 Poster: A snowHead
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Hello all,
Making my first ski trip to the Alps this winter and looking for a little guidance. I'm interested in skiing at engelberg and was wondering what the accomodations would cost. Basically just a couple of skiers from montana looking for cheap beds + breakfast. Dates will be feburary 13-march 5.
Also any other steep skiing destinations that might be more affordable?
France and Italy are planned stops as well but looking for a place to hole up in for a couple weeks w/ quality terrain and snow to save $. 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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Welcome bridgerpow,
I don't know of any cheap hotels but their website is useful. You could e-mail the TO
www.engelberg.ch
and
www.titlis.ch ...altho' these push the Hotel Terrace a lot.
I use the Cathrin as it is the nearest to the big lift..and the town centre is only 7-8 mins max... Its not a big town.
For steep stuff and the glacier which is where you'll want to be, get a guide unless you know glaciated terrain
Last edited by Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see? on Sun 1-10-06 13:52; edited 1 time in total
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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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JT, I thought you might come along for this one 
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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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This place:
http://www.bellevue-engelberg.ch/
is good value and central. It is almost the definition of faded grandeur so if you're a light sleeper the creaky floorboards might wake you up! It's also above the Yucutan so you can hang out with the cool freeride kids during happy hour
If that doesn't appeal, have a play with the tourist office website as above
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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You might also consider renting an appartment if you are going to be there for a couple of weeks. They can be booked through the tourist office website as well.
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bridgerpow hello!
I've skied Engelberg, and the Laub pitch is one of the world's great off-piste descents. 1000m vertical of pure pleasure. You only have to hike a little bit to access it, but beware of avalanche risk.
Another destination, not that far away, which has a long-time following of serious off-piste skiers is Andermatt. You can stay there cheaply in the ex-military barracks. Seriously! It's a place where the Swiss Army based itself. The mountain above is called the Gemstock and is rated highly for powder skiing and steeps.
Verbier is a big-time favourite for serious skiing. You stay somewhere I think they call the Bunker. Some kind of hostel. Verbier is big skiing, with some great pitches.
Zermatt is absolutely spectacular scenically, but not so highly rated for steeps and deeps.
Get a copy of the book 'Where to Ski and Snowboard' - its advice on European skiing is excellent.
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Andermatt needs good snow cover as it is very rocky frontside and you need to know where you can go because it isn't obvious. But since guides come from all around, there will be some good day-trips...in good snow
Linds
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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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Thanks for all the info and replies. I'm glad I found Snowheads and am impressed w/ all the resources found within this online community.
Obviously research (a lot of it) will be required on my end, but already know a lot more than yesterday.
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| bridgerpow wrote: |
Also any other steep skiing destinations that might be more affordable?
France and Italy are planned stops as well but looking for a place to hole up in for a couple weeks w/ quality terrain and snow to save $. |
hadn't spotted this bit... you can actually do a lot of the classic destinations quite cheaply. eg. there are a number of gites in and around chamonix which won't cost you much more than about eur15 a night; the bahnhof in zermatt has a bunkhouse which is supposed to be cheap; la grave has a gite and plenty of cheap hotels
don't want to put you off engelberg though - it's great and you can definitely get away without spending too much cash there
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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There are also bunkhouses listed on the Engelberg website, I haven't used any of them though.
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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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Nice, I'm kind of hoping that there would be enough bunkhouses around the above mentioned resorts and beyond to kind of bounce around and chase a storm or two. But there are definitley some spots like Engelberg(chamonix,dolomites even?) that I would like to plan on visiting over the 4+ weeks I have.
Arno I saw your pics on TGR site... looks like pretty awesome april skiing 
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bridgerpow,
Plan carefully as getting between resorts could take out a day...easily...
For example, Chamonix to Champoluc, Monterosa which looks quite close on the map...by US standards... would be about 2.5 hrs for the drive alone, I'd say, OITRO, so an early start would just about get you on the slopes by mid day..
Anyway, get a wish list of resorts and you can get alot of info about logistics etc on here
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