Andermatt Adoration

We’ve just wrapped up our third and final day of skiing here in Andermatt, and quite honestly I’m having trouble finding the words to describe how amazing our experience has been here. We scored big with the snow – the lift access terrain is unmatched from my experience – and the people we’ve met and spent time with have made it a very special few days.

Yesterday we linked up early AM with the Cali guys and slipped off to the East for a pretty amazing alpine ski experience landing in a neighboring town around lunchtime. We caught the train back to Andermatt, ate at our hotel then Aron and I got back out for a pretty epic session at Andermatt finding powder-stash after powder-stash, skiing steep, technical lines and finding a drop or two to throw our bodies off. The day culminated with a repeat ski off the back, down to the West, 4,500’ to the bar. We skated out of the valley in to town at sunset as the moon rose behind us. An epic day by any standards.

In the evening we synched up with our new Sweedish friends, Anna & Klas, and made plans for a backcountry tour today. This tour is where my inability for words really kicks in. Touring in the alps is like nothing I’ve ever experienced. Huge untouched faces as far as the eyes can see, and the most spectacular sweeping views of jagged peak after jagged peak. These are truly some of the most gorgeous mountains in the world.

We rode the Gemsstock cable cars to the summit and ducked off the backside, South into the wilderness. The ascents weren’t too tiring, but the second was up a very steep chute, pretty wild to say the least. Total descent to town was likely near 5k’, and the descent off the highest peak was easily 2,500’, untouched, buttery pow.

The people we’ve met here have shown us just how special this place is, and I have no doubt that I will aim to get back here as regularly as possible.

We will definitely have trouble boarding The Glacier Express tomorrow and leaving what I think is one of the most perfect ski zones I’ve experienced. Andematt adoration is perhaps putting it lightly.

Gemsstock tram to the top of Andermatt

Starting to find some pretty steep stuff here in Andematt

Steep stuff with some fun drops

Aron sending it

Me lined up to take off – lots of snow moving around

Safe & Sound & on my feet in the run out – pretty cool cascade of snow pouring off the drop

Good planning means beers-cheers on the skate out the valley

Moon's coming up as the sun's going down

Scheming the next day's plans over beers with Klas & Anna

View of the terrain we are headed out to – we'll head up and over the second saddle on the far upper right, then tour up to the high peak just right of center in the very top to ski down and all the way left out of frame

Sometimes you've got to work for your turns – touring up on the first ascent

Banged out a few turns with some big smiles – Klas and Anna with me

On our way back out the valley

Some big smiling faces during an epic Swiss Alp tour

A view back up the main run we skied – the peak 1/4 to the right of center at the top

  

Amazing hut where we stopped for lunch

Boz approaching as I'm enjoying my lunch

Getting kooky in the Alps

Approaching town out the valley – low fog has been hanging there all day

What starts with beers, ends with beers