Experience the birthplace of freeriding…
Andermatt Freeride is a ski touring program in the heart of the Swiss Alps. The town of Andermatt is a mecca for deep powder ski touring in the Alps and deservedly the birth place of freeriding.
This area offers a variety of classic European ski tours accessible by lifts, trains or vehicle. The terrain is manly alpine however, there is also some good tree skiing.
This 6day program is based in a Andermatt hotel. Join us and discover this beautifully quiet part of the Alps.
The itinerary will be as follows:
- Day1: first meeting of the group in Andermatt around 5pm followed by a dinner
- Day 2-7: 6 days of touring between Andermatt and Engelberg, access by vehicle, train or ski lift
- Day 8: Last breakfast together followed by individual departures
This is an intermediate to advanced program. Guests are responsible to self evaluate their skills as groups need to be matched together based on previous experience and ability. Ability to link turns in variable steep snow conditions is essential.
Previous ski touring and ski mountaineering experience is mandatory. Prior experience with Summit Mountain Guides is an asset as it helps you anticipate the difficulty and style of our program. Please contact us to discuss your specific ski background.
The group will be meeting with the guide in Andermatt the day before the trip start. We will go over last minute equipment issues, review the planed itinerary and update you with present conditions.
Andermatt is located about 100km south of Zurich. Zurich is the best and nearest international airport for folks to fly into. It is a 2hour shuttle or train ride from Zurich to Andermatt.
Winter mountain weather in the Alps can vary wildly from -15C to near 0C in the day . Visibility may be poor with whiteout conditions when snowing heavily or clear on bluebird days.
Ensure you are dressed for all variations as temperatures, wind and precipitation can change within the day.
Alpine Ski-touring or Telemark gear? Which should you use?
If you are a downhill skier then you should use Alpine touring gear. Only if you are already an advanced Telemark skier should you use Telemark gear.
Spring skiing the high alpine of the European Alps offers variable snow conditions. On one particular run things may go from perfect powder to challenging breakable crust and or variable wind affected snow. When compounded, the variable snow conditions, the long ski touring days and the large day packs all call towards the use of an easier skiing set up like alpine touring.
