Description

Perhaps the most popular run in the resort - and with good reason.

It is a blast first thing in the morning when it's freshly groomed, but the top half is definitely the best for lapping as the gondola back up from Grund is slow and queue-prone.

The run starts from the top of the Männlichen ridge (either from the Läger or Männlichen lifts) where it traverses down via a tricky and relatively narrow slope that can get scraped and icy towards the end of the day.

Once this is negotiated, however, you can let your skis run and enjoy the motorway cruising to the base of the Männlichen chair.

The wide open run usually holds on to excellent snow and there is almost always fresh corduroy to be found - look for the far right-hand side for this.

As you'll see on the piste map, there are two options off the right hand side to join the excellent runs off the Läger lift, both of which are clearly signposted but require a bit of a run up to ensure you keep the poling to a minimum.

From the base of the Männlichen chair the run continues to wind down towards the gondola mid-station at Holenstein, but by now you're in the trees which makes a pleasant change, especially on a snowy day.

Snowmaking installed all the way down this lower section has drastically improved the reliability of the snow, even on the open meadows as you come closer to Grund, although the run is still best attempted in good snow conditions and during the middle of winter when the sun's effects are more limited. Stopping at one of the many excellent mountain huts below Holenstein is highly recommended, all of which serve traditional Swiss fare in cosy wood-panelled "alpstublis".

The bottom section is generally deserted in the morning and so can offer some great wide open turns before the crowds return at the end of the day.