 Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Glosterwolf wrote: |
Hi all, been lurking on SH for a short while but thought I'd make my first post after reading back through most of this thread to get an idea what to expect regarding conditions and how busy it will be when we will be visiting 26th Dec - 2nd Jan
We are a family of 4 who all started skiing in 2018. It consists of me, a 39 yo advanced intermediate skier who tends to ski on the limit of my ability. My wife who is a steady beginner intermediate. My 10 yo daughter who is a solid intermediate who will do small jumps, headstrong, can see her being keen to go off-piste. My 7 yo daughter, fearless, aspiring amateur racer, Gloucester ski club member. Me and my daughters are regulars at the Gloucester artificial slope.
This will be our third ski holiday and first since COVID. Hoping it will be a bit more successful than the first where my wife slipped and broke her coccyx before getting skis on and the second where my youngest got suspected COVID on the third day! 
We will want to explore the area as a family on the first couple of days but any suggestions for the rest of the week would be very welcome. |
Which village are you staying at?
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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The weather’s getting much cooler now, and the cows have all come down from the pastures above the village.
Wengen is still reasonably busy, but we're definitely winding down towards low season.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@Alastair Pink, @Chris Brookes, Hi,
Not getting alerts for some reason, better check settings.
We are staying in Wengen opposite Residence Brunner.
Would be nice to meet up one day later in the week.
So far I have only emailed Bob Eastwood at DHO about the younger daughter joining in with the coggins but there are question marks over it being a bit early for her.
In my mind this trip is a taster to see if we want to make Wengen our regular resort. If so next season we would be looking at joining DHO, getting season passes and driving down a few times each season.
We are booked to go to Les Diableretes in February this year due to having flights to Geneva I need to use up which is why I can't make the commitment this season even if we fall in love with it, probably a good idea to try somewhere else first anyway.
If I could book all the girls on 3 half days that would be ideal really but I am aware that might not be possible.
Last edited by You need to Login to know who's really who. on Thu 22-09-22 12:22; edited 1 time in total
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Fascinating article about the snow farming at Birg. 95,000 cubic metres of snow was collected at the end of last season. Of this, about 15% has melted, but this still leaves enough to create a piste and a snow park. Target opening date is 5th November.
https://www.jungfrauzeitung.ch/artikel/203419/
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@Glosterwolf. If you need any info on Mürren (the better village by far...lol) then fire away.
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@Chris Brookes, I was quite close to booking a place belonging to Beat Von Allmen in Murren actually, so I did do a fair bit of research on it. S/The impression I got was that it is slightly more charming than Wengen but more remote and that is what put me off when considering the rediculous amount of luggage the girls usually conjure up . I haven't booked anything for Easter yet, still worth a visit then?
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| Glosterwolf wrote: |
| @Chris Brookes, I was quite close to booking a place belonging to Beat Von Allmen in Murren actually, so I did do a fair bit of research on it. S/The impression I got was that it is slightly more charming than Wengen but more remote and that is what put me off when considering the rediculous amount of luggage the girls usually conjure up . I haven't booked anything for Easter yet, still worth a visit then? |
Yes, Nancy and Beat own SnowBird chalet though quiet expensive (imo) and can be a trek when you have young children. Plenty of other apartments available in Mürren and more central to the lifts. Mürren is car-free, higher elevation, snow sure, superb on/off piste skiing (though small) plus amazing views.
'Remote' to me is heaven but totally understand. I would say though having large amounts of luggage isn't an issue when visiting. Load it underneath the cablecar in Lauterbrunnen and then collect it at the Mürren station. You can then arrange for it to be delivered to your accommodation!
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Where is the best place to look for appartments, I have only been checking booking and airbnb. Haven't seen much availability on there, girls are a bit young still for 2 hotel rooms.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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I’ve tentatively made a booking for Grindelwald in late January. Wengen seems to get the tick from many on here for being the smaller / more charming option but accommodation options there were more expensive than Grindelwald.
This will my first time skiing or visiting the area.
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You know it makes sense.
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@Raven, for future reference for the last few years I've always stayed at the hotel Edelweiss in Wengen. Very good value for Switzerland. If you want to eat there in the evening they do an excellent 4 course meal for CHF35.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Have no fears about your location in Grindelwald @Raven, Grindy is lovely and you are in the correct place for access to the new state of art lifts.
The First (stands alone) area is a small sunny delightful area above Grindelwald.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Beautiful in the Oberland at the moment. Lunch at Männlichen with incredible views from the Berghaus restaurant.
Temperatures are still mild, but the reservoirs are all full, so fingers crossed.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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lovely Mike
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Top4 ski passes on sale from 1st November. CHF850 for adults if you get the early purchase deal (until 15th December).
https://top4.ski/
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@telford_mike, interesting, when you first posted the link to the Jungfrau ski pass 2022/23 prices back in August it was showing the Top4 season pass as still CHF777. Sadly it's been raised to CHF850, which is a 9.4% increase.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@telford_mike, thanks for that link. At least the normal ski pass prices haven't increased since when I looked in August. I won't be having a Top4 season pass this season, just one trip to Wengen immediately after Xmas with a 9 day senior ski pass costing me CHF446.
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I think I'll be buying ours daily given our form and the fact there is no significant saving. Top4 next year maybe depending on how many days we manage this year in total.
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@Glosterwolf, the link to the skipass prices is here: https://cdn.jungfrau.ch/Prospekte_und_Broschueren/Price_list_Jungfrau_Ski_Region.pdf
See the Note 1 comment. i.e if you intend to visit the Schilthorn over in Mürren and don't intend to ski down the black run from the top but download to Birg in the cable car then officially the 1 and 2 day ski pass doesn't cover you for the downward journey, skipasses of 3 days or longer do cover you for this.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@Alastair Pink, In that case I will buy myself a week pass as we planned to hear over that way when we meet up and I can't be sure I'd up for it. Can always get a 3 day for the others midweek if they are lapping it up.
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| Raven wrote: |
I’ve tentatively made a booking for Grindelwald in late January. Wengen seems to get the tick from many on here for being the smaller / more charming option but accommodation options there were more expensive than Grindelwald.
This will my first time skiing or visiting the area. |
Not sure what accommodation you are looking for but can highly recommend The Derby Hotel in Grindelwald. Perfectly placed for the train or buses up or down town. Great staff, good food & south facing rooms are a decent size & nicely done out. Bar also cheaper than many others in town.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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The concept of "integrated" transport that actually suits the customer is a phenomenon us Brits are not too familiar with @Alastair Pink,
That does sound really good.
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We had a direct service from ZRH to Interlaken all through the 1990s, until someone at SBB decided to stop it. Nice to see it’s back again.
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You know it makes sense.
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@telford_mike, I'm not sure what route the direct service takes? Did the old direct route go via Bern (without having to change of course)?
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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@Alastair Pink, Yes the old service used to stop at Bern. There's a new tunnel in Bern that would mean that the train could turn south towards Thun without needing to stop at Bern, but I'm not sure whether the Interlaken service will use it.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@Alastair Pink, Looks to be one at 14:45 which we should be able to get on. It will save me hauling luggage. We are also flying with Swiss on classic ticket. Still not sure about luggage and if we should bring our own skis or hire. Are there trolleys at all changes or am I looking at dealing with stairs.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Glosterwolf, if you get the direct train from Zurich airport to Interlaken Ost then the only changes are at Interlaken Ost and Lauterbrunnen. At Interlaken Ost there are both stairs and a ramp and a lift that take you down from the platform you arrive on to an underpass that leads you to a ramp up to the platform for Lauterbrunnen. I have a wheeled hold bag and a wheeled ski bag so I generally just use the ramps at Interlaken Ost, but I believe there are also trolleys available there. At Lauterbrunnen you just walk across to the adjacent platform for Wengen which is at the same level. 
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Fear not @Glosterwolf, the Swiss engineer their stations to "help" the passenger.
Most stations will have, at worst a ramp. Many will have lifts.
Lauterbrunnen was re-engineered some years ago, something of a backwater. There are 2 lifts on that station.
Thinking about it, there is a lift at Winteregg........
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Incidentally the new direct service between Zurich airport and Interlaken Ost comes in after the timetable change on 11th December 2022. The train known as IC 81 usually leaves every 2 hours.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| telford_mike wrote: |
| @Alastair Pink, Yes the old service used to stop at Bern. There's a new tunnel in Bern that would mean that the train could turn south towards Thun without needing to stop at Bern, but I'm not sure whether the Interlaken service will use it. |
Looking at the details on the SBB website it looks like the new service does have a stop at Bern, with 6 minutes between arriving and departing.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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@telford_mike, interesting, thanks. 
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Am I correct in thinking that I don't need day saver tickets for the kids and instead you can just buy a 1 month junior travelcard for 30 CHF at the station?
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@telford_mike, Thanks for confirming that.
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