Ski Area???? Let me think....hmmmm?

Looking back at the posts in the Snow for the Euro's thread it looks like it is just a roll of the dice this season in Euroland. Today makes 5 pow weekends in a row, and I think this one may be on top of the list. Conti (in storm), G3 (2 days after), Courmayeur(in storm), La Clusaz(in/out of storm), Ischgl (day after), and now Grand Massif(day after). To keep this a quick update. I arrived at 8:30 in fog, but clearing. My back is finally sorting itself out (Thanks Pierre...my Osteopath) so I was stoked to get outside. I skied in the fog for 2 runs, both of which were is smoke (cold light snow..add this one to the Gregor dictionary for those playing along)....I would say 20CM plus on top of....I am not sure what (this is reffering to the snow conditions....under neither the snow there was a layer of ice due to the recent warm weahter). I arrived on the Sameon's side and had never been to the area (I was skiing alone too, so the first few were a crap shoot....at around 10 it cleared:

To this!

I decided that it was going to be better up high, so I headed to Flaine:

Nice lines in here (sorry Mom ;-)

I tracked out run after run of untouched...30 to faceshot in some places....it was sick!

Tons of competition too!

I picked around all day finding little lines all over.....I figured out the check list I need to follow.
Go to an area with gaper/joeys (EC term)...CHECK!
Go on change over day............................CHECK!
Make harcore skiers think it is going to suck.CHECK! (thanks TGR:wink: )
This line I skied 5 times in a row with 200M of open bowl and a traverse to get to this. 15 minute lap. It had some sharks in it....but it was a blast.


So that being said, there was still tons to get tracked out in the AM...so I will head back to Gaperland!
In closing, the moral of this update is that Euroland, even in a poopie winter, is still killer! Ohhh I almost forgot...let's count: Zermatt 1...G3 2...Verbier 3.... Chamrousse 4....Avoriaz (PDS)5.....Chamonix 6....Val D'Isere 7...Leysin 8.....Les Contimiens 9....Courmayeur 10....La Clusaz 11.....Ischgl 12.....Grand Massif 13...Not bad ;-)

Zurich, St. Moritz, AT, FL and a drive

KK was coming into Zurich on Friday morning, so I ventured out of Geneva on Thuesday night. The drive was uneventful except an American style Diner on the highway:

I arrived in Zurich without a reservation for a hotel, but I left the directions to the possible hotel options at home...and that was an issue. After vistiting mutiple hotels (all over 200CHF) I finally found the inexpensive Formule One option. I arrived tired and ready for bed...and this option was perfect. No frills a good ski bum option. 53USD!

Beer in the vending machine:

Post vending machine:

After the beer I headed to bed.
The next morning I woke to a rainy CH day but that was chill KK was in town. I picked homegirl up at 8ish and we drove into the city to see the sites. After some catching up and a nice German breakfast we walked around town and chilled.



The day was fun and we decided to stay in Zurich at the Hotel Du Theatre.


Nice boutique hotel. That night we went out for some cocktails and dinner. Overall Zurich is chill and I would love to go back in the Summer.

The next day we woke to another rainy CH day, but we thought the mnts could still be good if inversion was kicking around. We headed out to Laax where I booked a hotel. Laax was not different..rainy...and a white out up top. After a little talk I remebered that I saw a sign for St. Moritz and it was only 78KM....that being said we headed off to see SM. I thought that I would probably not travel this far over in CH again so why not!
We got to SM and the weather started to break.


SM was OK..but very snobby...poncy..whatever you want to call it a ski bum like me really didn't fit...all I know is that they have issue with setting themselves on fire ;-)

After a little people watching and a beer it was off again. We decided that Laax was a no go, so we decided to head over to Davos.
On the way and after a sign that notified us that the road was not open to Davos the plans changed.....turn right and head to AT!!!
We arrived in St.Anton/Arlberg area in the early evening. There were no hotels because it was AT school breaks so we stayed in the valley town of Landeck..which was perfect! The room was huge and we went next door to a Tirol buffet and some drunk AT/DE singing. Our dinner host Thomas was a funny guy and treated us great. We had a buffet of Tirol specialties including pork belly which was actually really good!

After filling out bellies we listened to a few crazy german drinking songs and it was off to bed.

the next morning started off perfect...great breakfast (free with room) and bluebird outside it was on. Instead of heading to the big names we headed to Ischgl which is still HUGE and spans part of AT and CH.
Getting ready (Note: Subbies ROCK!):

First lift!

Mid-station:

It had snowed the night before and from what I head from my friends I had the best snow in Europe...and as you can see we did!



About mid-day we stopped at the top of the mtn for some photos. At this point I proceed to leave my pack at the top of the mtn, with my wallet and KK's too! After a 5km run into CH I notice I don't have my pack...ISSUE! So at this juncture we are at the farthest point possible from where we started.....ISSUE! We stayed calm and I said that this is CH/AT..it is still there where I left it..probably ;-) After 3 lifts and 2 hours we got back to the point of lose...and guess what..IT WAS THERE!!!!
The infamous pack soaking up rays and chilling with a great view!

After the pack challenge 2007 it was time for a beer.

The day ended with a nice run to the bottom and we started to head home. This was also an adventure..I needed a sticker to drive on the highway, pay for a 14km tunnel, and drive through another country...NUMBER#2 ...8 more to go! (I am going to get Turkey in a week ;-)

After a short visit to "FL" we headed back to Zurich...a nice sunset.

I dropped KK off at the Ibis hotel (she was heading on business the next day) and drove home....the end....for now!
So upon refection here are my two thoughts.....
1) I am lucky as all hell to have KK back in my life. Thank you for understanding.
2) I am lucky as all hell to live the life I do. I have a great family, I live in a great country, my team at work rocks, I have the opportunity to travel the world, and I am happy...now the end...until this weekend...off for adventure with Ripz!

The MAN is keeping me down!!!

It is now 10PM and I have been working for 14 hours...10 yesterday...and 12 the day before...that is 36 and I have 2 days to go! Does this mean I get Friday off? ....but I am still HAPPY and that is the most important thing right now. So that being said...update in the AM..I need to eat dinner now! Here is a preview: