First EuroBBI Thursday March 21, 2019

[m2711c]

It also means that Saturdays are normally really quiet on the slopes.

Good to know....

[geo039]

Just a suggestion. Most Euro's (and particularly the Brits) package ski vacations run Saturday to Saturday and transportation resources are stretched to the max as hordes pour simultaneously in and out of the alps.

If you can avoid travel, particularly flying, on Saturdays.

Good days to go skiing

[2FUNKY]

I wouldn't worry about it. We've flown in on changeover day without problems. If you're hiring a car-service, best to reserve in advance. If you're on public transportation, you should be fine. (You might want to reserve a seat on a train though.)
From the sound of your itinerary, there are so many trains running so frequently, you should be fine without a rez. But you can book online cheaply and easily.

I was mainly just giving him grief. Thanks for the info. I’m all good. Little travel logistics hoop jumping is good for a guy.

[Tri-Ungulate]

Okay with other's plans starting to gel, my updated plan looks kinda like this: Get into ZUR Tue AM, train to Luzern, check in to hotel and decide if I have the time/gumption to run up to EBerg. If I do, ski half day then express back that night and sleep in Luzern. Wed AM, take early train to Rueras and hopefully get there in time to join a BBI group ski thang. Leave with everyone else on Fri to EBerg, ski Sat with BBI-ers then head back to Zurich Sat night, since I have to fly out Sun.

[Buster Highmen]

Okay with other's plans starting to gel, my updated plan looks kinda like this: Get into ZUR Tue AM, train to Luzern, check in to hotel and decide if I have the time/gumption to run up to EBerg. If I do, ski half day then express back that night and sleep in Luzern. Wed AM, take early train to Rueras and hopefully get there in time to join a BBI group ski thang. Leave with everyone else on Fri to EBerg, ski Sat with BBI-ers then head back to Zurich Sat night, since I have to fly out Sun.

Here's a thread and poll for keeping track of potential schedules: https://www.tetongravity.com/forums/..._19-DANCE-CARD .
The poll is multichoice, intended to allow marking which days people are intending on being at mt-lodge in Rueras.

Also, it's possible to leave Engelberg by train at 18:00 and be in Rueras by 22:00. Just a thought which would make linking up with the main pod easier.

[TAFKALVS]

Flight booked. Landing in ZRH on the 14th. Leaving ZRH on the 25th.

Interested in visiting Murren and/or Zermatt. Any idea of ease of travel between either and Andermatt? Engleberg to end the trip might be an option also.

[LeoK]

Zermatt and Mürren (think Grindelwald maybe) are both around 4 hours to Andermatt (as always: easy by train; check sbb.ch) . Go to Zermatt!

[Buster Highmen]

Flight booked. Landing in ZRH on the 14th. Leaving ZRH on the 25th.

Interested in visiting Murren and/or Zermatt. Any idea of ease of travel between either and Andermatt? Engleberg to end the trip might be an option also.

I haven't been up to Murren, but Andermatt is on a train path called the GlacierExpress that goes from Zermatt to St. Moritz/Bernina.

There's a main trunk line that runs along the North side of the Alpine ridge from Martigny to St. Moritz with a branch that goes up to Zermatt. The Zermatt branch junctions with the main trunk at Visp where there's another branch that goes up North to the Jungfrau (Murren/Grindelwald) . Just East of Visp is Brig where there's another branch that heads down into Italy, Domodossola and connections to lakes Maggiore and Como where there's a ton of castles, villas and cool old hotels on the lakes.

Here's a link to the sbb rail map: https://www.sbb.ch/content/dam/infra...bbdownload.pdf .

The fast way from ZRH to either Zermatt or Murren/Grindlewald is probably through Bern up to Thun. There are more wiggly, slower and possibly more scenic routes through Luzern and Sarnen, Meiringen and eventually Interlaken.

I've ridden the part of the Glacier Express between Andermatt and Martigny both directions and what's nuts is all the cablecars strung over the train near Fiesch, the Aletsch Arena, just East of Brig, where there's a bunch of ski areas that go up the valleys draining down from the Jungfrau.

The Jungfrau is in an area called the Bernese Oberland. Here's a link to the ski areas there with maps: https://www.bergfex.com/berneroberland/ .

(edit) If anyone is going to ride trains more than 2 days, it's worth considering a rail pass: https://www.eurail.com/en/eurail-passes/select-pass

[hafjell]

Interested in visiting Murren and/or Zermatt. Any idea of ease of travel between either and Andermatt? Engleberg to end the trip might be an option also.

I defer to Buster and LeoK, but if you have your heart set on the Berner Oberland, I'd recommend Grindlewald or Wengen as your base. Transit will be simpler and 20 minutes faster (at least, likely more). Plus, you could easily visit Mürren as a daytrip from either town. Mürren and Piz Gloria are beautiful, and not to be missed, but you'll have more options for skiing, lifts, restaurants, etc from one of the bigger towns.

[bobinch]

Question for Euro vets: I’m checking out of Vendul’s place on the 22nd, but don’t fly out of Zurich until the 29th. How long can I wait and watch conditions before deciding my route back? Do lodging options typically fill up quick in March? Also any advice on stops that offer good lift serve and touring options?

Hitch a lift across to Verbier with the FWT crowd, stay in the Cabane Mont Fort if you fancy something different. Haute route huts are open by then so you could do the Prafleuri / Dix / Vignettes route with the amazing final day down the Stockji glacier into Zermatt. Tour over the top and to Alagna, day in the Monterosa, stay in one of the Italian huts. Back over to Zermatt. Climb the Matterhorn if you’ve still got the energy. Train back to Zurich. Bingo

[TAFKALVS]

Going to skip Murren.

Definitely going to Zermatt, my dad spent several summers there as a climbing bum in the 70s, want to see/experience some of the things he has told me about.

[subtle plague]

hmm i must spend more time on TGR. I might be around. At least for a day on the weekend. Either 17th or 23rd/24th depending on when the US Team shows more strength in numbers.

@ all: Keep in Mind that most of Disentis is fairly southern exposure and things get crusty quite quickly in late march. Andermatt stays fluff for a longer time.

[TAFKALVS]

Poked around YouTube and found a few videos beyond the normal shakey euro tourist gopro flat groomer techno stoke:


(skip to 2:50 for Andermatt)

[doebedoe]

7. Doebedoe what are your dates out and back from DIA?

Looking like I'm going to fly 3/10 to 3/25. Longer trip than planned, but gives me a few days to adjust to time in Zurich with old college friend. And then maybe ski Engleberg for a day or two before leaving.

[oftpiste]

Hey Bobinch!

Hitch a lift across to Verbier with the FWT crowd, stay in the Cabane Mont Fort if you fancy something different. Haute route huts are open by then so you could do the Prafleuri / Dix / Vignettes route with the amazing final day down the Stockji glacier into Zermatt. Tour over the top and to Alagna, day in the Monterosa, stay in one of the Italian huts. Back over to Zermatt. Climb the Matterhorn if you’ve still got the energy. Train back to Zurich. Bingo

[Buster Highmen]

[Norseman]

Nice

[Buster Highmen]

credit to ACH.

[doebedoe]

Attachment 250099
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That's gonna look sweet on these.

[mtnbiker/boarder]

I was mainly just giving him grief. Thanks for the info. I’m all good. Little travel logistics hoop jumping is good for a guy.

Makes for an adventure and always good stories

[2FUNKY]

Nice

Yup

[wyeaster]

oh man now it hurts

[LeoK]

Going to skip Murren.

Definitely going to Zermatt, my dad spent several summers there as a climbing bum in the 70s, want to see/experience some of the things he has told me about.

Zermatt is the place!

BTW:
Technically you are not in the EU... but I like the Banner!

[TAFKALVS]

Do I need a guide to skin up the briethorn from the cable car? (Serious question. It looks straight forward but it is on a glacier and I don't know how all this euro open access no rope line stuff works.)

[TAFKALVS]

Also, I want a bbi sticker with a stg57, a Rolex and a toblerone on it.