Hoch-Ybrig Ski Safari: CH 03/11/16

My final ski day here in Schwyz so with only a few hours of turns left in my aching legs, I decided to try the ski safari that connects Mythen with Hoch-Ybrig (pronounced HOKE EEH BRIG): not quite over the next ridge, but almost. The circuit claims to be almost nine miles in length but felt longer. The point of something like this isn't to ski challenging terrain or shralp powder, but to travel a healthy distance on skis and admire the beautiful scenery.



Skies were bright blue until the early afternoon when clouds moved in and now it's completely gray out, which would've made the safari a lot less interesting, so I'm glad that I got out early. Sorry for including so many pix but it looks like an extra long off-season so I'll need something to keep my spirits up. Back to the Handgruobi t-bar for the ride up:







Beer tent at Grossenboden:



Continuing uphill:



Brünellistock and the first Ski Safari sign:



A fork in the road:



I had a hard copy of the map above in my pocket, but I skied right by the safari sign that was partially buried and had to hike back uphill:



A few other people skied by who seemed to know what they were doing:







You head downhill into the village of Oberiberg, which is at the bottom of the ski area Hoch-Ybrig:



And walk across a parking lot to one of the base lifts -- my first chair in four days. How's that for hardcore?



The "hometown" brand -- certainly the ski you see most frequently here:



Mid-mountain restaurant:



While Mythen is predominantly south-facing, Hoch-Ybrig is completely north-facing so the offpiste was still in nice shape.





It's also at a higher elevation than Mythen and has a healthy percentage of above-treeline/more challenging terrain along with high-speed chairs: thus, a more mainstream ski area than proudly old-school Mythen.



The lift-served upper mountain along the ridgeline looks pretty nice:




With the Ski Safari ticket, you only get one ride on specific lifts, so I need to turn right:



And start the 3,100-vert downhill toward the village of Illgau:






"You're now leaving the Hoch-Ybrig ski area"


Literally, an "over the river and through the woods" affair:









Illgau in the distance:





A short uphill walk:





No high-speed lifts here -- rather, a gondola from 1955, but as the sign tells us: fully renovated in 1983!



For emergencies: a phone with a crank!



In the home stretch:





A fine day to hang laundry:



Finally, I exit the woods at the Handgruobi base area:



And glide into my hotel:



That's all folks -- another trip in the can. Couldn't have timed it any better if I'd tried and the people here have been fantastic.

MAN-0-MAN, another JD TR delivers......thanks for taking the time to share your adventure with us. That ski safari looks wicked cool

campgottagopee wrote

 That ski safari looks wicked cool

It sure does ! What a way to spend a day. Awesome views. Nice snow, too.

Way to get it James. Your legs must be spanked by now.

Not only great narrative, but perfect picture choice.  A++ as usual.  It's amazing how many experiences and tiny spots on the planet are out there....most of which 99.x% of the the world population will never experience.

^^ What TJ said

Thanks for the great reports and pictures.

I'll ask again,

Any chance of organizing a NYSB euro trip for 2017 ?

Where do I send the deposit check?

2000yearoldskier wrote

Any chance of organizing a NYSB euro trip for 2017 ? Where do I send the deposit check?

You'll have to wait for me to register Deluxe Euro Tours as a LLC.

What a wonderful way to end your trip. The views and trails look beautiful. Thanks again from this desk jockey.

I've done other circle routes in Europe notably the Sella Ronda in Italy and the White Ring in the Alrberg.  I wouldn't like that you cant stop off to take a extra run when you see that nice powder sitting there because your lift ticket wouldn't allow it.  One of the best days we had in Italy was when we found this smaller section that had powder in the trees off the Sella Ronda and we gave up on the route to ski pow.  You just need to be aware of when you need to start heading back to the village where you are staying or face a bus ride.

Coach Z wrote

I've done other circle routes in Europe notably the Sella Ronda in Italy and the White Ring in the Alrberg.  I wouldn't like that you cant stop off to take a extra run when you see that nice powder sitting there because your lift ticket wouldn't allow it.  

Agreed. I've done the Arlberg White Ring (22 km) on two different visits, while I haven't done Sella Ronda (26 km).

Here's what I didn't mention about the Mythen/Hoch-Ybrig Ski Safari (14 km) that's kinda odd for Europe -- where they're always making agreements to interconnect neighboring ski regions -- but something that Americans can relate to. A few years ago, Hoch-Ybrig pulled out of the regional day pass that had included the Mythen region and Hochstuckli, which you can see at the map I pasted up top. A circle route that includes all of those sectors would've put it in the same league length-wise as the Sella Ronda.

You can still buy a $800 season pass that includes all of those sectors, but nothing smaller (hence, the photo of the sign "you are now leaving the Hoch-Ybrig ticket area"). Kinda similar to if Alta and Snowbird were to bail out of an interconnected front and back Wasatch circuit. The Ski Safari is like a tasting menu of the two areas rather than allowing you to sit at the table and pig out.

Based on discussions with locals, skiers and especially businesses in the Mythen region aren't happy that Hoch-Ybrig isn't playing ball with them, which would create an interconnected region that would attract a lot more destination visitors. One suspects that Hoch-Ybrig ran the brand-value numbers and decided that they were better off being a separate ski area because, as mentioned above, HY's terrain is higher, north-facing, and more challenging than Mythen, and it also has several high-speed lifts, whereas Mythen is predominantly south-facing upper-intermediate terrain serviced to a large extent by old t-bars.

Of course, that was a large part of Mythen's attraction for me -- it felt culturally like Hickory while having the reach of a large Alps region.

So, what does the lift tickets here costs? Or did you get a package?  We have yet to ski anything that big anywhere with our kids though,  we are game to venture out next year with them. This year was such a bust for us and we made some investments to mountains - well that we couldn't ski or got one day. From our past experience, skiing in Europe was cheaper, way in fact than the US not sure if that is the same.  Also, did you rent a car?

As for a report - man, this is just incredible. Stellar photos and great detail.. Sure has a few of here happy yet jealous.

Skiray wrote

So, what does the lift tickets here costs? Or did you get a package?  Also, did you rent a car?

Lift Tickets: I bought a regional five-day Swiss Knife Ski Pass for $198 + $51 for Day 2 at Klewenalp (not part of the the Swiss Knife pass) + $29 for the ski safari = $278 for seven days or a little less than $40 per day

Seven-day rental car: $210 + $31 of gas