Saturday night I chilled because I knew Sunday would be good. I woke to a rainy Geneva and actually a little head cold (going away....knock on wood) I was up early again, so I grabbed the gear and headed off to France. I was still TBD on the location, but I saw the exit for La Clusaz and said why not? Geneva Temp: Good old French tolls: It was raining cats and dogs on the way up to LC, but when I got to about 1000M it started to snow. In the parking lot: I geared up and was ready to go, but the lifts were not. Everything was on Avi and windhold. Pic time then...at the bottom..waiting: After a few Avi shots and clearing it was on. The clouds started to clear and I was in for a surpise. I was on the 3 lift up and went into a winter wonderland. The place was empty, so that made for some great first tracks!!! The snow had finally arrived in Euroland! My tracks! More first tracks! I kept lapping the top lift and had first tracks all over until 1ish when my body gave up. The head cold kicked in and it was time to leave...that was OK because IT IS STILL SNOWING!!!! This weekend looks like a great one and I plan to road trip with Ripzalot...Friday off, so here I come!!! I love this place!
So as most weekend start I left work on a mission for food and to figure out where I was going this weekend....as always with the best snow. I was in touch with Brian (See Vallee Blanche post) and after a few SMS messages Courmayeur, Italy was on the list for Saturday.
Friday night was a prep night as always, so I checked the weather and saw that it was going to storm...so I grabbed the yellow goggle lenses and got ready..lunch! That evening I also grabbed my shopping for the next week...Mom you can see I am eating ok ;-): I chilled in and watched Empire (not great) on DVD and awoke to a rain storm here in Geneva. That being said I knew that it must being snowing somewhere. I left Geneva and arrived in Cham around 8. The rain had stopped, but not a great day: I contacted Brain and they were still chilling, so I headed to the Mont Blanc tunnel. I decided that it was more economical to buy a 10 passage pack...so I dropped the 100EUR and headed in: In Cham it was not snowing, but I exited to this!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOO! I hit up the 8:45 tram and was off into a winter wonderland...the last time I was in Cour was with Karen (my cutie)...we had a great time.....revisited: I got to the first piste and it was on! SNOW!!!!! Inch an hour...at least.. 2nd lift! I rocked it out for the first few hours, but Brian and another friend of mine Matias finally showed up. Waiting and still SNOWING!!!: B and M showed and so did the weather...clearing and snow...what more does a young growing boy want? After a little exploring we were able to find some of the stashes...and they were capital G...GOOD! Brian: So the sun was coming out and the above tree line skiing was visible we headed up to the top of Youla. Getting ready: Waiting for 80 year old lift ;-) 80 year old lift: This was a cable car but only carried 30 max....I told Brian that I liked the lift because "I could feel the skiers for the past 50 years that rode this lift....they were doing the same thing...feeling the same things...doing it becasue they loved it!" I do this every weekend because I love it! G shreading the POW! Friends! Brian: I had skied from 9 to 3 non-stop, so it was time to call it a day. We headed back to Cham for a burger and some fries and talked about how good the day actually was....tomorrow looks like a repeat...so more to come!!!!!
well i've already been to Paris, i've already been to Rome but what did i do but miss my home oh new england i went out west to Californ but i missed the land where i was born i can't help it
oh new england
i've seen old isreal's arab plains it's quite magnificent, but so is Maine
oh New England
now if you like Camden in North London we got that spirit here in Allston now many people ask "where you from?" with a heartfelt smile i say "from Boston" oh, New England
This past weekend was another filled with fun and friends. After 6 months I have a core of good friends that I really enjoy spending time with. This past weekend I got to ski with Jay(Ripzalot), Al (TeleAl), and Michel(...just Michel). It snowed over the week and G3 was going off, so after a chill Friday night, I got up early and headed to our normal pick-up spot in Lavaux. We decided that we should catch the first tram to get some solitary tracks so I met Michel at 7:30. On the way up there was a sick sunrise! Upon arrival Michel was hooking up with some early morning eats. Profile: Michel Michel I met through work. He is 24 and from Lausanne, and an actual 100% Swiss friend. He loves fondue and lighting Sambuca in his mouth. A very good snowboarder and funny as hell we have a cool relationship through common likes and dislikes. After a chill drive we arrived at G3 ready to catch the first tram. First Tram: We arrived at the top of the Glacier and it was like having it all to ourselves. Jay and Al were ruling late, so we made some turns.....solitary turns..not a soul in site!
Pics on the move: After a little texting we met Jay and Al at the top of the Combe for the 2nd lap: The Combe! Profile: Al Al I met through TGR. He is 30something and is from CT. He move to CH 9 years ago to be a teach and has never left. Lives in Leysin and has the best view from his apartment. A very good telemarker and always stoked to be at the mtn.... a fun guy to hang with. The first run was sick! Al ready to rock! Avi danger was high so we were very careful. As you can see Avi issues were around...the other side to the Combe: The snow was nice a soft with good pockets to be had. Jay found some of them Profile: Jay Jay I also met through TGR. He is 42 and is from FL. He move to CH 7 years ago to be with his now ex (married and happy now) and has never left. Lives in Lausanne and works for an IT firm. Jay snowbords, but has been talking about moving to the darkside again ;-)A good snowboarder and very laid back guy......but once you get him on a roll hilarous and always fun to hang with. Jay making some nice turns! After a few laps it was time to refuel, so lunch was in order at the keyhole. This is a hole in the rock face...very cool. Picnic? Or course! Upon a return to the Combe after lunch it was time for G to huck his meat as they say. I saw a cool line, but the snow on the cliff was a little marginal. Upon take off it was over...a beater in the making: Post beater: Not one of my finer moments, but as they say...if you don't fall your not trying! On the beater I proceeded to break my pole (like Mt. Snow two years ago...;-) ...but that is okay..nothing can ruin a day with friends! Pre-beater: The Crew: We were beat by 2ish, so we headed off with a "see you next weekend" and it was back to Geneva. Saturday night and Sunday we pretty uneventful, but I am glad I had this Saturday to recharge and chill!
