Euro/CH mags: where to ski near Zurich?

**davep** · 02-13-2007, 05:48 PM

I'll be heading across the pond for work next week: First in Wuerzburg De, then to Zurich. I'll have 2 weekends plus a few days afterwards (Feb 24-25 and Mar 3-??) free to ski. Feb 28 is a work ski trip to Laax (not bad for work

).

Any recommendations on where to go? I've been told Engelberg is a good bet, and I think Str8line suggested that Andermatt (?) is less known and has great freeriding.

I'm looking for a place with good snow (untracked is great of course, but I gather this year sucks so anywhere with a decent snowpack is a good start), good steep terrain, easy public transportation from Zurich, and hopefully cheap accomodation (ie hostels). If it's a cool little ski town that's a bonus, doesn't really need a good nightlife.

And if anyone is willing to meet up for some turns, let me know. I saw the euro mini summit thread, but won't be able to stick around until late march

**IridePow** · 02-13-2007, 07:02 PM

Good way to start is reading here:
http://tetongravity.com/forums/showt...ight=euro+mags

Good snowfall maps: http://www.slf.ch/swiss-snow/hn3dc.html

From Zurich: Engelberg, Andermatt, Davos (Jakobshorn) is a good/close bet.
And Laax/Flims where you are already going is pretty good.
Snow in the western Swiss Alps seems to be better though from what I am reading.
(snow levels are high and some of the western resorts tend to go higher up)

**TeleAl** · 02-13-2007, 07:23 PM

what he said.
I'd do Flims/Laxx, over Davos (not steep enough) and Andermatt (too far).
Engleberg I have not been to, and would highly consider that too.

Follow the snow.

**Arno** · 02-14-2007, 01:37 AM

if you're relying on the public transport, it takes about the same time to get to engelberg and andermatt from zurich. you always have to wait a while in lucerne if you're going to engelberg. i'd recommend engelberg over andermatt if it's just for a day. there's a lot of stuff which is really easy to access and it's pretty obvious how everything is laid out. andermatt is great (from what little i've seen) but a bit more committing

**stantonbum1** · 02-14-2007, 02:10 AM

I personally wouldnt recommend Laax - it takes ages to get to the top of the moutain, the terrain is flat and boring as hell. It is one of the shittiest resorts that I have been to.

Andermatt is great though.

**WhatTheHuck?** · 02-14-2007, 08:31 AM

It's not unreasonable to head over to Murren/Wengen for a weekend. Get a room for the night (Hotel Alpina in Murren is great and reasonably priced, not to mention the 2000 foot cliff behind the hotel overlooking the Jungfrau, Monch and Eiger), and enjoy the scenery and skiing (the Inferno piste from the top of the Schilthorn covers a lot of vertical). Murren is an amazing town (no cars allowed) and the only way there is via cable car.

**IridePow** · 02-14-2007, 09:08 AM

Originally Posted by stantonbum1

I personally wouldnt recommend Laax - it takes ages to get to the top of the moutain, the terrain is flat and boring as hell. It is one of the shittiest resorts that I have been to.

Disagree..... you must have hit the wrong stuff.
Anyway.....for everybody it's own.

**TeleAl** · 02-15-2007, 04:44 AM

Originally Posted by stantonbum1

I personally wouldnt recommend Laax - it takes ages to get to the top of the moutain, the terrain is flat and boring as hell. It is one of the shittiest resorts that I have been to.

I understand why one would say this, as it took me awhile before I found something steep.

La Sciala(?) chairlift is steep as!

Not sure about the top to somewhere far down below, but it is also black the whole way.
Looks nice, and I hear it is nice, but I did not do it because I was lost most of the day.