date:
16/01/15
location:
MALOJA 2159M
time: Following a 150cm storm, the little Poma-lift
1:30 PM
accessed resort of Maloja offers some of the best tree skiing in the Engadin Valley.
date:
location:
time: The afternoon view from tea service in “St.
18/01/15
BADRUTT’S PALACE ST. MORITZ 1822M
4:00 PM
Moritz’s living-room”. This historic hotel has set the bar for Swiss 5-star hospitality since 1896, carrying on the traditions of the Engadin’s pioneering hotelier.
date:
location:
time: A quick trip through the St. Bernard tunnel
25/01/15
CRÉVACOL 1994M
3:20 PM
to a sleepy little resort with big powder skiing. On the right day, one of our favorite places to ski in the Alps - one of those places that time seemingly forgot.
date:
04/02/15
location:
LES ATTELAS 2733M
time:
10:20 AM
A sleeper day at our home resort of Verbier yielded deep turns in the Attelas couloirs, several steep chutes right beneath the Funispace telecabine. Here, Susanna Magruder lays into one in the apron beneath the Rock n’ Roll couloir.
date:
location:
time: The magic forest in our backyard is home
11/02/15
FORĂŠT DES INSARLES 1900M
12:05 PM
to some of the best tree skiing in the western alps. A different perspective during a break in the storm, looking up at the spaces in between the trees.
date:
18/02/15
location:
TESTA GRIGIA 3445M
time:
9:30 AM
An 8 year-old client begins a long and endearing relationship with heli-skiing, following an intimate encounter with the Matterhorn on a scenic flight. The only way to follow that morning is with a long lunch at one of our favorite Italian restaurants.
date:
20/02/15
location:
OBERALP PASS 2044M
time:
12:20 PM
All aboard the Glacier Express, the classic scenic train that traverses the Alps between Zermatt and St. Moritz. Here, the train crosses the highest pass along the route, just above Andermatt, with the Gemmstock in the background.
date:
location:
time: Another day where the snow deposited
22/02/15
LAGO GOILLET 2550M
2:45 PM
deeper on the Italian side of the border, we dropped into Cervinia and harvested deep turns in the sun before a late-afternoon feast of another kind.
date:
26/02/15
location:
TRUC BLANC 3405M
time:
11:45 AM
The heliski region of Valgrisenche, Italy is one of the Alp’s best kept secrets. With CMH-style low-angle glacial powder runs, and a helicopter waiting to buzz you off for an epic Italian lunch, life couldn’t be much better.
date:
location:
04/03/15
GOTSCHNAGRAT 2280M
time:
12:50 PM
A sneaky powder day that turned out to be the deepest of the season, following a quick train ride from St. Moritz to Klosters. In between face shots, we shared the cablecar with a famous royal skier, equally stoked on the conditions to be found in the forest.
date:
07/03/15
location:
LEJ DE CHAMPFER 1787M
time:
9:15 AM
The annual Engadin Ski Marathon is a 26.2 mile nordic race that draws 10,000+ competitors of every age, ranging from ultra-fit professionals to the elderly and costumed fun class. Good times for all involved.
date:
14/03/15
location:
UNTERTHEODUL GLETSCHER 2908M
time:
1:05 PM
A quick traverse from the Klein Matterhorn cablecar in Zermatt delivers big glacier skiing runs like this, dwarfing humans amongst ancient ice features. And just beyond this crevasse field, 300 more silky powder turns await.
date:
location:
time: Skiing boot-top powder at the foot of the
16/03/15
FURGG GLETSCHER 2874M
3:30 PM
mighty Matterhorn is an experience that we will never get tired of introducing our clients to. Guide Roman Haltinner leads the way through a field of dreams.
date:
20/03/15
location:
MATTERHORN 4478M
time: A scenic flight from the village of Zermatt
10:00 AM
culminates in an up-close view of the inimitable peak that Switzerland is known for.
date:
location:
02/04/15
ALPHĂœBEL JOCH 3770M
time:
2:05 PM
A quick heli lift from Air Zermatt’s base deposited us at the top of this massive ski run, with dozens of football-field pitches ending in the adjacent Sassertal valley, and the resort of Sass Fee. Guide Christoph Petrig tests the snow quality.
date:
10/05/15
location:
RHﾃ年E VALLEY 2000M
time:
11:10 AM
On a single-engine recon flight from Bex to Locarno and back, traversing the Simplon and Nufenen Passes. An incredible way to view the Swiss Valais and Ticino regions, scoping hikes and bike rides for the coming summer months.
date:
25/05/15
location:
KOMIŽA 80M
time:
3:25 PM
On the Croatian island of Vis, formerly a Yugoslavian naval base, tourism is sparse and the beaches pristine. We escaped the Alpine spring for a quick getaway to recharge on the water, discovering an island with ancient wine traditions.
date:
location:
15/06/15
SPINAS, VAL BEVER 1815M
time:
2:00 PM
“Silver white winters that melt into spring…”; hiking season is officially open, as the snow melts on the high mountain passes. The hikes from Albula Pass to St. Moritz, these are a few of our favorite things!
date:
20/06/14
location:
SCHLOSS SALENEGG, MAIENFELD 1475M
time:
2:00 PM
Escaping an afternoon storm at the Schloss Salenegg, one of the most renowned wine caves in the Bundner Herrscahft vineyards along the Swiss Rhine. The Swiss only export about 2% of their wine production, so you will just have to come here to try it.
date:
25/06/15
location:
LES SIÉS 1774M
time:
7:10 PM
Sunset in the Mayens de Sarrayer, a hamlet of historic granges, or barns above the valley floor in Bagnes. During the heat wave this summer, a necessary escape from the highest temperatures recorded in the Alps since records have been kept.
date:
29/06/15
location:
ALETSCH GLACIER 1971M
time:
11:00 AM
Descending to the mighty Aletsch Glacier. This now isolated grazing area was accessed historically by walking the animals across the glacier from the Riederalp. Today, you cross a modern extension bridge over a deep gorge - no cows allowed.
date:
28/06/14
location:
LES RUMIÈRES 1198M
time:
5:30 PM
At Champéry mountain bike legend Ben Walker’s atelier, it’s easy to move the workstand outside to enjoy the sunset views of the Dents du Midi across the valley. Here, a friend works on his Scott DH bike, which Ben also designed.
date:
location:
time: No matter the season, a day in the car-free
01/07/15
FEXTAL, ENGADIN 2150M
2:10 PM
Fextal is a fairytale. Arriving by horse and carriage, and setting off on foot to the many alpine lakes, the views are exceptional in every direction.
date:
location:
time: Oh, how we love the lesser-known Canton
05/07/14
ALBERT HEIM HĂœTTE 2543M
2:00 PM
Uri, including its flag with the red-eyed bull. On a cold and damp day, there is nothing better than a long mountain lunch at a Swiss Alpine Club refuge.
date:
location:
time: The rainy spring and warm summer months
08/07/15
MAYENS DE BRUSON 1635M
6:30 PM
of 2015 brought some of the most spectacular wildflowers in memory. The view from the Epic Europe office was mesmerizing in early July.
date:
10/07/15
location:
SIX BLANC 2445M
time:
8:00 PM
Hanging out on mountain tops until the sun goes down, one way to escape this summer’s heat wave. With some of the highest temps on record, the heatwave conditions accelerated the melting rate of Swiss glaciers.
date:
15/07/15
location:
CERVO 1630M
time:
7:00 PM
This summer commemorated the 150th anniversary of the first ascent of the Matterhorn, and Zermatt’s mountain guides installed a series of 50 LED lights along the route. Each night, they were illuminated three times, and the terrace at Cervo hotel offered a prime viewing spot.
date:
location:
time: Following an afternoon thundershower, an
27/07/15
LA PLEYEUSE 1330M
4:00 PM
incredible arc-en-ciel, or rainbow graced our chalet view. Another reminder that we live in a veritable paradise.
date:
30/07/15
location:
COL DU GRAND ST. BERNARD 2460M
time:
11:00 AM
Atop one of the Alps’ most historic mountain passes, traversed by the armies of Caesar, Hannibal, and Napoleon, sits this statue of its namesake saint, patron to skiers and alpinists, built on a stone column left from a Roman temple to Jupiter.
date:
location:
time: Cooling off in an alpine lake on the day of
01/08/15
PLAN DA GOLE 2418M
11:30 AM
Swiss FĂŞte Nationale, above Lac Louvie. A traverse from Verbier along the Sentier des Chamois trail with incredible views of the Grand Combin the entire way.
date:
location:
time: Spending a few days relaxing in the ther-
09/08/15
VALS 1254M
6:30 PM
mal Baths at Thermes Vals, far from the summer holiday crowds. We are pretty sure Heidi lives in this idyllic alpine setting.
date:
location:
time: Morning stroll from the Refugio Benevelo in
14/08/15
VAL DE RHÉMES 2285M
7:55 AM
the Val de RhĂŠmes, Aosta Italy. With a 5star view, service and food, and only 4 other guests, who needs anything more?
date:
location:
time: Hiking near the Gran Paradiso National
20/08/15
BECCA DELLE TRAVERSIĂˆRE 3337M
9:40 AM
Park in Valle d’Aosta, Italy. This non-technical summit afforded views of 3 countries, Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn, and a large steel cross (so probably not a first ascent!).
date:
location:
time: A late-summer haute route trek culminated
23/08/15
BREITHORN 4164M
11:25 AM
in one client’s first 4000m summit, here on the Breithorn in Zermatt. Leaving Verbier a week earlier, he hiked, climbed via ferrata, rock, and technical alpine routes.
date:
03/09/15
location:
HÖRNLIHÜTTE 3260M
time:
2:00 PM
The historic Hornlihütte completed a 2-year makeover this year, a necessary update for the overnight refuge for Matterhorn climbers. Now capacity has been reduced from 150 to 120 persons, but offers hot showers, private rooms, and cold beers to toast a successful ascent.
date:
location:
time: Riding to the terminus of the Zmutt Glacier,
08/09/15
ZMUTT GLETSCHER 2238M
3:15 PM
beneath the north face of the Matterhorn. After a record-breaking summer, it was easy to see the toll taken on the region’s glaciers.
date:
12/09/15
location:
VERROGNE AOSTA, IT 1582M
time:
4:10 PM
Everyday spent exploring Val d’Aosta leads to new discoveries. Today, a 15th century church and a tiny hamlet all made of stone, a small artisan fontina cheese maker, and an epic mountain bike descent to the valley floor.
date:
20/09/15
location:
PIERRE AVOI 2320M
time:
12:20 PM
A short hike-a-bike above Verbier brings you to one of the most scenic points of the resort, with views from the Mont Blanc Massif to Lac Leman, and the entire Rh么ne Valley. Here begins a fantastic 2-hr descent to Martigny, from the alpine to the forest.
date:
24/09/15
location:
SECRET FOREST, 1675M
time:
1:00 PM
After the first rains of autumn, we cannot wait to get out in the forest to search for gold - in the form of chanterelles Girolles. These mushrooms signal the start of the real foraging season, and every day yields surprises like these beauties.
date:
location:
time: The fall is our favorite time to ride, with
27/09/15
TSARDONNAY 1794M
5:15 PM
cooler temps and tacky trails. This one, just above Epic Europe HQ, traverses Mont Rogneux, which is also one of our favorite places to ski.
date:
location:
time: The village of Täsch is quickly passed
01/10/15
TÄSCHALP 2200M
11:45 AM
through en-route to Zermatt, but for those in the know, the alpine paradise of Täschalp is home to some of the most buffed single-track in Switzerland.
date:
location:
time: After an October snowfall, the trails below
08/10/15
STAFELALP 2370M
2:40 PM
Schwarzsee take on a golden hue with dynamic contrasting skies and peaks. Here, rider Carston Oliver manuals a wheelie under the Nordwand of the Matterhorn.
date:
12/10/15
location:
BĂ‚ COMBE 2288M
time:
10:30 AM
Producing a mountain bike film shoot for Switzerland Tourism with renowned actionsports filmmakers Teton Gravity Research and Moment Pictures on our home trails in Verbier. Here, Jack Shaw tests out a new helmetcam - or is it a personal helicopter?
date:
23/10/15
location:
DROM, IRELAND 40M
time:
2:30 PM
An escape to Ireland to tour the “Wild Atlantic Way�, during an uncharacteristic week of great weather. The rugged coastline, friendly villages, and cozy pubs provided a great recharge before slipping back into winter. Here, the gorgeous Dingle Peninsula provides a classic backdrop.
date:
location:
time: Like the summer before, the Autumn of
02/11/15
MAZEMBROZ RHﾃ年E VALLEY 630M
4:30 PM
2015 broke records for heat and dryness. The wines of the Swiss Rhone Valley profited, as did we, on long walks to harvest lunches well into November.
date:
27/11/15
location:
FONTANEY 2438M
time:
2:00 PM
The opening day of Verbier 4 VallĂŠes was one for the ages. While some skiers pushed the limits of early-season snow coverage, we opted to ski the deep powder where we knew there were few rocks lurking beneath the fresh snow.
date:
08/12/15
location:
STEIN AM RHEIN 1033M
time:
4:45 PM
This postcard-perfect village of Stein am Rhein takes on a special ambiance around the Christmas season, with its medieval painted facades and half-timbered houses adorned with pine boughs, lights and decorations.
Epic Europe specializes in providing singular bespoke travel experiences for small private groups in the historic epicenters of adventure in the Swiss Alps and beyond. www.epiceurope.com | info@epiceurope.com
date:
location:
21/01/15
CORVATSCH 2272M
time: (On the cover) Margun Surlej, at the end
4:05 PM
of a perfect day of powder skiing in St Moritz and the Engadin Valley.