8848 meters of altitude - defying the forces of nature and reminiscent of the Himalayas

Club history

The club's history begins in 1970 with Eugenio Rüegger, the then managing director of the Lagalb cable car. His aim was to attract more ski enthusiasts to the Lagalb. He wanted to do this by making reference to the world-famous Mount Everest. The club soon had prominent members, such as the then Canadian Prime Minister and the Shah of Persia. The latter had all 19 of his bodyguards in tow, who also became club members. By the 1980s, the club had 1,000 members. And had one less member: at that time it was not called "Club 8848", but "Club 8847". A measurement by the British in 1952 defined the height of Mount Everest as exactly 8847.842 meters. While the club was rounded down when it was founded, the new edition decided to round up. A new name would usher in a new era. Despite worldwide press and international members, the club fell into obscurity over 30 years ago. It was only tragic news that ended this deep sleep.

Higher up into the future

It was in 2015 when it was announced that the Lagalb cable car would be closed after years of losses. Martina Walther, today's president of Club 8848, remembers. That shouldn't be happening, she thought. "For over fifty years, the Lagalb has fascinated skiers like no other mountain." When she took the gondola up to the Lagalb for the last time that season and tackled the last descent, "I felt really sad," she says. But it was not to be the end. The Lagalb had too many fans. Among them was the Niarchos shipping family. In 2016, the brothers Philip and Spyros Niarchos decided to save the Lagalb cable car. They took over the Lagalb and Diavolezza facilities from the company "Engadin St. Moritz Mountains AG". In return, the company received profitable facilities in the Corviglia-Piz Nair ski area from the Niarchos family. Now it was time to find brilliant ideas for a prosperous future of the ski operation. "That's when the idea of breathing new life into Club 8847 came about," says Martina Walther. She took on the task of becoming president. "I was already a member of the original Club 8847 and wanted to make my contribution to a successful future for the Lagalb cable car." So the board announced the relaunch of the newly renamed Club 8848 for the 2018/19 winter season. Hardly anyone suspected how well this would be received.

The challenge inspires

At 8.30 a.m. sharp, Nik Meuli from La Punt is equipped with skis in the gondola that is to take him to the Lagalb. He is curious: "I am interested in what it takes to master the distance." He does not believe that the task will be too much for him. When he reaches the top, he points to Piz Palü. "I was there at the end of January, alone." As a ski tourer and solo climber, he climbs a good dozen mountain peaks every year. He has also been in the Himalayas. He will also tackle today's task on his own. But he is not the only one fighting for membership of Club 8848 today. Karin Thalmann is also in the first gondola. The Lagalb is closely linked to childhood memories for the Zurich native. She has always come here in winter, to her favorite mountain. "The slopes are ideal for exercising and are never overcrowded." By becoming a member of Club 8848, she wants to strengthen her connection with the Lagalb. She is optimistic that she will master the challenge. Her strategy is to be the first on the slopes. He says that and sets off. Meuli, meanwhile, goes to the Club 8848 stand marked at the Lagalb mountain station. Here he receives his Club 8848 kit for ten francs, consisting of an armband that identifies him as a club aspirant, as well as a card that is cut off at Piz Lagalb and at the valley station. While Karin Thalmann is already starting her first descent, Meuli is drawn up to the summit - true to the motto: "First the work, then the pleasure." From the mountain station, the distance up to the Piz seems like a stone's throw. But the 66 meters of altitude are tough. And while the air may not be as thin as on Mount Everest, it still has less oxygen than in the lowlands. Some club members say that the eleven descents caused a lot of muscle soreness in their thighs, but it was the walk up to the summit that made the sweat come out of their pores. Meuli, however, climbs lightly as if there were no climb. "We Engadines have been on the move a lot since we were little." Sport is part of his everyday life. "The nature of the Engadine is my playground."

But it is not only well-trained mountaineers who are out and about. We also meet 11-year-old Cécile from Valposchiavo at the summit. Claudio Menghini, the uncle of the young summiteer, is happy that the ski operation on the Lagalb is still going on. "The Lagalb is the local mountain of us Puschlavern." And that is why he is on the mountain today with his wife and niece: "By taking part in Club 8848, we want to support the operation here." And they have chosen a beautiful day for the challenge. The sun is shining, the wind is moderate and the slopes are enjoyable to ski on. The descent is fast, after all the black slope takes you down the steepest descent in the canton of Graubünden. Or alternatively, the slightly tamer red slope. At lunchtime, Karin Thalmann comes out of the Lagalb mountain restaurant beaming. She has taken a short break and treated herself to a delicious Pizokel. Her strategy has worked well so far; she only has one more descent to complete, but she still has to walk up the Piz three times. "This is my digestive walk," she says and laughs. The people of Puschlav can also be found in good spirits in front of the mountain station. They have already climbed the summit four times and are looking forward to the last four descents. They all seem to be well on their way to becoming club members and thus belong to an ever-growing circle. Club President Martina Walther takes stock after the first year: "We have already welcomed 629 new members." They were expecting just 200. "We even had a shortage of pins." These are the pride of the members; they show the club logo and that the wearer has mastered the altitude of Mount Everest in one day. Preparations have already been made for the coming season. The pins are ready.