Andermatt 14th November 2010

Another grim wet Sunday in Bellinzona was forecast so we hopped on the train to the North side of the Alps and went to Andermatt...again. Its becoming something of a regular stomping ground for a number of reasons but principally, we understand what's being said, everyone is a lot friendlier, it looks nice, the buildings aren't falling apart, it has huge mountains, its easy to get to and its not Ticino...We had been here the week before, this time there was a lot more snow, even some of the ski runs were open.......

Bob sleigh practice run

Practice bob sleigh. Where's the brake?

Machineery waiting for the snow to arrive.

Andermatt. Looking West.

Start of the new development.





This would be mountain bike heaven

Retaining wall and Meike

Skiing on the Gemstock

Some nice snow to walk in :-)

Avalanche barrier. Would make a good bivy

Oberalppass. Looking South

Andermatt from 1800m

Meike in the sunshine

Andermatt and the Gemstock beyond

Waiting for the Glacier express at Natchen





The Schöllenenschluch gorge, across which, legend has it that a bridge (the one on the left) could only be built with the aid of the devil. Hence the mural at the mouth of the tunnel.
The newer bridge must have taken some head scrathing too.



This isn't in the guide books......
Its the Suworow memorial to Russian soldiers who died in battle against the French in 1799 in the Schöllenenschluch gorge.
In the interest of neutrality, there is also a plaque remembering the loss of French life at the same site. 

Amazingly, this is carved out of the rock and constructed by the Russians during the Soviet era, hence the distinct appearance.
You can only imagine the joy the stone masons felt when they were told they were going on a jolly to Switzerland. Only to matched by the disapointment of the cost of vodka.

The memorial is actually Russian territory

Walking down the old coach road.

The "new" coachroad, this is so much fun on a motorbike.

Looking back up the vally towards Andermatt. Looking South. Note the "galleria" to keep the mountain off the road.

Haderslisbrucke has an intersting history. Brief synopsis....
Built 1649. Washed away after 338 years by flooding 1987. Rebuilt by trade apprentices in 1991.
The flow of the water is controlled at the head of the valley by a barrage and is only in spate during the spring.

Meike on the Haderlisbrucke.

Picture of the reconstruction of the bridge.... from the information board, I wasn't there.
I bet they didn't use glulam beams as formers in 1649.
I wonder what they did use?