Crazy Spring Snow Camp – Switzerland 2021 Edition

Location

Our mountain hut is at an altitude of 2.300m and right at the slopes (ski-in/ski-out). The ski area is not super big and not super small. There are mainly skilifts and chair lifts. Mainly red slopes but also blue and some black and ski routes. Max. vertical drop is around 1.350m. The hut is on a blue slope. Because the resort covers altitudes from 2.000m till over 3.000m above sea level, the snow conditions in April usually are excellent.

Accommodation

The mountain hut is simple. The beds are bunk beds in group rooms. There is a kitchen and a dining/living room. There are toilets and showers. Please do not expect luxury things like comfort, tv or wifi. In the house clothing is optional (faq). In general you will have very limited personal privacy. You will be surprised how fast you will feel at ease with everybody, in a place where you can simply be who you are, far away from your day to day environment and habitudes. No smoking in the house. Bring a sleeping bag. Target number of participants is 15.

How to get there

We will be in the south west of Switzerland, two buses from a main railway station.That station is eg. 6 hours by train from Frankfurt with only two changes; 5:15 hours by train from Paris (with one change); 4:30 hours by train from Lyon with 1 change; 2:30 hours by train from Milano (one change) (all indications subject to change of timetable). Nearest international bus stations (Flixbus, Eurolines etc.) are Sion and Lausanne. The other option is to offer or join a ride share, for example through blablacar or with other Crazy Spring Snow Camp participants; already from The Netherlands/Belgium/Luxemburg there might be a ride share available, approx. EUR 100 two-way per person (faq)Most probably, as time passes by, ride shares from other directions will be added.

Switzerland is member of the Schengen agreement. If you can travel in any other Schengen country, you can travel in Switzerland.

Snow sports

In the daytime we will be skiing or snowboarding. This can be individually but we will do some things as a group also. In previous Crazy Snow Camps it turned out that the participants enjoy shredding the slopes together, teaching each other some ski/board skills, etc.
Please keep in mind that SNOW comes from NATURE so there is no guarantee for the amount of snow that will be there and for example no guarantee that these trails will be open and that all lifts will be working. In that case, we might be doing snowshoe hikes, build a kicker near the hut, or other improvisations :-) This having said, because the resort covers altitudes from 2.000m till over 3.000m above sea level, the snow conditions in April usually are excellent.
How is springtime snow? Great for skiing/snowboarding! Read the details on this info page.

Program

After our daytime winter sports, at the end of the day and in the evenings we will be automatically together (we’re high on the slopes, there is nowhere else to go!) so we will make our own après ski. This will start with cooking, eating and cleaning together. There will be crazy group games, fun bonding activities etc. Basically everybody is expected to participate in the group life at the end of the day and in the evening (faq).

Food and drinks

Cooking will be done by the group and for the group; no à la carte service :) Because we are high in the mountains, our resources are limited and we’ll all have to be flexible. If you are very precise/specific with your food, then this is not the right experience for you, sorry.
Cooking will be done by the group and for the group; no à la carte service :) Because we are high in the mountains, our resources are limited and we’ll all have to be flexible. If you are very precise/specific with your food, then this is not the right experience for you, sorry. Read Details About Diets And Restrictions1. Gluten: Usually meals are low on gluten but if you have a hard core allergy, you’re not safe. At breakfast there is oatmeal as an option. 2. Nuts: Can usually be left out of meals/served apart but if you have a hard core allergy, you’re not safe. 3. Sugar/Diabetes: Usually things are without sugar. However you will not be able to follow that precisely engineered menu that your dietician wants you to follow.
The provided food is vegan. Read Food DetailsThe provided food is vegan. It is OK if you bring dairy products yourself but no meat/chicken/fish/seafood please. Keep in mind that there are no cooling facilities.
The provided drinks are non-alcoholic. Read Alcohol DetailsThe provided drinks are non-alcoholic. However it is OK if you bring some alcoholics yourself or have a beer on a terrace during the day. Just don’t be drunk and annoying.

Share your skills

There is space and time for workshop-like activities, so if you would like to share some of your knowledge or skills, feel free! Maybe you want to teach us some capoeira, do a photoshoot or make us sing the traditionals of your native culture? Just some ideas… it really can be anything. And if you don’t want to, that’s fine as well!

Couples

If you are a couple, please understand that in the Crazy Spring Snow Camp you can not behave like a couple. In general the beds are allocated through a lottery (faq) and we’re all sleeping in one big space. And you are expected to participate in all activities and group life as individuals and not as a couple. Yes you will be hugging – in the numerous group hugs! So be prepared to sit each at opposite sides of the table during dinner, and accept that someone else than yourself might be giving your partner a massage of the sour muscles.

The deal

Your participation in the cost for these 6 days and nights is EUR 395 per person for accommodation, food (that we will cook together), epic fun and tourist taxes.

That is cheap! However, don’t come if you are only interested in an affordable holiday. The Crazy Spring Snow Camp is all about the group, spending fun evenings together, doing crazy games, and enjoying the mountains together!

If you identify as female or are genderqueer and you choose to use the Gender Pay Gap Compensation (faq) then your reduced participation fee is EUR 335.

The reduced price of EUR 335 is also available for students and people that receive unemployment benefits. In these cases you will be asked to provide a proof of your status.

If you feel that the Crazy Spring Snow Camp is really the right experience for you and you are seriously struggling with the participation fee: please reach out to me.

What is included/provided?
+ Accommodation
+ Breakfast
+ Simple lunch (sandwiches, leftovers of yesterdays dinner)
+ Dinner (we will cook together)
+ Coffee, tea, water, juice
+ Tourist taxes
+ Unforgettable fun

x Snacks, fruit, energy bars, soft drinks etc.
x Sleeping bags
x Towels
x Skipass, equipment rental
x Parking fees in the village if you come by car