CMSC - Europe 2025 review

Trips In Review: Europe 2025

Andermatt / Lucerne Switzerland

January 24 – February 5, 2025 - Steve Patzer, trip leader

Andermatt

Twenty-four people from eight clubs traveled to Andermatt. Our group stayed at the four-star Radisson Blu Hotel Reussen. We were treated to the modern amenities offered by the contemporary hotel. Many people picked up their lift tickets and ski rentals before joining our group for a welcome reception with beer, wine, and appetizers in the lounge area around a circular fireplace next to the hotel bar. Epic pass holders were able to obtain their local passes with only a CHF 50 fee to use the Swiss rail system connecting the base areas of Andermatt, Sedrun, Dieni, and Disentis.

Skiers experienced a couple of days of low visibility, flat-light conditions that provided additional challenges to negotiate the terrain. Some members took a day off from skiing at this time to explore the base villages including Sedrun and Disentis for food, drink, and hiking opportunities. All ski areas were easily accessed by train, bus, and gondola for our adventures.

Dinner was served promptly after the welcome reception in the hotel’s dining room. The quality of the food and service were excellent each night. Some people took advantage of the many amenities at the hotel including a 25m pool, a large fitness area, a sauna, and a steam bath. The town has a nice variety of bars, shops, and restaurants.

The first ski day offered powder conditions, soft moguls, and a great bluebird ski day. Adventurous skiers ventured to Gemsstock for steep and deep runs including off-piste trails accessible by surface lifts. Other members experienced the conditions at the Oberalp Pass with its sequence of chair lifts to facilitate crossing the pass on the way to the base area of Dieni. Rewards for skiing the area near the Andermatt gondola or returning from a day on the Oberalp Pass were the on-mountain ski huts that offered refreshments with beautiful scenery to cap a fun day of skiing.

The dinners offered a good variety of appetizers, soups, entrees, and desserts with options for vegetarian and fish entrees. Breakfast buffets offered a wide variety of hot and cold options.

Lucerne (extension)

We gathered early on Saturday morning for the one-hour bus ride to Lucerne. Our hotel was the three-star Ibis Styles, although we arrived earlier than our 4 pm check-in time which required us to store our bags in a meeting room prior to check-in. Many people chose to explore the city and stop for lunch prior to check-in. The Old Town city center was conveniently located within a five- to ten-minute walk from our hotel.

We were treated to a two-hour walking city tour of Lucerne on Sunday morning that featured many of the city highlights. Lucerne attractions include the Chapel Bridge, the

Lion Monument, the Musegg Wall, Old Town, the Jesuit church, the Hotel Gütsch, and a wide variety of museums, restaurants, and shops. A trip to Mt. Rigi offered the opportunity for a boat ride on Lake Lucerne before catching a train which took us to the summit where skiing was offered along with scenic overlooks of the numerous mountains. Hiking was necessary to visit the highest terrain in the area. The Mt. Pilatus day trip required transportation by bus, gondola, and tram to reach the summit. The facilities at the summit of Mt.

Pilatus included a catwalk with scenic views of the surrounding terrain. Other attractions at the summit included a terrace with a panoramic view of distant mountain ranges including the Eiger at Grindelwald, a gift shop, a restaurant, a museum, and a hotel.

Andermatt and Lucerne were fun, new locations for the group that offered a wide variety of terrain and scenery to entertain us.