date:
location:
time: Low December light on the Rathaus Basel
16/12/13
MARKTPLATZ BASEL
(1501), appropriately adorned for the hol-
3:30 PM
iday season and the Basler Weihnachtsmarkt, the largest (and most traditional) Christmas Market in Switzerland
date:
location:
time: Decorating Christmas cookies with our fa-
22/12/13
“HOME� BRUSON 1350M
7:00 PM
vorite little elves. Some new cookie cutters from the Basler Weihnachtsmarkt featuring colorful skiers.
date:
07/01/14
location:
LA PASAY BRUSON 2000M
time: An empty ski resort in the back yard of
8:45 AM
Epic Europe’s offices. Lunchtime lift line laps bereft of holiday season crowds.
date:
10/01/14
location:
ROTE-NASE ZERMATT 3247M
time: Catching a pre-season ride on a closed-to-
10:05 AM
the-public ski lift, courtesy of UIAGM guide Fabi Lauber and Zermatt ski patrol. Thanks for the first powder turns of the season!
date:
location:
time:
Dropping into one of our favorite off-piste tree runs in a valley that leads to the resort
14/01/14
VALLON D’ARBI 2600M
10:30 AM
village of La Tzoumaz, which connects back to Verbier via Savoleyres. Great for visibility on storm days, you can always find an untracked lane of powder here.
date:
location:
29/01/14
FIERA DI SANT ORSO, AOSTA ITALY 583M
time:
For over 1000 years, the Fiera di Sant Orso has brought together the artisanal
5:05 PM
wood-workers of the Valle d’Aosta to sell their wares. Traditional tools, decorative arts, and utilitarian pieces exhibit the mastery of their trade.
date:
location:
09/02/14
ROTHORN, ZERMATT 3100M
time:
A sea of clouds envelops the Mattertal, the valley where the village of Zermatt sits be-
2:05 PM
low. While town sat frozen in the fog, we enjoyed crystal-clear views stretching to Mont Blanc to the west, and all the way to the Mediterranean to the south.
date:
11/02/14
location:
SCHWARZSEE TREES, ZERMATT 2350M
time:
Following an overnight snowfall, the gladed forest below Schwarzsee offers the
12:05 PM
deepest protected powder runs, and a sunny terrace at Stafelalp restaurant for lunch and to admire your tracks under the Matterhorn.
date:
18/02/14
location:
MONDZEU, VERBIER 1612M
time:
Walking home from a dinner with guests, amid a massive snowstorm. This neighbor-
10:27 PM
hood is home to some of the most beautiful authentic chalets in the village, and extremely difficult to access during the snowiest winters.
date:
location:
time: Flying across the Val de Bagnes for a
26/02/14
PETIT COMBIN 3671M
heliskiing drop on the Petit Combin, the
9:27 AM
crown jewel of the region. After recent storms, the promise of the day was palpable, and conditions were perfect.
date:
03/03/14
location:
CAROUGE, GENEVA 375M
time:
In the atelier of artisanal chocolatier Philippe Pascouet, outrageous flavor pro-
10:00 AM
files are combined in true gastronomic wizardry. Passionfruit, chile, saffron, absinthe and green apple-caramel were some of our favorites.
date:
12/03/14
location:
COMBIN DE CORBASSIĂˆRE 2850M
time:
10:50 AM
Looking back at our turns from the heli-drop on the Petit Combin, in flawless powder snow.
date:
12/03/14
location:
GLACIER DE CORBASSIĂˆRE 2641M
time:
After a descent from the Petit Combin, the long traverse across the glacier terminates
11:10 AM
at the tongue, which offers passage through a tenuous ice bridge. The base of these glaciers offers a daily lesson on how much they have receded in our time alone.
date:
25/03/14
location:
THEODULPASS CERVINIA 3300M
time:
Descending from the Swiss-Italian border, the resort of Cervinia on the southern side
12:25 PM
of the pass is prone to sunny days while Zermatt sits in the clouds - which is great on a day where the previous saw a big storm in Cervinia while Zermatt had sunshine.
date:
25/03/14
location:
THEOUDULPASS CERVINIA 3300M
time:
Another surprise snowstorm under the darkness of night caught everyone else off-
10:00 AM
guard, but our guides know how to decipher the trickiest weather and snow reports. We lapped this run 3 times before seeing another set of tracks other than our own.
date:
01/04/14
location:
MONT ROISETTA VALTOURNENCHE 3334M
time:
A late-season heli-drop on the Italian side, for a long corn-skiing descent to the village
10:30 AM
of Valtournenche. When conditions are just right, spring snow, or firnschnee as our Zermatt guides call it, is as effortless and fun to ski as the deepest powder.
date:
location:
time:
Housed in a historic building in the center of Zermatt, reimagined in the style of artist
02/04/14
RESTARURANT HEIMBERG 1608M
Heinz Julen, Heimberg offers innovative
7:00 PM
molecular gastronomy with a local Alpine twist. recently-awarded a Michelin star, they push the perception of rustic cuisine to new levels.
date:
location:
27/04/14
COMBAT DES REINES, LE CHÂBLE 800M
time:
The grand finale of the Combat des Reines, the annual competition to determine the
2:00 PM
“queen of the herd” of local Hérens cows in the Valais region. The fight is over when one cow defers to another in a battle of shoving to prove dominance.
date:
26/04/14
location:
TESTA GRIGIA, CERVINIA 3400M
time:
Just when you think that ski season is over, a late-season storm delivers an inexplica-
11:00 AM
ble blanket of snow at the upper altitudes. And of course our favorite stash leads right into a hearty Italian lunch - on a sunny terrace, in short sleeves and sunglasses.
date:
location:
20/04/14
PARC DES EAUX-VIVES, GENEVA 375M
time: Easter Sunday in Geneva, with spring well on its way - a welcome break from the still-
2:00 PM
changing seasons in the mountains. A long lunch with friends and family, followed by a lazy afternoon in the park.
date:
location:
time: In the cave of the local Verbier cheese-
07/05/14
FROMAGERIE DE VERBIER 1475M
makers, whose “Bagnes” Raclette cheese is
2:00 PM
award-winning and a source of local pride. Here, our local star guide Nancy shows us where the magic happens.
date:
11/05/14
location:
TEATRO ROMANO AOSTA, ITALY 583M
time:
Once a key Roman city, Aosta was their main settlement just along the southern or-
11:45 AM
der of the Alps, at the foot of what would become known as the Grand St. Bernard Pass. The theatre ruins are well-preserved, and still used for summer performances.
date:
location:
time: Home of Cailller Chocolatier, this is a true
15/05/14
MAISON CAILLER, BROC 720M
Willy Wonka-experience for all age guests.
10:00 AM
From the factory tour to private chocolatemaking ateliers, this is one of Switzerland’s most popular attractions, for good reason.
date:
17/05/14
location:
HOTEL BELLEVUE, COGNE 1534M
time:
Deep under the magnificent Hotel Bellevue in Gran Paradiso national park is a magi-
7:00 PM
cal room where they age the finest Italian cheeses. While the Reggiano may be frontand-center, the local Fontina and Castelmagno are our favorites.
date:
location:
time: When the world’s greatest rock n’ roll
01/06/14
LEITZIGRUND, ZURICH 411M
band comes to Switzerland, there’s no way
10:00 PM
we are going to miss the show. Here, guitarist Keith Richards takes the spotlight from his bandmate for a soulful solo.
date:
location:
time: An early summer traverse from the Val
15/06/14
MEIDPASS, TURTMANTAL 2790M
d’Anniviers to the Turtmantal with fresh
12:30 PM
snow. Guests and black faced sheep retreat to the green grass and the valley below.
date:
location:
02/06/14
CONFISERIE SPRÜNGLI, ZURICH 411M
time:
Located in the Paradeplatz of Zurich, in the heart of the financial disctrict, Sprüngli’s
3:00 PM
flagship shop and café serves decadent desserts all day to Zürich’s power-brokers and well-heeled matrons alike. This was the most outrageous chocolate dessert ever.
date:
24/06/14
location:
HOTEL BAREN, GSTEIG
time: The Hotel B채ren, at the foot of the Pillon
5:00 PM
Pass, typifies the classic Saanenland architecture, with ornate carvings and design on even the most simple farmhouses.
date:
location:
25/06/14
CASA BATLLĂ“ BARCELONA 12M
time:
One of the best things about where we live is the access to world-class culture across
7:00 PM
Europe, only a quick flight or train ride away. We took a weekend trip to Barcelona, which left us energized and invigorated by the art, history, and cuisine.
date:
location:
time: FĂŞte des Bergers, a celebration modeled
27/06/14
LES PLANARDS, VERBIER 1930M
after the Unspunnenfest, an historic festival
6:00 PM
featuring alpine costumes, music competitions & traditions like flag throwing, Swiss wrestling and boulder tossing.
date:
27/06/14
location:
LES PLANARDS, VERBIER 1930M
time:
Team Filles de Epic Europe, post fĂŞte. Not a bad day at the office, hosting an alpine
6:00 PM
celebration in a verdant green pasture. Raclette, Valais Wine, Morand Liquors, Alp Horn, Lederhosen & St. Bernards - we love what we do!
date:
location:
time: The first alpine flowers of the summer, en-
30/06/14
AUGSTBORD PASS 2894M
joyed in a passing moment before a rapid
2:55PM
escape from an impending thundershower. The summer showers kept the Alps impossibly green this year.
date:
05/07/14
location:
GÉRONDE SIERRE 608M
time:
GĂŠronde overlooking the Rhone Valley was home to a neolithic settlement. Today
5:30 PM
a modern autoroute bypasses via tunnel underneath, and the hillside is shared between the renowned Rouvinez vines and a Roman Catholic Monastery.
date:
location:
time:
High in the Vallon de RĂŠchy, a secret valley in the Valais, lies a unique alpine alpage.
16/07/14
LE TSARTSEY 2010M
11:30 AM
One of the most remote places in Switzerland, not to worry it is stocked with plenty of wood, wine & cheese. Just don’t forget your Subaru Forester.
date:
17/07/14
location:
LES SIÉS, MAYENS DE SARREYER 1774M
time: Summer sunset at a mountain cabin in Val de Bagnes. Grand & Petit Combins in sight,
8:00 PM
a glass of Fendant in the hand, and the smell of Raclette au feu de bois. Life could not be better.
date:
location:
03/08/14
ROUGEMENT, SAANENLAND 1007M
time:
Gstaad has the reputation of only being a playground for the rich and royal. What
3:45 PM
truly makes the Saanenland so special is the seamless integration of modern luxuries into the bucolic agricultural society, unchanged for centuries.
date:
12/08/14
location:
STELLISEE ZERMATT 2537M
time:
High above the Mattertal the Stellisee holds perfect reflections of the Matterhorn,
2:00 PM
as well as Rainbow Trout should you be lucky enough to catch one. We love the 3 lakes tour en route to the best Rรถsti in Switzerland at Berghotel Fluhalp.
date:
15/08/14
location:
ZERMATT, SWITZERLAND 1608M
time:
Every year on the 2nd weekend of August, the streets of Zermatt come alive with the
4:25 PM
annual Folklore Festival. 1,200 participants from all across Switzerland show off their regional traditions, music, dance and colorful costumes.
date:
20/08/14
location:
OBERBORT, GSTAAD 1200M
time:
The prestigious neighborhood of Oberbort above the 5* Gstaad Palace, home to roy-
8:00 AM
als, oligarchs, and the uber-rich still harbors the occasional fairytale soul chalet, complete with Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.
date:
23/08/14
location:
RIFUGIO BONATTI, VAL FERRET, IT 2025M
time:
A short hike from the Italian Val Ferret, in the shadow of the Grandes Jorasses, along
7:00 PM
a perfectly-buffed trail. A few days later, the athletes of the Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc would run 150km around the Alps’ tallest peak, but tonight the trail was just ours.
date:
location:
time: Post-lunch descent to Zermatt from Chez
08/09/14
FINDELN, ZERMATT 2050M
Vrony on a most perfect day. Once a
3:15 PM
“Maiensäss", an alpine farm, today Findeln is home to some of the best on-mountain restaurants in the world.
date:
15/09/14
location:
CHĂ‚TEAU CHILLON, VEYTAUX 375M
time:
For hundreds of years, the passage of ships on Lac Leman and the important land
5:00 PM
route to the St. Bernhard Pass & Italy was controlled from this island. Inhabited even in prehistoric times, the present day structure dates from the 10th century.
date:
location:
17/09/14
EIGER NORTH WALL, JUNGFRAU 1846M
time: Our friendly co-hikers frequently met around the Eiger. They invited us to a lunch
1:00 PM
of local specialties (fondue, raclette, Berner Hobelk채se) at a mountain restaurant next to their summer house.
date:
location:
05/10/14
VAL FERRET, ITALY 2025M
time:
Room with a view, looking across the Italian Val Ferret towards the Grandes Jorass-
7:00 PM
es & the Glacier de FrĂŠbouge, left us wondering what it would have been like to inhabit these small stone barns, and just how far the ice has receded.
date:
11/10/14
location:
LES SCHLÉRONDES, VERBIER 1977M
time:
Lunch break; at Epic Europe we believe the best path to inspiration & productivity is
1:00 PM
getting out of the office and enjoying the incredible landscape that surrounds us. Lunch at Nancy’s mayen on a warm October day works magic!
date:
location:
time:
Riding the myriad trails above the old Roman town of Martigny, at the foot of 2
16/10/14
MONT CHEMIN 1607M
4:30 PM
mountain passes and the gateway to the Rhône valley and Lac Leman, one can’t help but feel that these trails have seen many travelers before us.
date:
location:
26/10/14
TELECABINE VERBIER - LE CHĂ‚BLE 821M
time:
Last bike lift of the summer season, with the grass still green and little snow in the
4:10 PM
mountains its hard to believe we will be skiing soon. The soft grazing meadows, cleared of rocks for centuries, are a perfect base for early season powder runs.
date:
01/11/14
location:
COL DE MILLE, ENTREMONT 2572M
time: Enjoying the endless summer, fall colors
12:00 PM
and autumnal light. Mountain biking on a balcony trail at 2’500m with view of Mont Blanc and the Trient massif.
date:
02/11/14
location:
CHAMOSON, RHONE VALLEY 622M
time:
Summer arrived late in the Alps this year and stuck around almost until winter. The
11:15 AM
peak foliage in the vines of the Swiss Rhone Valley was not until early November; 2 days later, it snowed and the golden colors faded until next fall.
date:
location:
time: Putting the finishing touches on our all-new
07/11/14
EPIC EUROPE HQ, BRUSON 1330M
website and journal platform, which repre-
5:00 PM
sents the past 15 years’ worth of travels, research, and exploration, to design the ultimate bespoke trips in the Alps.
date:
07/12/14
location:
CAS CABANE DU MONT FORT, VERBIER 2547M
time: An early-season ski tour past the Swiss Alpine Club Cabane du Mont Fort in mysti-
1:40 PM
cal light. The low light and inherent shadows of December create a special ambiance we wish could last all winter.
date:
17/12/14
location:
BOUTIQUE TAG HEUER, ZERMATT 1608M
time: We threw the opening party for the new TAG Heuer / Zenith boutique in Zermatt,
6:45 PM
celebrating several icons of Switzerland watchmaking and alpine culture on the busy Bahnhofstrasse.
date:
19/12/14
location:
THEODULPASS, CERVINIA 3296M
time:
While the Alps were off to a slow start in early winter, the Italian side of the Matter-
10:30 AM
horn seemed to be where to find the best snow. Before the Christmas rush, we worked out the rust and carved some turns on the sunny side of the Matterhorn.
date:
location:
24/12/14
ST NIKLAUS, MATTERTAL 1110M
time:
In the little village below Zermatt named for St Niklaus, you find quite possibly the
8:00 PM
largest Saint Nick in the world. Each December, their Roman Catholic church tower is cloaked in a giant costume visible for miles.
date:
location:
27/12/14
EPIC EUROPE HQ, BRUSON 1455M
time: This year we learned the meaning of Boxing Day, when traditionally gifts were giv-
2:00 PM
en to the poor. Finally we got some muchneeded snow in the Alps, the priceless gift appreciated by all skiers alike.
date:
location:
30/12/14
AUX PETITS GOURMANDS, CHAMONIX 1033M
time:
Our top pick for sweet confections when in Chamonix, from the mountains of
8:45 AM
meringues and rainbow macarons, to the miniature chocolate Mont Blanc’s, homemade ice creams and dozens of different baguettes, you will not go for want!
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:
time: (On the cover) Skiing some Swiss “cream
29/03/14
STAFELALP, ZERMATT 2546M
cheese” under the Matterhorn. While look-
2:35 PM
ing for spring corn snow, the open bowls below the Hörnlihütte revealed soft powder all the way to lunch at Stafelalp.