On The Road, Again

Boz & I are headed out on leg two of three of our Swiss adventures. It's hard to leave Engleberg as large flakes start to fall from the sky, but we are certainly excited for whatever we find next. In particular, a down day for our legs, and a few hours of the majestic views from the train when the breaks in the weather allow. Train rides through the Swiss Alps come second only to skiing the Alps.

A few things we will likely not forget from our stay in Engelberg:

• The common use of the sled (or sledge as they call it). Strollers are no match for the snow covered streets, and children are dragged around in sleds. Adults ride the gondolas to sled mid-mountain at the resort, and well fed,  intoxicated couples sled down the hill on dates.

• Classic 80's ballads like the theme song from Fame quietly playing at breakfast.

• Quintessential, high-pitched Swiss-German laughing, that I think I've only experienced as satire in movies.

• Disco strobe lights and pop-top Brugelbrau beer at the apres ski joint, Chalet.

• Swiss-German singing in the streets at 3AM.

• 6,500' descents (the equivalent of skiing from Tahoe to the ocean).

• Thomas & Phillip.

• Frau's total disappointment at Aron & mine's attempt as finishing our Fondu.

Some final & stunning views in Engelberg

We are taking up more than our fair share of space on the train – on this leg, a full 11 seats

First stop, Luzern – waiting at track 7 for the train to Goschenen

Just enough time in Luzern to grab fresh pretzels for the trip

Found some weather when we arrived in Andermatt

Until Next Time, Engelberg

Day 2 in Engelberg was a bit of a lazy one for us. We skied so hard on our first, epic, day that our bodies were a bit fried. That in combination with some good 'ol jet lag caused a bit of a late start. We returned to the Laub face which was still really nice for some fun, fast GS turns in chopped pow. Around lunchtime we hopped a bus to the sunny side of the valley to check out Bruni. The sun had definitely baked it a bit over there, but the chair ride afforded us some really cool views of the terrain we had skied over off of Titlis. 

The activity and jet lag caught up with us pretty hard and we more or less crashed out, early evening.

With the warm temps, the snow changed pretty drastically by our third day here. Skiing was still good and fun, but much harder and more taxing on the legs. Laub face continued to deliver with some wind transported snow. We also did some exploring on the lift Jochstock that we hadn't checked out yet which opened up some very cool terrain and new views of the grand Alps.

Snow is in the forecast this evening, and we are hopeful to see a bit of a reset through the region as we head South to Andermatt.

Thank you, Engelberg. You've treated us well...

View from Bruni looking back at Titlis – Galtiberg is below the huge cliff wall left of center,  Laub is the diamond snow field dead center, the upper runs off Titlis follow the ridge line to the right of the weather station towards the top center & Jochstock is far upper right a ways out of view

All smiles after another great day on the hill

Swiss bar game called Hammerschlagen where you have to hammer a nail in a wood round with the pointy side of a blacksmiths hammer

At the bottom of another epic 2,500' run down Laub

Mid-mountain bar – Titilis in the far background

No, Aron – I don't think it gets any more Swiss than this

You can encounter the strangest things mid-run in Switzerland

Fun turns off of Jochstock & making the best of some challenging snow

The Swiss Alps are just so majestic

It's just all so Swiss, down to the little yellow snow cat

Fondu is so tasty, hard to know when to quit, but your belly will definitely let you know you overindulged

We Are Lucky Kids

Aron and I arrived in Engelberg as the sun set last night – dropped our gear and cruised the town to try and stay awake as long as we could. We found a great little bar with live music to hang in, and chat with some ski bums living here for the winter only to learn that we 'missed it by a day.' Proof was in the shots – they shared pictures of chest deep, super light, blower, storm pow. Sad we were, but we knew there had to be more out there.

We awoke this morning to find clear skies, and the larger mountain opened up to us. Yesterday was sick but today was a full on POW DAY as well. It got skied fast, but there were some very step, rad snowfields to be had. Engelberg is like no other ski resort I've been to. The terrain is as serious as you want to make it, exposure it no joke, and you better know your shit or the mountain will teach you who's boss.

We were lucky enough to ride the first of four cable car rides up to 10,000' with two local Swiss rippers, Thomas & Phillip, and even luckier that they accepted our request to at least follow them for a lap. Seven hours later we were cheersing beers and high-fiving at the base bar chalet, for what we all considered just an epic day at Engelberg. Punctuated by 6,500' descents and both fast and deep turns all day long.

Aron & I can't thanks Thomas & Phillip enough for what will surely be remembered as an amazing day in Switzerland. We owe them, and can't wait to host them in Cali.

The Alps start to show themselves to us – AM view from our hotel window

Boz & I at the top of Titlis – 10,000'

Views here are pretty unimaginable

The Alps are just huge

Oh, yeah Boz, lets go ski it again

Engelberg town down below

Boz getting in deep

Boz getting some good snow towards the end of the 6,500' run off the back side run, Galtberg

Aron looking pretty stoked

Some pretty happy guys after a 6,000' descent down Galtiberg, off the back side of Engelberg

Thomas & Phillip silhouetted after many runs off Titlis

Phillip, Thomas & Aron – all big smiles on our last run on Laub

View of town coming off the mountain 

Nail in the coffin – Kirsch with an epic Fondu dinner

On The Road

Goodbye SF, hello Zurich – and it's snowing here. Not sure what that means for snow where we are headed but weather in general seems like a good sign.

Arrived in Zurich after a fairly painless 18 hours travel day. Aron is delayed, but hopefully will find me soon. We have an errand or two to run here in Zurich, then will find our way to Hauptbahnhof, the main train station, for our first of many Swiss train travels. Doesn't seem like we will make it to Engelberg during daylight, but hopefully get some Swiss eye candy on the route there. Vey excited to get on the train, but less than thrilled to haul my 130lbs+ of gear across town.

Fired up.

Rocketship to foreign pow

I have way too much stuff

Safe & sound in Zurich, landing with some big flakes falling

Waiting for the train to Hauptbahnof

Disembarking in Engelberg – snow on the ground & in the trees

Another Epic Tahoe Backcountry Day

I awoke yesterday to some pretty chilly temps here in Squaw – thermometer read sub zero at the house a bit before 9AM. Rumor was, over in Truckee, it was in the negative double digits earlier in the AM.

I was lucky enough to hook up with my buddy Andy to do some backyard touring in the area. Cold temps were quickly forgotten by 3,000' of climbing. After two runs and some amazing turns and views, a good nap on the couch was welcome. Great day, thanks for the tour, Andy.

It was warming up when I shot this and I missed it at -4 – who knows how low it was when I was sleeping

Skin track up – Andy always well ahead of me

Andy in the office

Cruising up the frozen drainage 

Getting closer to the top – some good looking skiing across the ridge

A pretty serious haul, but about to peak out

The views in Tahoe just never get old

When it's this cold fashion takes a back seat

Some seriously soft and cold snow out there

A leg burner of a day for me

Head to Switzerland in just a day, so check back in if you want to keep tabs on the #radicalsabbatical.

Cold Smoke On Jakes

A few cold inches, mid-week, turned into some pretty epic skiing up on Jakes Peak – amazing turns & insane views.

Dan, Aron and I headed out in the AM, parked a ways South on the West Shore, and began our steep 2,500' climb in just 1.6 miles. Much of the hike was 35 degrees sustained, and the ski down was even better. Cold conditions kept the snow blower all the way to the car.

About to peak out on the tour up

Stability looked good

The views were unbelievable

Views in all directions, even down to Emerald Bay

The views were only beat by the turns – here's Aron spraying some white smoke

Dan 'gettin some

Blower all around

Aron laying it down

Celebratory beers

Wrapped up with an incredible view from the hot tub

A fun little vid from the day