First EuroBBI Thursday March 21, 2019

[LeoK]

check out the room share thread in the hook-up section please! I am also up for sharing without snoring

Considering E-Berg: 1.45h from ZHR to the Gondola by train - easily doable for a day or two.

[hafjell]

Upon further dive; yes- sport bag included for free (if reading correctly)

Yes. Skis should not be a problem with LH. Have had good luck last two seasons, touch wood. They will be paying attention to the cumulative weight however, so always best to weigh at home.

[Charlie Don't Surf]

Charlie, i'm in lutry. [emoji16]

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I know man, we know each other [emoji849].

See you tomorrow [emoji48][emoji869]

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[LeoK]

Yes. Skis should not be a problem with LH. Have had good luck last two seasons, touch wood. They will be paying attention to the cumulative weight however, so always best to weigh at home.

LH I am not sure (did not work for me from ZHR to Vancouver) - book the same flight via Swiss (the operate together) and you should get skis (23kg) for free in addition to normal hand- and checked luggage.

[Buster Highmen]

On getting to Engelberg:
There are a lot of trains going from Rueras or Erstfeld (context of doing the Oberalpstock, mentioned later) to Luzern and then connecting up to Engelberg.

For example, from Rueras to E-berg I see trains at 15:30, 16:30, 17:30, 18:30 and 19:57.

It's even easier from Zurich if going that way.

In E-berg, the bahnhof is right downtown. The old Terminus used to be a great place with an awesome ski storage room and clerk ;-) but it has been renovated and is now expensive. There is a hotel up the hill with it's own elevator to get up there that is a slog but is the cheapest I found. I ended up staying at the H+, which is 3 blocks from the bahnhof last year. It's expensive, like 150+ a night, but makes a shorter trip there easier. The hip spot in town is the Skiers Lodge which is expensive and not particularly friendly, but might be a decent place to meet people with a good betty density in the bar areas. It's busy, raucous and a little further from the bahnhof than the H+.

On skiing Engelberg:

To ski Engelberg, there are 2 bases, the Titlis base and Brunni. Brunni is lower, smaller and more intermediate. There is an excellent free bus system in town that connects all the major areas and goes between the 2. Brunni is worth it on a powder day since all the gnar bros go up the Titlis, but in general, the Titlis is the place to be. There's a high capacity gondola that goes most of the way up, like 4k vertical feet to a midmountain locale called Stand with a midstation called Trubsee, in addition to a funky old funicular, that goes to Trubsee belowthe Stand. Funknicular?

From there one can take a variety of lifts up the Titlis massif , including the Rotair, a spinning cable car that goes to the top and the glacier, accessing nice pistes, the Laub and the Steinberg. The Laub is doable solo, but uncontrolled and big exposure, like 4000 vertical feet on unrelenting 35 to 40 degree skiing. The Steinberg is the main glacier run, also doable solo with glacier awareness comparable to the runs under the Grand Montets with seracs and crevasses spilling out down into what's call the Trubsee area. Also from the top is the Galtiberg which really requires local knowledge with hairy cliff exposure.

From the Trubsee, one can ski down to viewers right into the Trubsee area to take a chairlift over a flat to the Alpstubli and Jochpass zone. There is another enormous area over there with groomers packed down I the middle of a bunch of great terrain also going up what's call the Jochstock and another lift over into a little valley called the Englestalp. One can spend days on the Jochpass zone by itself.

To get back to the base from the Alpstubli, one has to go along a big flat to skiers left around. Stay on the pack along this with massive avie exposure to the left. As the flat ends, up to one's right there is a little house which is the top terminal of a super cool little cable car called the Alplerseil. Engelberg can suck in a whiteout and this little car provides some excellent tree skiing on powder days. It's a little hard to find, one has to keep an eye on where the cables go as one skis back toward the base.

If people are lucky and well known maggots from the area offers, you might get a tour there, but it's up to them.

[hafjell]

LH I am not sure (did not work for me from ZHR to Vancouver) - book the same flight via Swiss (the operate together) and you should get skis (23kg) for free in addition to normal hand- and checked luggage.

Good to note routes. I only have recent experience BOS-MUC. The policy can always be interpreted favorably by the agents.

[bw_wp_hedonism]

The Laub is doable solo, but uncontrolled and big exposure, like 4000 vertical feet on unrelenting 35 to 40 degree skiing.

Word of caution on Laub: I think I’ve read of people dying on the Laub just about every year I’ve been here. It is famous so gets some traffic (powder panic after a big dump) which doesn’t help. Just make sure you really know what you’re getting into before you do it.

[Buster Highmen]

On the Oberalpstock, be aware that this line ends in a town that is at least 2.5 hours away from Rueras.

I travel light, but usually dump my extra clothes at the hotel and ski with avie equipment only.

Skiing the Oberalpstock on the way to ZRH on my last day, the 22nd, would force me to carry all my crap, including my ski bag, which I would rather not do.

What's best for me is to ski Disentis on the 22nd, grab my extra stuff in the late afternoon and train it to ZRH.

[Buster Highmen]

Word of caution on Laub: I think I’ve read of people dying on the Laub just about every year I’ve been here. It is famous so gets some traffic (powder panic after a big dump) which doesn’t help. Just make sure you really know what you’re getting into before you do it.

True. It's sketchy.

The word I got was to stay to the middle or skiers right, not too far to the right where there's huDge cliffs past the rollover, but the accidents seems to happen on skiers left next to the cliff above the Laub or in the gut in the middle.

Also, you either have to walk out or take a snowcat, which costs 1chf. There's a hotel there where the cat operates, you can't miss it.

[Buster Highmen]

Engelberg and Andermatt are really different.

Engelberg is a big resort with snazzy restaurants, expensive shops (a couple of great wine stores) and glitz with arguably one of the best lift systems in the world.

Andermatt by contrast was a big military base, now being decommissioned, with a skeletal lift system that is now being upgraded by an Egyptian magnete named Sami Sawiris. Andermatt now has a super high end hotel, the Chedi, intended to draw clients from St. Moritz, Gstaad and other posh ski locales. The character of Andermatt is changing. I suspect we'd be thrown out of the Chedi.

[Norseman]

On the Oberalpstock, be aware that this line ends in a town that is at least 2.5 hours away from Rueras.

I travel light, but usually dump my extra clothes at the hotel and ski with avie equipment only.

Skiing the Oberalpstock on the way to ZRH on my last day, the 22nd, would force me to carry all my crap, including my ski bag, which I would rather not do.

What's best for me is to ski Disentis on the 22nd, grab my extra stuff in the late afternoon and train it to ZRH.

Yes, I'm aware of the layout and requisite backpack.

Just sorta chewing on the romantic idea of departing the scene on ski. Totally cool to drop it if impractical.

[Buster Highmen]

Yes, I'm aware of the layout and requisite backpack.

Just sorta chewing on the romantic idea of departing the scene on ski. Totally cool to drop it if impractical.

I think it would be cool too.

But then I think of the hike up and ski down with 40 pounds on my back. Maybe I can get mofro to carry it?

[Norseman]

It'll be like 18lbs on the back... depending on how much mass was added to the undergarments over the duration.

Mofro can carry the nice lunch spread plus a big jug of eisbock.

[CascadeLuke]

What’s the policy/attitude towards the green out in these parts? And I’m not talkin beginner runs

[Buster Highmen]

What’s the policy/attitude towards the green out in these parts? And I’m not talkin beginner runs

Rare in my experience. CH does have some legal low potency: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Switzerland .

Above all we need to be considerate of vendul.

[CascadeLuke]

Above all we need to be considerate of vendul.

Most definitely. Not a huge need, but boy, a vacay J can be quite fun..

[Buster Highmen]

Really?

;-)

[vendul]

I think it would be cool too.

But then I think of the hike up and ski down with 40 pounds on my back. Maybe I can get mofro to carry it?

I’m sure that if some of you want to leave after the Oberalp Icould arrange to transport extra luggage to bristen... but we would all miss out on your story’s of the dissent... and I would hate that! That’s why I ‘m putting a fireplace in the middle of the Bar/restaurant... but it’s up to you

[Buster Highmen]

I’m sure that if some of you want to leave after the Oberalp Icould arrange to transport extra luggage to bristen...

That would be awesome!

but we would all miss out on your story’s of the dissent... and I would hate that! That’s why I ‘m putting a fireplace in the middle of the Bar/restaurant... but it’s up to you

Isn't that what Instagram is for?

[alias_rice]

If any Utah mags are in the fence, United now has $480 round trip flights to Zurich. Throw that in with Vendul’s deal and you’re damn near losing money not doing this.

[doebedoe]

Looking for ski bag advice from people who have done the Euro thang. I've never air-traveled with skis, so need to secure a bag for Euro trip. Is roller the way to go, or is something lighter/easier to carry in transit stations etc better choice.

I only plan on bringing on set of skis (Down CD104Ls) and tech binders (TBD) and Salomon Mtn Lab boots. So ski setup will be pretty light.

Waiting for some guide outfits to confirm dates before committing to being at the mag meetup, but sure hope it works out.

[Buster Highmen]

Looking for ski bag advice from people who have done the Euro thang. I've never air-traveled with skis, so need to secure a bag for Euro trip. Is roller the way to go, or is something lighter/easier to carry in transit stations etc better choice.

It depends on how one is travelling.
The roller bags are great if one is strictly doing the hotel thing: from plane to train to hotel, then hotel to train to plane.

If one is trying to ski from one place to another they can be a hassle UNLESS one can leave the roller bag at an easy pickup spot after a tour.

I don't use a roller and use a lightweight bag.

It is a major hassle sometimes to carry skis around the airport/trains and lug to the hotel.

But, because sometimes I'll ski from one transpo access point to another, like across the Milky Way or ski from the Argentiere side of Domaine Balme to the Vallorcine side to catch a train, it works. There are some hotels that have no road access, like basecamp.andermatt where a roller won't do a whole lot of good.

I hope you can make it. Tell that slacker Loutrel I want to ski with him.

[2FUNKY]

Curious how long the train ride from Zurich to Rueras takes?

[Tri-Ungulate]

The single douchebag is pretty good for traveling - rolls but less bulky than most, though slightly bigger/heavier than a light bag. I've used the SportTube in the past (but the TSA constantly fucks this one up) and a regular PMGear 2 ski roller too but the db is probably the best for getting around.

Buster, does this plan seem reasonable:

Arrive ZUR at 0830 on Tue and take train to Engleberg via Lucerne. Check in and hopefully get a half day on the slopes. Ski Eberg Wednesday and catch late afternoon train to Rueras via Lucerne/Göschenen (I think?), get in to Rueras late. BBI through Saturday then back to Zurich Sat night.

Alternately, would it make sense to stop in Lucerne and use it a a lodging base to/from Engleberg on Tues/Weds? Or too much PITA?

I love Andermatt and the surrounding touring, and want to ski there again, but haven't skied Disentis yet, so will want to explore with guides/mags.

2funky, it looks like ZUR-Rueras is a bit over 3 hours via Göschenen by train.

PS, I don't mind sharing a room with anyone and don't snore.

[Buster Highmen]

Curious how long the train ride from Zurich to Rueras takes?

https://www.sbb.ch/en/home.html