Trip Report
This report is from Wednesday, January 22, through Friday, January 24
I’ve never been to a place like Andermatt.
It’s like one of those ski dreams I have at night where everything is covered in snow, the runs never end, and the options are limitless.
Everything and anything is skiable there.
There isn’t a tree in sight.
The town is tiny and cute and pillowed with snow.
Couloirs are everywhere.
Drop down on one side of the ski area, take a train back to the other.
Just watch out for the giant, off-piste, unmarked death cliffs.
What is Switzerland?
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We arrived on Wednesday from Engelberg as an auxiliary of the Natural Selection Tour DUELS match where Tor Lundstrom and Stale Sandbech will battle it out on the slopes for a spot in Revelstoke in March.
We were tired—running on only stoke and bars of Swiss chocolate after three intensive days in Engelberg.
But once we got on the tram at Andermatt, we perked up a bit, seeing what lay all around us…
360 degrees of skiing surrounds you at Andermatt.
There are lines on top of lines on top of lines.
We were totally and helplessly surrounded by long, steep descents.
Poor us.
We met up with the NST crew at the mid-station of the Gemsstock tram for Community Ride Day, where children from Andermatt’s school showed up for one big party shred with a bunch of locals from the area.
We had pro snowboarders, world-class photographers, resort employees, ski instructors, and ski bums ripping on the piste with a flock of 30 or so children.
Everyone had a smile on their face—big or small.
It was the most wholesome thing I’ve seen in a while.
Tiny kids in ski and snowboard gear, waddling around like little ducklings—hollering, cheering, having the best time on the mountain—is ridiculously cute.
It really gives you faith in the humanity.
To end the day with a ‘Bang! two local snowboarders, Dä and Wally, sent a road gap over the kids who gathered for a group photo.
Wally tweaked a stylish method and Dä laced a perfect backflip over the kids.
The kids were stoked.
Hell, I felt like a kid myself watching them.
The next day was a shoot day for the Natural Selection Tour, which we’ll tell more about in February when the DUELS episodes drop.
The day after was another ski-for-fun-day.
My colleague Dan and I started with runs from the top of Gemsstock, skiing off-piste wind-packed powder through playful cliffs and freeride terrain.
I was immediately awake and charged up.
After that, we linked up with the NST crew, who decided they’d try and ride all the way from Andermatt through its connecting resort Sedrun over to Distenis, some 20 kilometers (12 miles) away, which are all part of the Andermatt ski network.
That was a mission, to say the least.
Basically, we hopped on the Gütsch Express gondola to the top and just pointed skis and snowboards ‘left.’
We skied what felt like an entire mountain range, only to get to the top of one peak and be revealed to us yet another endless series of mountains that go down and to the ‘left.’
Lift up, ride down, lift back up, traverse over, to the base, train ride to a tram, up again, scenic lunch, ski down, t-bar up, big views all around, ride down again, t-bar back up, ride down through the little town and then—
Done.
Finito.
Mission accomplished.
We were now in some tiny little village almost 15 miles away from where we had boarded the gondola.
We had some of the most incredible views and piste-skiing under our belt, staying totally on the run the whole time, and yet still feeling fully accomplished.
Many small towns over from Andermatt now, the train ride home took over an hour.
The train winded and crept along the tracks through alpine peaks and snow-buried mountains for what may have been the most satisfying train ride of my life.
The mood of the mountains shifted and curved in a dance with the setting sun, reflecting blossoming hues of orange, pink, and purple.
As we sailed through the smooth alpine sea, the crew and I sat in silence for a while, just gazing out the window, mesmerized as we ventured through this seemingly alien planet which was totally immersed in snow.
Then I remembered in clarity the dream I had the other night; a ski dream where I was ripping endlessly, the run never ending, snow in every and all directions, just enjoying myself as I cruised into infinity.
It was also at this exact moment that I couldn’t be certain whether I was currently awake or dreaming.
But I couldn’t care less either way.
—
Andermatt is on the Epic Pass, which provides 7 ski days for passholders.
Resort Statistics
Andermatt is a renowned ski resort in the Swiss Alps, offering impressive statistics that make it a popular destination for skiing enthusiasts.
Vertical Drop
The resort boasts a significant vertical drop of 1,517 meters (4,977 feet). This substantial elevation difference provides skiers with diverse terrain and challenging runs.
Key Statistics
- Elevation:
- Base: 1,444 meters (4,738 feet)
- Summit: 2,961 meters (9,715 feet)
- Skiable Terrain: 180 kilometers (112 miles) of pistes (as part of the larger SkiArena Andermatt-Sedrun-Disentis area)
- Longest Run: 5 kilometers (3 miles)
- Lift System:
- Total Lifts: 33
- Types: Includes gondolas, cable cars, chair lifts, and surface lifts
- Snow Conditions:
- Average Snowfall: 6-10 meters (20-33 feet) per year
- Season: Typically runs from late November to late April, with glacier skiing extending the season
Terrain Breakdown
- Beginner: 20%
- Intermediate: 60%
- Advanced: 20%
Andermatt is particularly known for its challenging terrain, especially in the Gemsstock area, which offers excellent opportunities for advanced skiers and off-piste enthusiasts. The resort is part of the larger SkiArena Andermatt-Sedrun-Disentis, providing access to an extensive network of slopes suitable for all skill levels.
Weather Forecast
Photos
