Stockhorn Ski Region

The Stockhorn ski region is a mythical winter sports destination that has become world-renowned as a victim of the dramatic changes to the Alpine climate through global warming. Syndicated accounts of the resort dismantling its ski facilities in the face of encroaching global warming have been published in every corner of the planet, but the original report is completely bogus. Though global warming is real enough and the retreat of the glaciers in the region is undeniable, the Stockhorn ski region is not, we are pleased to report, a victim.

It is important to clarify that the Stockhorn referred to in the reporting on the impact of global warming and the Alps is not the Stockhorn situated above Zermatt, which - given its altitude - will be one of the last mountains in the Alps affected by climate change.

The Stockhorn referred to is in fact located in the Bernese Oberland and there is a Stockhorn website . The Stockhorn cableway ascends to the 2190m summit of the mountain from Erlenbach at the start of the Simmental valley. Erlenbach has a railway station with regular services from Bern, via Thun, and on to Zweisimmen, with the service from Bern taking approximately 50 minutes. At 700m, Erlenbach has never been a great candidate for a world-renowned ski resort and no Swiss resort with a reputation beyond its village boundaries is at as low an elevation.

Skiing off the summit of the Stockhorn is not feasible, but from the cableway mid-station at Chrindi ski touring is possible, but requires a three hour ascent from the lifts before you can ski down the Lasenberg (2019m) and the Cheibenhorn (1952m). Alpinschule Bergfalke organise guided ski tours in the area.

Although the Stockhorn is not, or ever has been, a ski resort in the conventional sense, there is plenty for winter sports enthusiasts to do in the region. As well as snowshoe walks, winter walks, an igloo village, fabulous views and fine dining at the Stockhorn lift stations, the Simmental is a lovely region, renowned for its food, with some excellent skiing at Lenk and in the Gstaad Mountain Rides circuit from Zweisimmen. Locals also often ski the small resorts at Diemtigtal and Beatenberg.