Santeri
Steep Skiing Techniques with Dave Searle
★★★★★
Really great course. I got a lot out of the course that helped me progress my skiing the rest of the season. 5/5 would recommend.
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Engelberg · Freeriding · Ski touring
Off-Piste Skiing Guide in Engelberg
Engelberg's Big 5 are the celebrated freeride descents from the Titlis massif — including the Laub, the Steintäli and the glaciated Galtiberg — offering up to 2,000 vertical metres in a single run. Guides link some or all of them depending on snow, stability and group ability.
What the course usually involves▼
Engelberg has the largest lift-served vertical drop in the Alps and a reputation among freeriders far bigger than the resort itself. The Titlis Rotair reaches 3,020 m, and from there the descents drop away in every direction.
The Laub is the one people come for — a single continuous open face of around 1,000 vertical metres at a consistent angle, with nothing to break it up. In good snow it is one of the great runs in the Alps. It also needs genuine stability, being a large uniform slope, so it is not always on.
The Steintäli, Sulz and Silberen give more varied terrain with gullies and rock features, and they are frequently the better call. The Galtiberg is the committing one: a glacier descent of around 2,000 vertical metres from near the summit to the valley floor!
Beyond the Big 5 there is a great deal more — the Jochstock and Laubersgrat sectors, and excellent ski touring on the massif. Guides often combine a lift-served descent in the morning with a short skinning ascent to reach untracked terrain in the afternoon.
What you'll learn▼
- Skiing powder in 1,000 to 2,000 vertical metre descents
- Transceiver, shovel and probe use and the group check
- Spacing and regrouping on wide open terrain
- Short skinning or bootpack ascents to reach untracked snow
- Judging which descents are in condition on the day
Location context▼
Engelberg lies in central Switzerland, around an hour from Lucerne, beneath the Titlis massif. The Titlis cable car reaches 3,020 m.
The Big 5 are the classic descents: the Laub, a continuous open face of around 1,000 vertical metres; the Steintäli, Sulz and Silberen, with more varied gully and rock terrain; and the Galtiberg, a glacier descent of around 2,000 vertical metres.
The Jochstock and Laubersgrat sectors add further terrain, and the massif carries excellent ski touring, so days frequently combine lift-served descents with short skinning ascents.
The season runs December to April. Engelberg receives reliably deep snow and holds it well on the north-facing terrain.
What people say afterwards
Enea
Basic Mountaineering Course – Punta Helbronner 2 days
★★★★★
Really good, Francesco was great, I learned a lot and had a great time
yanxiang
3 days Alpine Training & Summit Pigne d’Arolla (3,796 m)
★★★★★
It was great! I had a lot of fun and learned a lot about alpinism techniques.
Alexandra
Crevasse Rescue course
★★★★★
The guide was super competent and the course was very useful for me. Thank you!
Satyen
Basic Mountaineering Course – Punta Helbronner 2 days
★★★★★
Really great 2-day BMC course in Italy! Learned a lot about mountaineering, safety, and glacier travel. The instructors were knowledgeable, patient, and made the whole experience super fun. Highly recommended!
Finlay
Monte Rosa tour: Climb, learn and discovery the High Mountains
★★★★★
Absolutely incredible tbh. The guides were always willing to give more info than the course outlined if you had a question.
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FAQ
What are the Engelberg Big 5?▼
The Engelberg Big 5 are five classic freeride descents from the Titlis massif — the Laub, Steintäli, Sulz, Silberen and Galtiberg. Each offers well over 1,000 vertical metres, and the Galtiberg runs around 2,000 from glacier to valley.
How good a skier do I need to be?▼
Strong off-piste skiing and good stamina.
How much does a guided day in Engelberg cost?▼
Guided freeride skiing in Engelberg starts from around CHF 180 depending on group size and whether the day is shared or private. Lift passes are separate, as is avalanche equipment hire. Request a guide for a quote.
Is there ski touring here too?▼
Yes, ski touring in Engelberg is good. The Titlis massif carries excellent touring terrain, and many guides combine a lift-served descent with a short skinning ascent to reach snow the lifts do not.
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