Club cross country ski trip to Pontresina, Switzerland

Saturday 3 to Saturday 10 February 2024

Tip status at 21/8

Trip confirmed, places available.  Good, reasonably priced accommodation in Pontresina may be in short supply.

About this trip

Based in Pontresina, this trip aims to to explore the varied tracks in the Engadine Valley, one of the best areas for cross country skiing in Switzerland: 

• the area is one of the most snow sure in Europe - the valley is at 1700m with the tracks going up to 2000m;
• there are restaurants and cafes at key points on the tracks;
• this is a recreational trip without coaching, although there is a local ski school if needed;
• temperatures are typically -5C to -10C during the day, with sunrise at approx 0800 and sunset 1700.

You book your own flights and transfer, coordinate with the organiser re accommodation and meet up daily with other members to explore the area. 

Who the trip is for

It’s open to all LRNSC members, and those wishing to join the club. You must have a reasonable level of fitness and be a competent skier, with the ability to make a controlled descent downhill.

There are large areas of mostly flat terrain reachable without difficulty from Pontresina, together with valley runs involving only gradual height gain, so skiing can be tailored to suit.  If the number attending is as expected, there should be scope for slower and faster groups, each choosing tours well within their capabilities but any novices in the slower group should be capable of skiing safely without formal supervision.

We’ll decide on groups daily according to conditions and preferences. The organiser knows the track system and town having visited several times and can advise.

About Pontresina/the Engadine valley

There are around 220 km of cross-country skiing trails, most runs are linear not circular. These are the main trails - see this map for more detail:

• Main Engadine valley floor (SW) – Maloja to St Moritz Bad = mostly flat, including 3 frozen lakes
• Main Engadine valley floor (NE) – Pontresina to Celerina / San Gian, Samedan Golf, then the Marathon loipe past Samedan airport to Zuoz, Zernez = mostly flat
• Staz Forest (restaurant by Staz lake) – a link track from Pontresina/Celerina up, across and down to St Moritz Bad, then up into the forest again and down to Surlej = very hilly, great fun but not always open/pisted. A bus will be necessary to access the SW lakes area if this is closed, as there are no tracks along the main valley floor connecting with St Moritz.
• Val Roseg – valley run up to restaurant = gradual height gain. Twisty, narrow in parts but no real difficulties.
• Val Morteratsch – easy valley run up to restaurant, then on to the edge of a glacier with impressive views of Piz Bernina (4000m). Has markers showing glacial retreat down the years = gradual height gain.
• Val Bever – just beyond Bever, easy valley run. = slight height gain. Restaurant at top of valley.

Town map [scroll down to the PDF] tourist office at E10 on map.
Local bus (free to skiers) lines 1&2 run down the main street.
Ski hire – Bernina Sport (Via Da la Staziun – G11) is an excellent place to hire and the Cross Country Centre by the Railway station (H10) does hire, plus some ski shops on the main street Via Maistra.

Other activities for non-cross country skiing partners: downhill skiing in the St Moritz area, an extensive network of winter hiking trails, snowshoeing. Hikers can explore the wider area by train on the line south from Pontresina at Morteratsch and Diavolezza. The latter is also served by buses.

Transport

Fly to Zurich and transfer by train to Pontresina.
Best flights to Zurich:  07.35 BA arriving 10.20 or 08.50 SWISS arriving 11.45
There 6 other possible flights from Heathrow, as well as direct flights daily from LCY/LGW.

Transfer to Pontresina Rail Station - if you arrive by 13.15 it’s possible to get a train no later than 14.15 and arrive in time for dinner.

Trains 15 mins past the hour from Zurich airport (train station directly below the terminal, 10-15 mins from baggage reclaim). Train goes via Zurich HB, Chur and Samedan. Total journey time 3 hours 45 mins. Get tickets at www.sbb.ch, or at the station.

Alternative trains via Landquart, Klosters take slightly longer.

For the return journey, leaving Pontresina on the 09.02 train means airport arrival at 12.44, allowing plenty of choices of flights from 15.00 onwards. Return trains are hourly.

Alternatively – direct flight to Innsbruck, hire a car for the 2 ¾ hours drive to Pontresina, via Landeck and a low pass which is generally kept open. Public transport from Innsbruck is complex, involving 3 buses and 2 trains, taking well over 4 hours.

Accommodation

Hotel options [April 23 exchange rate 1.13 CHF:£]
Pontresina is a small resort and popular with downhill skiers as a more affordable alternative to St Moritz, so it does get booked up by the spring/summer - hence we have taken the precaution of reserving the following rooms :
3 star hotel Hotel Bernina (No. 11 on the town map)
6 single ensuite rooms at 135 CHF/pp night B&B
2 double ensuite rooms at 220 CHF/night B&B for 2. (110CHF pp) Half Board is 38 CHF/ day extra pp.
The Bernina require 1/3 deposit payment by 30 Sept.
Additional rooms are currently available on request – contact the organiser.

Hotel Steinbock (No.17)
1 twin ensuite room at 305 CHF/night B&B for 2 (153.50 CHF pp).

Schweizerhof Hotel (No.15) 
Two participants have already booked this.  You would need to enquire if other rooms are available. Twin ensuite room at 250 CHF/night B&B for 2 (125CHF pp) Half board 42 CHF/day

As these hotels get booked up, or offer only premium rooms, it may be necessary to use others.

A search on www.engadin.ch (select Pontresina) is the best way to see what is available - there are approx 14 other hotels, but many of these are more expensive. In some cases Booking.com may be cheaper and worth checking. The organiser is happy to advise on hotel choice if needed.

Apartment option: Choice of self catering apartments for 1 person and upwards. booked via www.engadin.ch (select Pontresina).  Approx cost 700-1200 CHF per week for 1-2 bedrooms. Most rent Sat to Sat. This is the most economical option for anyone sharing, with significant savings possible if self catering. Bear in mind there is only one real supermarket, on Via Da Mulin (F13) but buses do run down the main street Via Maistra, so renting at the other end of town is viable.

As we will likely be spread across a number of accommodations we will meet up after dinner for a drink at a central location and socialise/plan the next day’s activities, even if we eat separately.

Wherever you stay in town you will be close to the ski track system, as there are many access points – including F11 by the N end of the bridge, others at F2, F6, F14, and at the Cross Country Centre by the rail station (H10).There’s a large practice area 200m N of the Cross Country Centre where we can meet up each morning which takes a few mins to ski to from any access point (longer from F14 which is hilly) - and is well away from the ski school's own practice area, right in front of the Centre.

Other Expenses to budget for

30 CHF for a weekly trail pass, online or at the Cross Country Centre. Ski hire if needed.  

Covid-19 Rules

The trip will be run in accordance with English and Swiss regulations and guidance in force at the time.

Medical/travel insurance

Everyone on the trip is recommended to have their own travel insurance policy. For medical treatment you are recommended to take either your EHIC card (these remain valid unless expired), or the new GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card) issued by Gov.uk.

What to do next

As sufficient members have signed up the decision has been made to proceed with this trip.  As good, reasonably priced accommodation gets booked quickly in Pontresina, any additional members interested in joining us should contact the organiser or register your interest via this form as soon as possible. 

NB If you are interested in the Hotel Bernina, please check with the organiser before making any bookings.

For most hotels free cancellation is available but deposits (typically 25%) are required for apartments. Flights are not an issue, given the large number of options into Zurich and train capacity is ample.

Any questions?

Please contact the Greg Clack the organiser.

Photos by Greg Clack