-up. Today we packed sun glasses, high factor cream, headband and water. A serious queue for the 8:30 cable car showed that the Swiss like a sunny day too.
We skied the Felsental just before lunch. Great snow all the way back down to Andermatt.
After a rather nice lunch at the St Gotthard Hotel in Hospental, we headed for a late afternoon ski at Natschen.
Snowy day in Andermatt
We were on the 8:30 am cable car this morning in order to get a couple of runs in crisp, clear light. The weather forecast had promised snow by mid morning. It wasn’t wrong…
All aboard for Sedrun
We woke to find snow falling and cloud almost down to the valley – that meant plan B: the little red train over the Oberalp Pass to Sedrun.
On with the goggles and up with the hoods.
The Sedrun skiing is lower and more sheltered. No trees to help us see in the fog so we used the bushes for a spot of slalom practice.
The weather picked up after lunch and we found some nice snow on Calmut just above Tschamut.
Back in Andermatt
After our day’s skiing in Engelberg we drove over to Andermatt. Conditions on the Gemsstock were even better than the day before. Plenty of untouched powder on the north face of the mountain.
A quick skin up to the Gafallenlucke and we were able to drop into the Guspis. The snow was wind affected but we were able find a few nice pockets of powder under the Rothorn.
It wasn’t too busy on the hill this afternoon…
A Day in Engelberg
Spent last night in Lucerne and woke to a grey drizzle. The short drive up to Engelberg village didn’t fill us with much hope for a nice day. However, half way up the first gondola, out came the sun.
We had a great day exploring the off piste runs around the edge of the resort. Plenty of fresh powder first thing but it didn’t take long for the locals to cover it in tracks.
The fog remained in the valley the whole day. Much better to be up in the mountains.
Last run of the day and Tina is still flying down the back routes.
New Year’s Day Adventure
After a modest 5 cm snowfall overnight, the sun was soon out again in Andermatt. We managed a few pistes in the morning and then headed off the back of the Gemsstock. The route took us up the Gafallenlucke, down a nice north facing powder field on the Schwartzwasserfirn, over the Gafallenstafel to the Vermigelhutte and then a skate/pole along the Unteralp back to Andermatt.
