Best laid plans and The Laub!

Unfortunately, my ski plans for the next fortnight have been forced to change -meaning won't be able to visit Laax or Lenzerheide :cry: the week after next. Just left with a six-day trip to Arosa instead. :lol:

And as some compensation, have booked a five dayer break to Engelberg early march (hotel through the J2 service). I'd like to do the famous/infamous Laub this time (conditions have always been marginal before). :lol:

Can any J2er give me a realistic assessment of its difficulties/tips etc? Thank you.

I haven't done it, but have looked at it many times. The times it looked good to do and I had the right equipment with me the Avalanche risk was "Considerable" and I had been "freeriding" with guides previously in the resort who did not take us down that run on the same Avalanche risk so I wasn't going to chance it the times it looked good. It was totally tracked out anytime I've been there when the Avalanche risk was down lower. :-(

I know quite a few people that have ridden it and they all loved it. I've had friends call me at the bottom giving me the usual "you should be here" call on a few occasions too. :-/ It is one of the classic "freeride" runs in a resort that is internationally known for "freerding". In my opinion the pistes in Engelberg leave a lot to be desired, but the off-piste can be superb.

If you are interested in checking out some of the other runs in the area you can get in touch with the guys at www.rockandpowder.ch Their website is only in German but I think they do speak English. They do "Powder Days" on the first sunny day after every snowfall and quite often use Engelberg as the area. I've been on a few of the "powder days" and done Avalanche courses with them and they know what they are talking about. They fit every client out with an ABS rucksack before taking them out and are very safety conscious.

Hi there,

I run Ski Lodge Engelberg in the village and have done Laub at least 100 times - so here is my review:

Laub is probably one of the easier of the famous off-piste routes in the Alps. There are (almost) no cliffs or dangers, and the avalanche risk is kept relatively low because it gets tracked out between every snowfall. That said, it does release a couple of times each season - and almost always on the roll-overs or colouirs on the skier's left side. I have never seen it release on skier's right in 7-8 winters.

The access is super-easy, just 2 minutes of walking/traversing from the lift.

So for a first time, use a mountain guide or try to catch up with some locals who know there way around. At the top, go down the central chute for about 200 metres, then it opens up and you can go as fast as your legs allow. At the end, keep in the central run-out or to the right where the bushes aren't so bad. End up at Café Ritz, take the bus back for 1 Franc and head down to the Ski Lodge for a beer after your 5th Laub :)

Here is the first half filmed with me holding a pocket camera in my hand: http://www.vimeo.com/8554993 First tracks after about 20 cms of new snow.

Thank you, gentlemen. Most interesting and inspirational - looks like we'll have to do it.

Eric: looked at the Ski Lodge, but sadly you had no rooms for the dates we wanted. Full up with lots of Swedes, I expect! :)

is there a choice of guide companies in Engelberg? I've looked at the tourist office website and that was not terribly helpful!

eric@skilodge welcome to j2ski 8) Your place is pretty chic :thumbup:

Last time I was in the resort, the Laub was "shut" (not enough snow!)

bandit wrote:eric@skilodge welcome to j2ski 8) Your place is pretty chic :thumbup:

Last time I was in the resort, the Laub was "shut" (not enough snow!)

I could be wrong, but I was under the impression that the Laub was never "officially open" Its not marked on the piste map as a freeride route so you are officially going "out of bounds" any time you are going down it. Its the same with the Steinberg run under Titlis, to do it you pass under the rope and accept your own risk.

Eric may correct me on this though.

Yes, it's never shut. It's really a measure of how far you would like to walk, and how much you hate your skis. I must have passed beyond 10 Out of Bounds signs today, fortunately we have powder conditions where I am currently 8)

bandit wrote:Yes, it's never shut. It's really a measure of how far you would like to walk, and how much you hate your skis. I must have passed beyond 10 Out of Bounds signs today, fortunately we have powder conditions where I am currently 8)

Not jealous... not at all!!! :mrgreen:

Had to do a good bit of skinning for powder last weekend.