Coin-Operated Freeride
Altdorf is one of hundreds of picture-perfect villages in Switzerland. A bit boring and predictable, really. No big-time ski resorts, no nightlife, and no surprises—its only claim to notoriety is William Tell, of apple and arrow fame. But we were not here to visit the quaint museum honoring Altdorf’s folk hero. Rather, after years of hearing rumors about a coin-operated lift hidden in a forgotten corner of the Uri Canton, we arrived in Altdorf as a late-season storm splattered the surrounding peaks with 15 inches of dense, elephant snot snow.
Tucked into the valleys surrounding the 10,000-person village is a collection of unusual ski lifts. Mini gondolas serve tiny one- and two-lift ski areas, working double duty as public transportation. Residents of mountain hamlets return home with their shopping alongside kids on their way to after-school race training and locals scoring afternoon powder turns.
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