GstaadLife

 
The winter season is now basically over - just the Glacier hangs on as even Saanenmöser had to close before its scheduled date. But already we have the sight of the first spring gondolas running up the mountains for the summer season. Eggli - yes Eggli! is open between April 21 and June 26, Thursday thru Sunday between 9h00 and 16h30. The restaurant will also be open so you can once again enjoy Oberson's cuisine in summer. Gstaad Mountain Rides is also planning to open Eggli in the autumn from October 13 to November 13. The other mountain which is opening for the summer season is the Rellerli (did they even have a winter season?). Between April 23 until May 25 they'll keep a light schedule from Saturday thru Wednesday between 9h00 and 16h30. From May 25 on, the gondola will run daily until October 12.

Here are the cable car closing dates for the 2010/11 winter season in Gstaad-Saanenland:

Glacier 3000 Pillon, May 8
Glacier 3000 Reusch, already closed March 20 except for weekends in April
Rinderberg, April 3
Saanerslochgrat/Hornberg, April 25
Horneggli, April 25
Rellerli, closed back on February 27 (was it actually open this was season?)
Wispile Gondelbahn, already closed on March 6 
Eggli-Videmanette, March 27

closed La Braye
closed Skilift Lauenen
closed Skilift Gsteig
closed Lengebrand / Parwengesattel
closed Wispile Rütti and Zückerli
closed Wasserngrat

We hope you enjoyed your season and if empty slopes are your thing, now is the time!

 
From February 8 to March 8 the mountain restaurant on Eggli is opening its doors on Tuesday evenings. Season tickets and day passes are valid to get up but there is no official night skiing or sledging. So if you have always fancied going up a mountain in a gondola at night for a special dinner then this is your chance.

 
It's in the shade pretty much all day right now but the new base station of La Videmanette in Rougemont shines by itself. The station looks great, the small bar in the Overlap rental area is simple but nice, the new gondolas are super-quick, and with their floor to ceiling glass cabins, the ride up feels like being on a magic carpet. If you've not skied this side for a while, its time for another look. Connect over with the new chairlift from the Eggli and make a morning of it -- it's much better than the Rinderberg Ronda, which has anyway been closed most of this year.

Dear GstaadLife.com readers,

I enjoyed Taki's outrageous article.Thank you!
I came across this small story about my stepfather, Harold Walker who lived with my mother in Gstaad for many years.

Chas Cochand

Once upon a time there was a very gentle old gentleman named Harold. He loved bow-wows, especially airedales, and once when he was on holiday in the village of Gstaad, in the mountains of Switzerland he took a walk. While he was on his walk he was joined by a red setter that he'd never seen before. Harold was delighted to have some company on his walk, especially a bow-wow.

 
Last Thursday December 23 2010, just five months after the start of the construction (and many, many helicopter runs up and down the mountain), the new gondola to La Videmanette was inaugurated.

 
The night skiing runs are open again. Wispile Zückerli & Rütti is open (weather permiting) from 19h00 to 21h30 on Wednesday December 29, January 12, 19, 26, February 2, 9, 16, 23, and March 2. Prices are SFr 10 for adults. Rinderberg is open from 18h00 to 21h30 on December 29, February 4, 11, 18, and 25. So if you could not make it during the day - enjoy a night run!

 
They are still building hard, the helicopters are still flying up and down the Videmanette but here's an architectural rendering of the new Overlap Sports shop which is scheduled to open on December 23 in the new Videmanette base station. Looks very cool - real photos to follow when it opens.

The time has come and the snow is here in abundance. Here are the opening dates for the skilifts in and around Gstaad-Saanenland:

1.12.10 Saanerslochgrat-Hornberg-Horneggli
11.12.10 Gstaad-Wasserngrat
11.12.10 Château-d‘Oex-La Braye
18.12.10 Zweisimmen-Rinderberg
18.12.10 St. Stephan-Parwengesattel
18.12.10 Gstaad-Eggli
18.12.10 Lauenen
22.12.10 Schönried-Rellerli
22.12.10 Gstaad-Wispile (Skilift Rütti from 18.12.10)
22.12.10 Gsteig
23.12.10 Rougemont-La Videmanette (could change)

Check the maps and webcams before you go as these things are subject to change in the early-season.