Engelberg, the Swiss Freeride mecca that is known throughout the world as a must travel to destination for the true powder skier. From big lines, consistent snowfalls, an après scene that rivals the best, to over 100,000 acres of accessible terrain through touring, Engelberg is in a class of its own. This is one of our favorite places to ski and we are very excited to launch a series of new Freeride camps and tours that will be exploring this area starting in 2017. Below are our Top 5 reasons to ski Engelberg.

#1- Pure Skiing

From the top of the 10,600’ Mt Titlis, with over 6,500 vertical from town, you have access to an unlimited number of descents. The views of central Switzerland are some of the best and on a clear day you can see the iconic Eiger, Jungfrau, and across the way to Andermatt.

The ski area offers something for everyone and if you are lucky enough to ski Engelberg on a powder day, you will be guaranteed one of the best days of your life. Overall, Engelberg provides access to 24 lifts, 50 miles of perfect piste, and 25 official trails. This is somewhat misleading stats when you consider a single trail is seven miles long and there are about 100,000 acres of accessible backcountry skiing if you pack your climbing skins. Bottom line, go ski Engelberg!

#2- The Big 5

These are some of the classic lines in Engelberg. Note to self before attempting these: hire a guide. Some of the lines are exposed, have access to serious cliff drops (100’ plus) and if you do not know the conditions or terrain, you could get yourself into a bad spot. I have been lucky enough to ski all of these and I can tell you one thing, they are all time. The Laub is one of the best powder runs in the world.

The Sulz- This area has 3 sections and offers a wide range of skiing options for everyone. Wendelücke- part of this area is reachable from the lift but the real action happens with a short tour that leads to one of the best powder runs in the area. Steinberg- the classic glaciated area under the rotating Titlis tram. From here there are a number of options to explore but requires a good sense of conditions to navigate. Galtiberg- the biggest of the Big 5! At 6,500 vertical from top to bottom, it gives a whole new meaning to big lines. One of the biggest lift served runs in the world that demands respect before heading out.

TOP 5 REASONS TO SKI JAPAN
PUBLISHED BY • LGA BLOG | WORDS & PHOTOS • Jeff Robertson

Have you been dreaming of that deep Japanese powder?

If you have a crew of friends that search for new adventures, or are in search of a solo mission, this is the winter to enjoy the epic powder Japan is known for. Every year Japan is our go to destination for those that want to ski the best snow of their lives and for less than a heli-ski trip in Alaska!  Our ski trips to Japan are our favorite and with over 20 years of guiding experience, our team will show you the goods.

Here are our Top 5 Reasons to Ski Japan this winter:

Japow Snow!

Yes, the rumors and stories are true! You have seen the photos and videos, you’ve heard the legendary tales of bottomless Japanese powder or aka JaPow, and it’s all true. Last year was a low season by Japan standards (most places would be stoked to receive this much snowfall!) but our Japan ski tour guests were constantly raving day after day saying, “that was the best snow I’ve ever skied” or “that was the best ski day of my life.”

Our guests and guides got treated to some incredibly deep days and for some of our seasoned guides they were reporting top 5 ever ski days. Our team and guests had one day at an undisclosed location (we keep some stashes secret!) were over 3 feet of fresh powder had fallen overnight on top of another 18+” inches from the night before, and it was time for the snorkel! Our groups last year only saw the sun a couple of days as it was constantly snowing.

The snow is light, it snows consistently due to the storm patterns, the terrain is vast, and if you ski with the right guides, it will be untouched nirvana.  On top of being one of the most consistent places for deep powder, the weather forecasters are predicting Japan could have one of its biggest ski seasons in years due to ocean temps. It’s time to book a flight and join one of our LGA guided Japan ski trips!

Japan Backcountry & Resorts

The backcountry skiing in Japan is filled with a lifetime of deep powder turns to explore. On Honshu and Hokkaido, there are many mountains to do ski tours through. There are over 500 ski resorts in Japan (there were 1200 at one time!) ranging from modern facilities like Niseko to ski resorts with 2 lifts that access you to a powder skier’s heaven.

Our LGA Japan Ski Tours visit roughly 6 to 8 different resorts per trip so every guests gets to explore new locations on a daily basis. We also have access to Heli skiing in Japan and Snowcat skiing if the groups want to add-on this experience. Given the frequency of the snow storms, our guides will do their best to add in a day of ski touring if the conditions permit.

We leave our trips open and flexible to optimize the experience. Each day our guides will take you to the best snow, find the deepest snow, and access areas of untouched powder. Numerous side/backcountry options at each of our locations offer guests the chance to explore the other side of each resort. Most ski days start before 8 am and end around 4pm or as long as your legs can make it!

With so much to explore, its time to book your next Japan ski trip.

Japanese Culture

Bottom line, it’s a place everyone needs to visit as the culture is one of the best we have experienced. The culture is represented in a wide range of unique artifacts and the fascinating history of Japan.  The Japanese people are incredibly respectful, very kind, are punctual and timely in all aspects of life or work.

Japan is a very safe place to travel as the laws are rarely broken, the cities and ski resorts are well maintained, and like Switzerland trains or planes never arrive late.  The culture is so unique that you can buy just about anything you want from vending machines which are located everywhere you turn.  For around a couple of US dollars, you can get snacks, hot/cold coffee, beer, and more from the thousands of vending machines in the country. Many of our guests love to try the Sake but no trip to Japan is complete without trying the Japanese whiskey as they are starting to get pretty good at it.

Plan Your Ski Trip To Japan!

This is a perfect opportunity to enjoy everything that Japan has to offer and the endless powder on one of our 10-day Japan Ski trips. Our team takes all the planning and stress out of your trip by including airport transfers, all accommodations at our partner hotels where we can pass on the savings to you, all lift tickets, 2 LGA Guides, all ski/resort transportation, all breakfast, 2 group dinners, and trips to local onsens.

Our guides have over 20 yrs experience guiding through Japan and we know the best spots. We also have access to areas that many other do not so you won’t be skiing over other people’s tracks. Our guides love skiing powder and have spent countless hours dialing both inbound and the out-of-bounds terrain.

Hopefully, the decision will be easy – as airfare prices are at some of the lowest in years. It’s great to enjoy the winter at your home resort or maybe take a ski trip out west with your friends, but there is always that one trip every year that you will remember. Most of these trips come from skiing deep snow and exploring new areas that you may not have heard of before or finally going to that far off destination that you have seen countless videos and pictures of deep blower powder from.

Don’t wait another year, grab your friends, pack your skis, as our Le Grand Adventure Tours Japan ski trip is calling! 

Have You Ever Thought About Booking a Guided Mountain Bike Adventure?

Does this describe you?

• Passionate mountain biker
• Love exploring new trails around the world
• Enjoy learning new skills
• Love meeting new people with similar interests

Yes? Then a guided mountain bike trip is exactly what you need. Does your dream vacation involve two wheels and perfect single track? If so, then here are 5 Reasons to Book Guided Mountain Bike Adventures:

1. Ease of Travel

No need to worry about bike rentals if you don’t want to bring your bike. Don’t worry about getting lost on the trail or route finding in a new area. We know the best local transportation, places to eat and places to stay. Our guided all inclusive mountain bike trip allow you to do one thing, ride your bike!

• A true mountain bike tour company will provide:
• airport transfers
• the best local healthy meals
• comfortable accommodations
• access to quality bike rentals
• offer mountain bike skills & instruction
• bike assembly (arrival & departure)
• minor tune-ups while riding and bike maintenance during the trip

4. New Skills and Techniques

With the sport of mountain biking constantly changing, it’s important to keep up to date on the latest trends. Guides know the newest gear, techniques and set ups to help you dial in your riding. The best way to learn new mountain bike skills is to learn from other riders and certified guides. Joining a guided mountain bike trip will give you the time, focus and new riding partners to gain confidence to step out of your normal comfort zone to learn new skills. The best guided trips will include:

• instruction
• route finding techniques
• skills development and
• ongoing trail-side instruction

5. A True Biking Vacation!

Booking a guided mountain bike trip will allow you to not worry about the logistics of local travel, learning new trails from some random internet source, piecing together dozens of segments to make one ride, and allowing you to live in the moment to truly escape from the events. Guided bike trips allow you to not have to worry about planning the next day’s itinerary, where to stay, eat, or worst case-getting lost.

All you will have to do is:

• ride your bike
• laugh a lot
• relive your videos and pictures from the day
• share your memorable moments
• reminisce about the heart-pumping singletrack over a cold beverage and wanting to ride more the next day!

Get out and explore…

Now that you have checked out the 5 Reasons to Book Guided Mountain Bike Adventures…Check out our Multi-Day Mountain Bike Adventure Trip to Davos & St. Moritz, Switzerland. If you’re looking for one day of riding, check out our Santa Cruz, Ca Mountain Bike Day Tour. More trips being announced soon…

SKIING THE SWISS ANGEL-ENGELBERG, SWITZERLAND
PUBLISHED BY • LGA BLOG | WORDS & PHOTOS • Jeff Robertson

Over the last 16 years of traveling to the Alps for ski trips, there has only been a couple of places that have really stood out to me. Each resort has its own unique character, culture, and history but certain locations just have something special that you can feel as soon as you pull into the valley. La Grave, Chamonix, St Anton, the Dolomites and for me Engelberg.

I remember the very first time I arrived in Engelberg and the feeling that overcame my senses. The beauty, power and pristine mountains such as Hanen, the Gross Spannort and Titlis Mountains were incredibly captivating. You could feel the buzz of energy in town from the skiers who just came down off the mountain after an exhilarating powder day. The smiles, high fives and the overwhelming sense of joy that only a powder skier knows. All I could do was stare up at the infamous Laub with awe and daydream of what tomorrow would bring. Gazing upon the 4,000’ foot descent gleaming with fresh powder, one has to think is this real? Yes, it is. After visiting Engelberg for the last 5 years, I am still overcome with this feeling every time I arrive in the valley by train.

Engelberg History

The history of Engelberg dates back to the early 1100’s when a member of the Swiss aristocracy, Blessed Konrad, Count of Sellenbüeren, was lead to the valley with his Ox looking to lay his roots for a divine passage to Heaven by building a monastery. This monastery eventually became the Engelberg Abbey that one can still visit to this today. Upon arrival to the valley, he noticed a group of Cherubs on the summit of Hanen Mountain and happily named the area “Angels Mountain” which would eventually become “Engelberg”.

The Trubsee area had been used before this time for its resources but the birth of a new mountain village was born. Over the next few hundred years, Engelberg would be known through the country for the educational quality at the Benedictine monastery and as a major trade destination. In roughly 1850, the area became an international vacation resort. The healing properties of the fresh clean air, the altitude, and mineral springs quickly grew as a hotspot for Swiss and British tourist alike.

As Engelberg competed with the likes of St Moritz, Davos, and St Anton for a top winter destination, the area took its own path. Families like Hess, Odermatt, and Cattani where pioneers of tourism building some of the well known hotels that still stand in the valley- the Hotel Titlis and the Hotel Trubsee for mountaineers.

Around the late 1880’s the first hydroelectric plant was built bringing power to the famed resort well before Zurich. Shortly after, the longest running electric railway in the world was developed which marked another milestone for this small quiet mountain town. Generations later, one of the Hess family members built the first licensed aerial cableway in Switzerland, which spanned from Gerschnialp to Trübsee. The tramway continued to carry skiers until 1984. Truly incredible feats that not many resorts can match.