Do you long for the good old days of skiing? Well, at the Hadenlifte ski area above Schwarzenberg, you can turn back the hand of time. Here, a long surface lift winds uphill between spruces and weather-beaten hay barns. At the top, a wide, glorious piste awaits. Did we mention there’s also a baby lift, a valley ski run to the village, and panoramic views from the Kanisfluh massif to the Hochhäderich mountain?
When long-time owner Florian Berchtold decided to retire, the Hadenlifte ski area was faced with closure. That is, of course, if it hadn’t been for Mathias Metzler. In 2020, the twenty-three-year-old from Schwarzenberg took over the reigns at this small family ski resort. As a result, the company was able to celebrate its fiftieth anniversary in 2021. Whenever he got a chance, the current owner of the lift would spend his free time here. When he wasn’t skiing himself, he’d lend a hand and was allowed to ride on the snow groomer. During his apprenticeship as a vehicle mechanic and hydraulic technician, he helped out during the autumn lift overhaul and the servicing of snow groomers. When Berchtold asked him if he wouldn’t like to take over ownership of the Hadenlifte ski area, Mathias said, “What’s the worst that can happen?”