Mike Pow 52 Posted December 14, 2010 Share Posted December 14, 2010 DAY 1: WEDNESDAY 01 DECEMBER 2010 Flew from Cardiff to Geneva via Amsterdam at mid-day under clear, sunny skies. Geneva Airport had been closed all day Tuesday due to too much snow on the runways, but was open as I set off. I used SkyScanner to get the best price, and ended up choosing Bravofly flying with KLM. Both excellent, easy and quick. http://www.skyscanner.net/ http://www.bravofly.co.uk/vg1/flights.do Was due to fly to Geneva at 17:30, but Geneva decided to close again, at 17:00 ! I was directed to the layover desk and 45 mins later I was in my Amsterdam Airport Hotel (HC) for the night. Reading the horror stories of people spending 1-3 days in Geneva Airport with no support I was very happy that I went with a regular airline over one of the low-cost options. The 'compensation' package was: B&B accommodation 15 euro voucher for dinner 50 euro voucher off next flight 2,000 airmiles DAY 2: THURSDAY 02 DECEMBER 2010 Set off from Amsterdam at 10:30 and was in Territet (just passed Montreux) around 16:00 courtesy of Swiss Rail. Amazing service, my only complaint being the rail pass deals have to be booked weeks in advance. http://www.sbb.ch/en/index.htm I was staying with Kath Lyon again, she of this May TR TR: Zermatt and Chamonix - May the Pow Be With You http://www.snowjapanforums.com/ubbthread...html#Post364440 The view from Kath's balcony with the anticipation of more snow Took a walk down to the Montreux Christmas Market that evening for some vin chaud, tartiflette and churros. This year's theme is a Russian Christmas. DAY 3: FRIDAY 03 DECEMBER 2010 Kath went to work and I commuted to Glacier 3000 above Les Diablerets. The Swiss Rail site wanted to send me via Gstaad for 67 CHF r/t, but I chose to go via Aigle and up to Les Diabrelets for 37 CHF r/t Bit of a wait for the bus connection in Les Diabrelets. It was freezing and nothing was open so I decided to walk and hitch hike. Quite a few cars and vans passed but none stopped. I guess hitching isn't the done thing in this town. I was warmed up at least when I got to the lift station! Beautiful sunny morning with great visibility, deserted with fabulous piste and off-piste conditions. Fantastic powder - light and mid thigh at times, first face shots of the season. Had to hike for those though. Shame there wasn't more terrain open and I wasn't with someone who knew what was good to go. Ducking the ropes, turns were possible to the car park, but I was solo and didn't want to risk it first time there. That stuff looked great. Next time. The park rats were in 7th heaven though. Saw these two guys hiking up to a little rock above the glacier, skied around and caught these pics The clouds rolled in and the light got flat so I took the tram down for lunch at the restaurant beside the base station. It was fantastic. Mountain goat in a mushroom and red wine sauce, with red & green cabbage, grapes, chestnuts and spaetzle. Bottle of red and an espresso and I was ready for the return train journey back to Territet. Link to post Share on other sites
CptSlow 0 Posted December 14, 2010 Share Posted December 14, 2010 Wow your photos are really beautiful, looks like a blast Link to post Share on other sites
panhead_pete 27 Posted December 14, 2010 Share Posted December 14, 2010 Sweet mate, looks awesome. Europe rocks! Link to post Share on other sites
Jynxx 4 Posted December 14, 2010 Share Posted December 14, 2010 Happy times Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted December 15, 2010 Author Share Posted December 15, 2010 Thanks DAY 4: SATURDAY 04 DECEMBER 2010 Spent the day at VERBIER as one of the chaperones for the ski racing team from Kath's school. There was a lot of standing around and herding children through the lift system, but once on snow the conditions were great. Sunshine all day, cool temps, not too many people on the piste, hardly any off it. Some very impressive lines put in considering the coverage. Kath and one of her charges talking tactics. Some impressive lines put in behind her When we did have a chance to freeski Kath and I didn't have to go searching too far to find this patch of goodness - 100m from the top of the gondola station at 3:30 in the pm Although there was limited terrain on offer on what was my first visit to Verbier, there was more than enough to keep me happy. And it certainly won't be the last visit. I can see what all the fuss is about. Link to post Share on other sites
Mick Rich 78 Posted December 15, 2010 Share Posted December 15, 2010 I love Japan but sometimes I really miss Europe and reading this report and seeing those photos is making me homesick! Link to post Share on other sites
Jynxx 4 Posted December 15, 2010 Share Posted December 15, 2010 How nice is the snow ! Mick, I love Japanese food and Onsen but European Alps is a dream come true for me. And I haven´t even gone out of bounds touring... Link to post Share on other sites
panhead_pete 27 Posted December 15, 2010 Share Posted December 15, 2010 Mike - you an Ian Dury fan? Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted December 15, 2010 Share Posted December 15, 2010 Originally Posted By: MikePow Yeah, that view is ok I guess. Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted December 15, 2010 Share Posted December 15, 2010 but only just Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted December 15, 2010 Share Posted December 15, 2010 Not a lot of trees at European ski areas, it seems. Guess they just have to console themselves somehow with awesome quantities of snow. Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted December 15, 2010 Share Posted December 15, 2010 Snow? What is this snow you speak of? I have not seen this mystical word you speak of. Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted December 15, 2010 Share Posted December 15, 2010 You know, the stuff that comes out of snow-making machines. That melts in the rain the next day. I guess they must have a LOT of snow-making machines in Europe. Link to post Share on other sites
panhead_pete 27 Posted December 15, 2010 Share Posted December 15, 2010 They borrow them from Australia in the off season. Link to post Share on other sites
Slippery Jim 65 Posted December 15, 2010 Share Posted December 15, 2010 Don't compare at all with Niseko, eh... Link to post Share on other sites
mitchpee 10 Posted December 15, 2010 Share Posted December 15, 2010 Mike good work If you find yourself in Niseko I would love to go out and take some pictures with you. Hopefully give you a good crash to sequence Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted December 15, 2010 Author Share Posted December 15, 2010 Big Ian Dury fan panhead pete Look forward to making some turns MitchPee DAY 5: SUNDAY 05 DECEMBER 2010 After a fantastic dinner at Le Cookie in Villars on Saturday night and a lie in Sunday morning, Kath and I plumped for LEYSIN on a greybird day. The threat of rain was imminent and the temperature had increased significantly from the day before. So heading for a resort with tree lined runs and runs in the trees seemed like the way forward. A cheap day pass due to limited terrain and lifts open - 28 CHF - and no lines made for a very enjoyable day. http://www.leysin.ch/en/index.cfm We started with the groomed runs off La Berneuse and then worked our way further and further skiers left off the Tete d'Ai chair. The previous day's sunshine had warmed the snow pack and created a sun crust reminiscent of a creme brulee, but the shaded slopes and snow in the trees offered boot top to knee deep pow. Kath in the Leysin trees Kath slutting it in Leysin Leysin was right up my street and reminded me of my time in Big Mountain, Montana. One to definitely return to. DAY 6: MONDAY 06 DECEMBER 2010 A travelling day from Montreux to Chamonix to meet up and stay with Tom from Zero G and his better half Laura. All was going swimmingly until I got to Vallorcine, where French Rail decided to cancel the connection into Chamonix. Waited an hour on the platform in freezing temperatures with nothing open. It's not the end of the world, but you can see it from here Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted December 15, 2010 Author Share Posted December 15, 2010 DAY 7: TUESDAY 07 DECEMBER 2010 Early to bed, early to rise gets Tom and Mike to the Courmayeur prize. Got to COURMAYEUR, ITALY around 8.30 under overcast, grey skies. A coffee and two croissants later and the sun was starting to poke through the clouds. http://www.courmayeur-montblanc.com/en/ Limited opening due to avalanche risk, but we found plenty of decent, springy pow to play with off and under the 2-man chair. The views were fantastic Tom ready to drop in The one that got away Tom under the chair The clouds rolled in around lunchtime so we stopped for polenta with sausages and mushrooms washed down with a bottle of red, bombardino (sp) and grappa. 34 euros for the two of us. Delicious bargain. Although the home run was closed we skied it anyway. Heavy pow as we rounded the first corner. Knackered by the time we got back to the car. Courmayeur's had plenty of snow already, even down to car park level Cracking day and cracking resort. In colder conditions, the tree skiing would be fabulous. And up high, terrain of the highest order with views to match. Another resort on the definite return to list. Many thanks to Kath, Tom and Laura. Switzerland and Italy more than delivered for early season turns. Link to post Share on other sites
Mick Rich 78 Posted December 15, 2010 Share Posted December 15, 2010 More great photos - cheers MP Link to post Share on other sites
panhead_pete 27 Posted December 15, 2010 Share Posted December 15, 2010 Hey Mike the train station and last pic look somewhat altered or is that straight out of the camera? Link to post Share on other sites
Schneebored 0 Posted December 15, 2010 Share Posted December 15, 2010 Good work Mike! Fantastic to see shots of some of my fave Euro destinations. Makes me excited for my move back there in 20 (ish) months (not that I am counting). I hope the rest of your trip is amazing! Link to post Share on other sites
seemore 66 Posted December 16, 2010 Share Posted December 16, 2010 Cheers Mike Good trip report once again. Geez those mountains are big. Seemore Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted December 16, 2010 Share Posted December 16, 2010 Fab fab photos as always Mike. An inspiration! Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted December 16, 2010 Author Share Posted December 16, 2010 Originally Posted By: panhead_pete Hey Mike the train station and last pic look somewhat altered or is that straight out of the camera? They're all altered / processed to a lesser or greater degree in Camera Raw and Photoshop. The train station picture is 4 hand held no flash shots taken at night and stitched together in Photoshop. Had to push the ISO to 1600 to get enough light and a fast enough shutter speed for best sharpness. The car park picture is one shot processed in Photoshop using an HDR portrait style technique. It worked for this particular image I think, but doesn't work for all. Link to post Share on other sites
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