Embedded in a unique alpine landscape under the im- posing north face of the Eiger, Grindelwald was the very first Powder Byrne ski resort back in 1985. The pretty village resort now prepares to welcome skiers back and showcase one of the most eagerly anticipated ski lift improvement projects ever undertaken.

Image from https://www.jungfrau.ch/en-gb/eiger-express/

Grindelwald has a long and rich mountain history, the al- lure of its dramatic peaks and fabulous skiing drawing ad- venturers from far and wide since the early pioneers in the 19th century. The construction of the Jungfrau Railway from 1896 and the completion of Europe’s highest railway station at 3,454m at the Jungfraujoch, finally opening in 1912, heralded a new age of Swiss mountain tourism, with Grindelwald playing a starring role.

However, as the decades passed and other resorts invest- ed in speedy new lift systems, Grindelwald’s network of quaint mountain trains and ageing gondolas gave it a yes- ter-year feel and slower access to the extensive ski areas linked with Wengen and Murren held back its fortunes. There can be no doubt about the quality of the skiing on offer, nor the breathtaking views of the dramatic Bernese Alps, and those who know Grindelwald always new her day would come again.

And so it has happened, thanks to the vision and tenacity of Herr Urs Kessler, CEO of Jungfrau Railways, who has made the CHF 470million V-Bahn project a reality. The audacious project includes the construction of two new modern high capacity ski lifts and an integrated railway station hub at Grund, just below Grindelwald village. The first lift in the development, a high-speed 10 person gondola with 144 state-of- the-art cabins, opened in December 2019, runs from the new railway station in Grund to the Männlichen peak and reduces the journey time from 30 to 19 minutes.

The second and much larger Eiger Express tri-cable lift has now opened for the 2021/22 ski season to huge fanfare, and it is widely expected to put the resort of Grindelwald firmly back on every skier’s map. The Eiger Express tri-cable runs from the base station to the Eigergletscher, shortcutting the existing rack and pinion railway, reducing the journey time from 40 to 15 minutes and significantly increasing capacity (doubling previous uphaul, it will move 1800 skiers an hour in 44 enormous panoramic cabins), in true comfort (each has 26 heated seats!) and delivering stunning views as it sweeps below the impressive Eiger north wall (the panoramic windows are anti-fog!).

Thanks to the tri-cable technology, far fewer support towers are required to be built in the landscape, preserving the natural habitat and enhancing the project’s already impressive green credentials - only seven towers were needed over a distance of nearly 7 km!

“The V-Bahn project is the most innovative and exciting construction project in the Alps, one of the biggest lift projects worldwide and true to the tradition of visionary pioneering achievements in the construction of the Jungfrau Railway between 1896 and 1912.” Remo Käser, Jungfrau Railways

Image from https://www.jungfrau.ch/en-gb/prices-and-brochures/

The vast and ambitious V-Bahn project has put Grindelwald back on the map, breathing new life into the entire Jungfrau region and restoring its reputation as one of the finest ski resorts in the Swiss Alps. With many charming family- run hotels and a pretty, historic village, Grindelwald is an excellent choice for families and offers amazing skiing for all abilities, with access to 591km of downhill skiing on 131 pistes across the linked ski areas of Grindelwald, Wengen and Mürren. We particularly recommend Grindelwald for families who are new to skiing due to the excellent beginner slopes and facilities and our exclusive programmes for novice skiers, Learn to Ski in Style and SnoZone Beginners operate during selected weeks during the season.

After 35 years of Powder Byrne heritage in Grindelwald we’re delighted that this pioneering alpine region is marching into the new decade with confidence. Grindelwald is a much loved and hugely popular part of the Powder Byrne Original Skiing programme and with the impressive new V-Bahn project we expect its popularity to grow and grow. Grindelwald is back!

Find out more about Grindelwald