Andermatt

Last weekend, my school organized a generous day trip to Andermatt open to all faculty, staff, and their families. Andermatt is a ski resort located an hour and a half from Lugano in the canton of Uri (logo of the bull below).

Perched above the San Gottardo Tunnel, we climbed up, up, up to reach a base elevation of 1550m (5,000 feet). Swiss bus drivers deserve so much respect for their skill – these switchbacks are no joke! Imagine these guys maneuvering in a couch bus (a manual, no less).

Andermatt is a huge mountain resort featuring four peaks. Our peak was Gütsch and I was shocked at the lack of crowds at the base. Zero lines, zero waiting for the gondola.

My friends and I opted for a walk-on pass for the resort, allowing us to ride the gondola up and back, stopping midway and at the top. Quickly we found ourselves above the tree line at 2344 meters (7,650 feet) surrounded by stunning views of the Adula Alps and the San Gottardo Pass.

From snowshoeing to hiking trails to restaurants and walk-up coffee stands, there is a whole lot on offer at a Swiss ski mountain beyond downhill skiing.

Sledding is also on the menu, though not the inner tube version found at US mountains. The Swiss take it to a whole other level, with wooden sleds often sharing the run with skiers. This article was published just last week, explaining the sport. Proceed at your own risk!

The Matterhorn Gotthard Railway and the Glacier Express both make stops in Andermatt, at a train station located just below (literally) the base of the resort. Nothing more organized than a Swiss railway!

After checking out the views, we set out to find a cofee and explore the quaint village of Andermatt.

With a population of just over 1,000, Andermatt serves as a crossroads connecting the southern canton of Ticino (where I live) with the rest of the country.

The river Reuss flows through this beautiful mountain town on its way to Lake Lucerne. The parish of Andermatt dates back to 1203 AD. We happened upon a stunning church, bright in the midday light, and a number of beautiful chalets throughout the town.

The village looked like a great spot for après-ski with a wine bar and a few ski-up tavernas. The snowshoes below were parked outside the local grocery store.

After refueling, we headed back up to the mid-station at Gütsch. In the lee of the wind, we soaked up some afternoon rays on the sun deck, no jacket needed. Pure bliss!

All too soon, the visibility started to slip and it was time to head back to base.

My first day in the mountains was beautiful and I’m looking forward to more this coming week as I head a bit father north to Engelberg with my high school students. Soaking it in!