epic europe | a year in the life - 2014
DESCRIPTION
Follow us through 2014 - what we saw, where we went, what we did, and what inspired us in the Alps and beyond. The never-ending search for new experiences in the historic birthplace of adventure travel.TRANSCRIPT
16/12/13 MARKTPLATZ BASEL 3:30 PM
Low December light on the Rathaus Basel (1501), appropriately adorned for the hol-iday season and the Basler Weihnachts-markt, the largest (and most traditional) Christmas Market in Switzerland
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22/12/13 “HOME” BRUSON
1350M7:00 PM
Decorating Christmas cookies with our fa-vorite little elves. Some new cookie cutters from the Basler Weihnachtsmarkt featuring colorful skiers.
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07/01/14 LA PASAY BRUSON
2000M
8:45 AMAn empty ski resort in the back yard of Epic Europe’s offices. Lunchtime lift line laps bereft of holiday season crowds.
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10/01/14 ROTE-NASE
ZERMATT 3247M
10:05 AM
Catching a pre-season ride on a closed-to-the-public ski lift, courtesy of UIAGM guide Fabi Lauber and Zermatt ski patrol. Thanks for the first powder turns of the season!
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14/01/14 VALLON D’ARBI 2600M
10:30 AM
Dropping into one of our favorite off-piste tree runs in a valley that leads to the resort village of La Tzoumaz, which connects back to Verbier via Savoleyres. Great for visibility on storm days, you can always find an untracked lane of powder here.
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29/01/14FIERA DI SANT
ORSO, AOSTA ITALY
583M
5:05 PM
For over 1000 years, the Fiera di Sant Orso has brought together the artisanal wood-workers of the Valle d’Aosta to sell their wares. Traditional tools, decorative arts, and utilitarian pieces exhibit the mas-tery of their trade.
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09/02/14ROTHORN, ZERMATT
3100M2:05 PM
A sea of clouds envelops the Mattertal, the valley where the village of Zermatt sits be-low. While town sat frozen in the fog, we enjoyed crystal-clear views stretching to Mont Blanc to the west, and all the way to the Mediterranean to the south.
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11/02/14SCHWARZSEE
TREES, ZERMATT
2350M
12:05 PM
Following an overnight snowfall, the glad-ed forest below Schwarzsee offers the deepest protected powder runs, and a sunny terrace at Stafelalp restaurant for lunch and to admire your tracks under the Matterhorn.
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18/02/14MONDZEU, VERBIER
1612M10:27 PM
Walking home from a dinner with guests, amid a massive snowstorm. This neighbor-hood is home to some of the most beautiful authentic chalets in the village, and ex-tremely difficult to access during the snowiest winters.
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26/02/14 PETIT COMBIN 3671M 9:27 AM
Flying across the Val de Bagnes for a heliskiing drop on the Petit Combin, the crown jewel of the region. After recent storms, the promise of the day was palpa-ble, and conditions were perfect.
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03/03/14 CAROUGE, GENEVA
375M
10:00 AM
In the atelier of artisanal chocolatier Philippe Pascouet, outrageous flavor pro-files are combined in true gastronomic wiz-ardry. Passionfruit, chile, saffron, absinthe and green apple-caramel were some of our favorites.
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12/03/14 COMBIN DE CORBASSIÈRE
2850M
10:50 AM
Looking back at our turns from the heli-drop on the Petit Combin, in flawless powder snow.
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12/03/14GLACIER DE
CORBASSIÈRE 2641M
11:10 AM
After a descent from the Petit Combin, the long traverse across the glacier terminates at the tongue, which offers passage through a tenuous ice bridge. The base of these glaciers offers a daily lesson on how much they have receded in our time alone.
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25/03/14THEODULPASS
CERVINIA 3300M
12:25 PM
Descending from the Swiss-Italian border, the resort of Cervinia on the southern side of the pass is prone to sunny days while Zermatt sits in the clouds - which is great on a day where the previous saw a big storm in Cervinia while Zermatt had sunshine.
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25/03/14 THEOUDULPASS CERVINIA
3300M10:00 AM
Another surprise snowstorm under the darkness of night caught everyone else off-guard, but our guides know how to deci-pher the trickiest weather and snow reports. We lapped this run 3 times before seeing another set of tracks other than our own.
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01/04/14 MONT ROISETTA VALTOURNENCHE
3334M10:30 AM
A late-season heli-drop on the Italian side, for a long corn-skiing descent to the village of Valtournenche. When conditions are just right, spring snow, or firnschnee as our Zermatt guides call it, is as effortless and fun to ski as the deepest powder.
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02/04/14 RESTARURANT HEIMBERG
1608M7:00 PM
Housed in a historic building in the center of Zermatt, reimagined in the style of artist Heinz Julen, Heimberg offers innovative molecular gastronomy with a local Alpine twist. recently-awarded a Michelin star, they push the perception of rustic cuisine to new levels.
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27/04/14COMBAT DES
REINES, LE CHÂBLE
800M
2:00 PM
The grand finale of the Combat des Reines, the annual competition to determine the “queen of the herd” of local Hérens cows in the Valais region. The fight is over when one cow defers to another in a battle of shoving to prove dominance.
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26/04/14 TESTA GRIGIA, CERVINIA
3400M11:00 AM
Just when you think that ski season is over, a late-season storm delivers an inexplica-ble blanket of snow at the upper altitudes. And of course our favorite stash leads right into a hearty Italian lunch - on a sunny ter-race, in short sleeves and sunglasses.
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20/04/14PARC DES
EAUX-VIVES, GENEVA
375M
2:00 PM
Easter Sunday in Geneva, with spring well on its way - a welcome break from the still-changing seasons in the mountains. A long lunch with friends and family, followed by a lazy afternoon in the park.
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07/05/14 FROMAGERIE DE VERBIER
1475M2:00 PM
In the cave of the local Verbier cheese-makers, whose “Bagnes” Raclette cheese is award-winning and a source of local pride. Here, our local star guide Nancy shows us where the magic happens.
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11/05/14TEATRO ROMANO
AOSTA, ITALY 583M
11:45 AM
Once a key Roman city, Aosta was their main settlement just along the southern or-der of the Alps, at the foot of what would become known as the Grand St. Bernard Pass. The theatre ruins are well-preserved, and still used for summer performances.
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15/05/14 MAISON CAILLER, BROC
720M10:00 AM
Home of Cailller Chocolatier, this is a true Willy Wonka-experience for all age guests. From the factory tour to private chocolate-making ateliers, this is one of Switzerland’s most popular attractions, for good reason.
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17/05/14HOTEL BELLEVUE,
COGNE 1534M
7:00 PM
Deep under the magnificent Hotel Bellevue in Gran Paradiso national park is a magi-cal room where they age the finest Italian cheeses. While the Reggiano may be front-and-center, the local Fontina and Castel-magno are our favorites.
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01/06/14 LEITZIGRUND, ZURICH
411M10:00 PM
When the world’s greatest rock n’ roll band comes to Switzerland, there’s no way we are going to miss the show. Here, gui-tarist Keith Richards takes the spotlight from his bandmate for a soulful solo.
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15/06/14 MEIDPASS, TURTMANTAL
2790M12:30 PM
An early summer traverse from the Val d’Anniviers to the Turtmantal with fresh snow. Guests and black faced sheep re-treat to the green grass and the valley be-low.
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02/06/14 CONFISERIE SPRÜNGLI,
ZURICH 411M
3:00 PM
Located in the Paradeplatz of Zurich, in the heart of the financial disctrict, Sprüngli’s flagship shop and café serves decadent desserts all day to Zürich’s power-brokers and well-heeled matrons alike. This was the most outrageous chocolate dessert ever.
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24/06/14 HOTEL BAREN, GSTEIG 5:00 PM
The Hotel Bären, at the foot of the Pillon Pass, typifies the classic Saanenland archi-tecture, with ornate carvings and design on even the most simple farmhouses.
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25/06/14 CASA BATLLÓ BARCELONA
12M7:00 PM
One of the best things about where we live is the access to world-class culture across Europe, only a quick flight or train ride away. We took a weekend trip to Barcelona, which left us energized and invigorated by the art, history, and cuisine.
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27/06/14 LES PLANARDS, VERBIER
1930M6:00 PM
Fête des Bergers, a celebration modeled after the Unspunnenfest, an historic festival featuring alpine costumes, music competi-tions & traditions like flag throwing, Swiss wrestling and boulder tossing.
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27/06/14LES PLANARDS,
VERBIER 1930M
6:00 PM
Team Filles de Epic Europe, post fête. Not a bad day at the office, hosting an alpine celebration in a verdant green pasture. Raclette, Valais Wine, Morand Liquors, Alp Horn, Lederhosen & St. Bernards - we love what we do!
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30/06/14 AUGSTBORD PASS 2894M
2:55PM
The first alpine flowers of the summer, en-joyed in a passing moment before a rapid escape from an impending thundershower. The summer showers kept the Alps impos-sibly green this year.
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05/07/14 GÉRONDE SIERRE 608M
5:30 PM
Géronde overlooking the Rhone Valley was home to a neolithic settlement. Today a modern autoroute bypasses via tunnel underneath, and the hillside is shared be-tween the renowned Rouvinez vines and a Roman Catholic Monastery.
date: location: time:
16/07/14 LE TSARTSEY 2010M
11:30 AM
High in the Vallon de Réchy, a secret valley in the Valais, lies a unique alpine alpage. One of the most remote places in Switzer-land, not to worry it is stocked with plenty of wood, wine & cheese. Just don’t forget your Subaru Forester.
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17/07/14LES SIÉS,
MAYENS DE SARREYER
1774M
8:00 PM
Summer sunset at a mountain cabin in Val de Bagnes. Grand & Petit Combins in sight, a glass of Fendant in the hand, and the smell of Raclette au feu de bois. Life could not be better.
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03/08/14 ROUGEMENT, SAANENLAND
1007M3:45 PM
Gstaad has the reputation of only being a playground for the rich and royal. What truly makes the Saanenland so special is the seamless integration of modern luxuries into the bucolic agricultural society, un-changed for centuries.
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12/08/14 STELLISEE ZERMATT
2537M2:00 PM
High above the Mattertal the Stellisee holds perfect reflections of the Matterhorn, as well as Rainbow Trout should you be lucky enough to catch one. We love the 3 lakes tour en route to the best Rösti in Switzerland at Berghotel Fluhalp.
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15/08/14 ZERMATT, SWITZERLAND
1608M4:25 PM
Every year on the 2nd weekend of August, the streets of Zermatt come alive with the annual Folklore Festival. 1,200 participants from all across Switzerland show off their regional traditions, music, dance and col-orful costumes.
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20/08/14 OBERBORT, GSTAAD 1200M
8:00 AM
The prestigious neighborhood of Oberbort above the 5* Gstaad Palace, home to roy-als, oligarchs, and the uber-rich still har-bors the occasional fairytale soul chalet, complete with Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.
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23/08/14RIFUGIO BONATTI,
VAL FERRET, IT 2025M
7:00 PM
A short hike from the Italian Val Ferret, in the shadow of the Grandes Jorasses, along a perfectly-buffed trail. A few days later, the athletes of the Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc would run 150km around the Alps’ tallest peak, but tonight the trail was just ours.
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08/09/14 FINDELN, ZERMATT
2050M3:15 PM
Post-lunch descent to Zermatt from Chez Vrony on a most perfect day. Once a “Maiensäss", an alpine farm, today Find-eln is home to some of the best on-moun-tain restaurants in the world.
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15/09/14CHÂTEAU CHILLON, VEYTAUX
375M
5:00 PM
For hundreds of years, the passage of ships on Lac Leman and the important land route to the St. Bernhard Pass & Italy was controlled from this island. Inhabited even in prehistoric times, the present day struc-ture dates from the 10th century.
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17/09/14EIGER NORTH
WALL, JUNGFRAU
1846M
1:00 PM
Our friendly co-hikers frequently met around the Eiger. They invited us to a lunch of local specialties (fondue, raclette, Bern-er Hobelkäse) at a mountain restaurant next to their summer house.
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05/10/14 VAL FERRET, ITALY 2025M
7:00 PM
Room with a view, looking across the Ital-ian Val Ferret towards the Grandes Jorass-es & the Glacier de Frébouge, left us won-dering what it would have been like to in-habit these small stone barns, and just how far the ice has receded.
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11/10/14LES
SCHLÉRONDES, VERBIER
1977M
1:00 PM
Lunch break; at Epic Europe we believe the best path to inspiration & productivity is getting out of the office and enjoying the incredible landscape that surrounds us. Lunch at Nancy’s mayen on a warm Octo-ber day works magic!
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16/10/14 MONT CHEMIN 1607M
4:30 PM
Riding the myriad trails above the old Ro-man town of Martigny, at the foot of 2 mountain passes and the gateway to the Rhône valley and Lac Leman, one can’t help but feel that these trails have seen many travelers before us.
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26/10/14TELECABINE VERBIER - LE
CHÂBLE 821M
4:10 PM
Last bike lift of the summer season, with the grass still green and little snow in the mountains its hard to believe we will be skiing soon. The soft grazing meadows, cleared of rocks for centuries, are a per-fect base for early season powder runs.
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01/11/14 COL DE MILLE, ENTREMONT
2572M12:00 PM
Enjoying the endless summer, fall colors and autumnal light. Mountain biking on a balcony trail at 2’500m with view of Mont Blanc and the Trient massif.
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02/11/14 CHAMOSON, RHONE VALLEY
622M11:15 AM
Summer arrived late in the Alps this year and stuck around almost until winter. The peak foliage in the vines of the Swiss Rhone Valley was not until early No-vember; 2 days later, it snowed and the golden colors faded until next fall.
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07/11/14 EPIC EUROPE HQ, BRUSON
1330M5:00 PM
Putting the finishing touches on our all-new website and journal platform, which repre-sents the past 15 years’ worth of travels, research, and exploration, to design the ultimate bespoke trips in the Alps.
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07/12/14CAS CABANE
DU MONT FORT, VERBIER
2547M
1:40 PM
An early-season ski tour past the Swiss Alpine Club Cabane du Mont Fort in mysti-cal light. The low light and inherent shad-ows of December create a special am-biance we wish could last all winter.
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17/12/14BOUTIQUE TAG
HEUER, ZERMATT
1608M
6:45 PM
We threw the opening party for the new TAG Heuer / Zenith boutique in Zermatt, celebrating several icons of Switzerland - watchmaking and alpine culture on the busy Bahnhofstrasse.
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19/12/14 THEODULPASS, CERVINIA
3296M10:30 AM
While the Alps were off to a slow start in early winter, the Italian side of the Matter-horn seemed to be where to find the best snow. Before the Christmas rush, we worked out the rust and carved some turns on the sunny side of the Matterhorn.
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24/12/14 ST NIKLAUS, MATTERTAL
1110M8:00 PM
In the little village below Zermatt named for St Niklaus, you find quite possibly the largest Saint Nick in the world. Each De-cember, their Roman Catholic church tower is cloaked in a giant costume visible for miles.
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27/12/14EPIC EUROPE
HQ, BRUSON
1455M
2:00 PM
This year we learned the meaning of Box-ing Day, when traditionally gifts were giv-en to the poor. Finally we got some much-needed snow in the Alps, the priceless gift appreciated by all skiers alike.
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30/12/14AUX PETITS
GOURMANDS, CHAMONIX
1033M
8:45 AM
Our top pick for sweet confections when in Chamonix, from the mountains of meringues and rainbow macarons, to the miniature chocolate Mont Blanc’s, home-made ice creams and dozens of different baguettes, you will not go for want!
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29/03/14STAFELALP, ZERMATT
2546M2:35 PM
(On the cover) Skiing some Swiss “cream cheese” under the Matterhorn. While look-ing for spring corn snow, the open bowls below the Hörnlihütte revealed soft pow-der all the way to lunch at Stafelalp.
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Epic Europe specializes in providing singular bespoke travel experiences for small private groups in the historic epicenters of adventure in the Swiss Alps and beyond.
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