tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57027403152850240712024-03-05T18:32:07.333+01:00The Only Way Is Downtino_11http://www.blogger.com/profile/07569955974509944531noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702740315285024071.post-91714804612328605352010-08-23T20:23:00.016+02:002010-08-23T21:02:17.633+02:00Zermatt - 21st & 22 August 20108.07am. On the lift to Trockner Step. Not a cloud in the sky, hopefully not to busy up top.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzCfp-MyPcIeGJIBohNZBC0p3PZc61QqUsq8HPgR3uvK7PKc4doHdjbA6M6lfAkTteWOHXJrYg9YKn2EYf5t3bGWt4DLT5jd8GpubbEE9OPf4CJYgnej7WwoPGC4MeaKly5yw48b6vnus/s1600/IMG_0320.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzCfp-MyPcIeGJIBohNZBC0p3PZc61QqUsq8HPgR3uvK7PKc4doHdjbA6M6lfAkTteWOHXJrYg9YKn2EYf5t3bGWt4DLT5jd8GpubbEE9OPf4CJYgnej7WwoPGC4MeaKly5yw48b6vnus/s320/IMG_0320.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508677298434539010" /></a> <em><strong>Looking down at Schwarzsee</strong></em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Now it's 10.10am and I'm at Plataeu Rosa having a coffee and desperately trying to work out the physics of snowboarding. Combining ultra stiff boots, an extra 8cm of board length plus rocker camber in one change was possibly not the easiest of things to get to grips with. The rocker is just odd if you are used traditional camber, the board floats around all over the place. Add that to extra length on the back and front of the board you really have to throw the board into the turn. Once on the edge it holds magnificently until the transition when you really have to concentrate as the front of the board realeases, if you don't fully control the rear then you are<br />> off. There is no lazy leaning to snake down the ice at high speed, if you are not actively riding her then your fate is in her hands. That being said, i bet powder is fun. Even on ice it feels like you have a hovercraft strapped to your feet.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9gdc78L4bcWsb6acfVUd3WOC0smapuYzsFBN71aXUusH7dTQ2vKjWkBrSofQNIpfrw666kOmFnc6i7UrSpFpIRk83FJjL3OiUJLwNje2ss6XEqEqK8-CGgp5XnLQ_494wZDQam8HR5PU/s1600/IMG_0323.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9gdc78L4bcWsb6acfVUd3WOC0smapuYzsFBN71aXUusH7dTQ2vKjWkBrSofQNIpfrw666kOmFnc6i7UrSpFpIRk83FJjL3OiUJLwNje2ss6XEqEqK8-CGgp5XnLQ_494wZDQam8HR5PU/s320/IMG_0323.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508678448622293218" /></a><em><strong>View from Plateau Rosa</strong></em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Okay, 1.30pm and done for the day. Bugger the physics of it, trial and error is more to my taste. She is great, still a bit frightened of her but she behaves a little better when I get my weight forward. Actually the set up is a huge amount of fun, and it's nice to have to learn again.<br /><br />Down at Furri for a late lunch and a beer, it's mid afternoon and the sun is shining, actually it's bloody hot!! I'm glad I dressed light today. Base layer, TNF soft shell Alpine pants, long sleeved T and a thin TNF zip up hoodie. The pants I am most impressed with. However they don't afford much in the way of protection when you go for a slide arsewise down the glacier (which I managed twice).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis6L93AfPBVJE1ONcGyVF9AnQeoM7KApQDAsdejA47xKdO4A3rg8AXiiXeyChdmHMZ6fvWqZ5jNiDV1WyRhCbfSvHcc2AFZw2Ah3eKFkcQ4PHQikOVgjJA90jN-wbHdsa7N0frI2ceqWM/s1600/IMG_0332.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis6L93AfPBVJE1ONcGyVF9AnQeoM7KApQDAsdejA47xKdO4A3rg8AXiiXeyChdmHMZ6fvWqZ5jNiDV1WyRhCbfSvHcc2AFZw2Ah3eKFkcQ4PHQikOVgjJA90jN-wbHdsa7N0frI2ceqWM/s320/IMG_0332.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508678922405894946" /></a> <strong><em>A colourful picture and a large late lunch</em></strong><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />All in all a good morning, got chatting to a German girl on the T-Bar as we travelled up who was complaining she was a little rusty and her carving was not quite right. I'd hate to see how fast she travelled when it was!! A quick Ciao, and she was gone. Frightening speed. <br /><br />So back to the hotel, 40 winks and a shower before a wee walk round town. Having a swim, sauna and jaccuzi before heading out to find food.<br /><br />I need to get some fitness back, could feel the extra pounds I have mysteriously accummulated since May. Also I felt the altitude today, especially above 3600m when working hard. I seem to recall the same last October, doesn't take long to get used to it.<br /><br />Oh, and I got sunburned.<br /><br />So early Sunday morning and back on the lifts. Got a late checkout, so can ride till the drags stop get a shower and go take a look at my new hone at 4pm. The sun is already blazing but I am plastered in SPF 20 and dressed lightly.<br /><br />Last night was interesting. Got chatting and had a couple of beers with a Scottish climber hoping to do the Matterhorn in the next week or so. Quite a bit of snow on it right now. Funnily enough he turned out to have the same proffession as my better half.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvm4XT6NOi9YygxrmMT06YpEX4jF5_ewYkCURtCoviR2DggDgYRIzu-9rS471uKVRW-fc-kuSiEn7XA_vzkAwmuLZ_GdvUNPKmMcsRqRiLCouxA-7ye5FaqdM5N_YwSq3uLAerADQ62uw/s1600/IMG_0343.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvm4XT6NOi9YygxrmMT06YpEX4jF5_ewYkCURtCoviR2DggDgYRIzu-9rS471uKVRW-fc-kuSiEn7XA_vzkAwmuLZ_GdvUNPKmMcsRqRiLCouxA-7ye5FaqdM5N_YwSq3uLAerADQ62uw/s320/IMG_0343.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508682345270212610" /></a> <em><strong>Taking in the view</strong></em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This is bloody difficult. You can't relax for a second on this thing, aside from the big changes I mentioned the 88deg edge with 1deg bevel is unforgiving if you do.<br /><br />This is the second Prior MFR I bought, the other shorter with traditional camber. This one is for a more advanced rider, as it keeps pointing out rather rudely. Fabulous day up here and quieter than yesterday.<br /><br />So, I got what I assume is mild snowblindness today. Interesting how that happened considering I was wearing sunglasses all day!! Can only guess that they were not full enough and I was getting glare from below. Started with an irritation in my right eye, then my left. Them I couldn't stop blinking and they were watery. This came close to packing in time so I headed back to the Kleine Matterhorn to begin the long drag back to town. Intermittent pain then a strange sensation of being able to focus immediately after blinking then losing focus. All a bit strange, still have the pain now.<br /><br />However back for a bath, pack and change before going to view the appartment one last time before moving. Getting very excited now.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQn9doifzc9V1GMrYXLHu-VuNMZHTj4Ksqe_KKvfnyW4CHJB_J9Vx-h3_99e0y6dAZX55mwu6qH3_q0AuBvlo6DhyphenhyphenO_Eap-DQsPsrOM-vTWYRVZWD8oN0P3TU1tpt3Xd9ipS78u0c8B4Y/s1600/IMG_0369.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQn9doifzc9V1GMrYXLHu-VuNMZHTj4Ksqe_KKvfnyW4CHJB_J9Vx-h3_99e0y6dAZX55mwu6qH3_q0AuBvlo6DhyphenhyphenO_Eap-DQsPsrOM-vTWYRVZWD8oN0P3TU1tpt3Xd9ipS78u0c8B4Y/s320/IMG_0369.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508679894145566018" /></a> <strong><em>View from my soon to be terrace doors</em></strong><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />8.20pm. Zermatt was heaving this weekend, as are the mainline trains I am on now. Stayed at the Hotel Sonne which is very nice indeed with great personal service (picked me up at the station at midnight on Friday), a wonderful pool area and lovely rooms with great little touches. A definate recommendation.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUoAuOgguI9yf1C7sU-Wq6LpgPLHXSX3OupPRlAcBjW-PCVGjPJWKa7mtbn4hnV5ryO3uCE8hs2rXLsrxst2J_1idJ1TTpAmahyphenhyphenA0glZrFoecJ2kxCL184RndAvlbeSmTsD8xYxFN9HDY/s1600/IMG_0322.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUoAuOgguI9yf1C7sU-Wq6LpgPLHXSX3OupPRlAcBjW-PCVGjPJWKa7mtbn4hnV5ryO3uCE8hs2rXLsrxst2J_1idJ1TTpAmahyphenhyphenA0glZrFoecJ2kxCL184RndAvlbeSmTsD8xYxFN9HDY/s320/IMG_0322.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508681399619666034" /></a> <em><strong>View from the Kleine Matterhorn</strong></em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Not a lot else to say really. Have not decided a name for the board yet, maybe a beer on the Basel-Karlsruhe train will help.tino_11http://www.blogger.com/profile/07569955974509944531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702740315285024071.post-19421469469831664712010-07-31T13:58:00.036+02:002010-08-06T17:19:04.511+02:00End of Season Wrap UpWell, along came the New Year and since then I have had snowboarding trips to Zermatt, Grindelwald, Wengen (for the Lauberhorn GS), Mayrhofen, Feldberg and Engelberg. All of which memorable for many reasons, which I will put a few highlights of in this post. In amongst that I was in Poland for work, Helsinki three or four times to see my fiance as well as a long break in Madrid for Easter and two weeks in Costa Rica in June (this will get its own post). With all that travel I neglected to update the blog as much as I should.<br /><br />So I only managed 42 days of snowboarding which was 18 days short of my ambitious 60. However I was a great season with some true highlights.<br /><br /><strong>1. Missing most of the Lauberhorn GS due to the fact I was stuck in a ravine, armpit deep in snow.<br /><br />2. A massive powder weekend in Engelberg with the most extreme off piste I have done so far.<br /><br />3. A warm and hedonistic 5 days in Mayrhofen for Snowbombing. Collecting both the XXL Runde and the 13,000m certificates and falling down the Harakiri<br /><br />4. Last weekend of the season in Zermatt, mountains to myself and a badly damaged board as a consequence.</strong><br /><br />So where to start then? Wegnen seems as good a place as any...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEQ9_tKHePC9gyqM0pWjIFcoXqzuFyMd6QylRA2Xxcbin6SNDSwaPLzmdr9uo6vFHVU5n8VhXfsSKNtVdLsDrEoS3tyE_bgigJaS7u41JnW6u-VWx1xaJ-SAY3Wu4jmkwBzgfVQN4sWi8/s1600/P1010768.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEQ9_tKHePC9gyqM0pWjIFcoXqzuFyMd6QylRA2Xxcbin6SNDSwaPLzmdr9uo6vFHVU5n8VhXfsSKNtVdLsDrEoS3tyE_bgigJaS7u41JnW6u-VWx1xaJ-SAY3Wu4jmkwBzgfVQN4sWi8/s320/P1010768.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500054577340119442" /></a><br /><br /><em>Off-Piste, enetering the ravine....</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The snow was fantastic and the off-piste a little too inviting, I tried to take a direct line to the lift at the bottom and ended up in a ravine with 20ft high sides and soft snow to my waist in general, but up to my armpits on occasion. After 2 attempts to climb up and out, I realised I was committed and I for the sake of safety I had to hike down the path of the ravine until it flattened out next to the botom of the piste. 1 hour 25 in total, heart racing and soaked in sweat I collapsed at my mates feet.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioSTpC3IoHkyKkU11V04H1yD8bIwRfoxt_Ven8wMQQCJbHG3PJUeJw2kHjuG8RF9HiV4g7H_0A4yxrPbJ-6esFrl2ovTccc-Up0eN3ycLWNTszUj3Qy24ZpH7zgCBJD2tUW_IF9OvvGlU/s1600/P1010774.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioSTpC3IoHkyKkU11V04H1yD8bIwRfoxt_Ven8wMQQCJbHG3PJUeJw2kHjuG8RF9HiV4g7H_0A4yxrPbJ-6esFrl2ovTccc-Up0eN3ycLWNTszUj3Qy24ZpH7zgCBJD2tUW_IF9OvvGlU/s320/P1010774.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500053135763475634" /></a><br /><br /><em>Trying to hike out of the ravine....</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />So back up on the lift to discover there were only 2 skiers left to run the course! I had missed almost the entire race. What else to do apart from ride down to Wengen and savour some of the atmosphere. Herds of cows in the streets complete with bells, a marching band dressed in kilts, thousands of skiers/snowboarders/spectators and locals all drinking and having fun. Couple of beers and a sandwich later we boarded the train back up to Kleine Scheidegg to do a twylight desent to Grindelwald.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxyNiztuNOCSSgS7y1zydSj8-Qiuf0Env_ApkvBK42yJC-muXI915a5T06YNPmW1dJSGEsNpnoTqTtC0AXPkTPCvZPlYr7JbHodgTUKM4U2SnkQ4hvfXzl7O22QcruyZaNLhvZ-cTAX64/s1600/P1010765.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxyNiztuNOCSSgS7y1zydSj8-Qiuf0Env_ApkvBK42yJC-muXI915a5T06YNPmW1dJSGEsNpnoTqTtC0AXPkTPCvZPlYr7JbHodgTUKM4U2SnkQ4hvfXzl7O22QcruyZaNLhvZ-cTAX64/s320/P1010765.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500061303479663730" /></a><br /><br /><em>Top of the course in Wengen...</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeIB3JkF9khJoCAIX_gReHt4_OzPdduXI7s2ijnFiptn3EPX38Jn7Z03vX5pgyZ10qtkM4Z0i3d1AsoIuQizTiYDu_ITZ7hcXNBNUm4CDsCa2P8xSX9DaazGi_w5qxnBPzU-C2d3kQsGg/s1600/P1010786.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeIB3JkF9khJoCAIX_gReHt4_OzPdduXI7s2ijnFiptn3EPX38Jn7Z03vX5pgyZ10qtkM4Z0i3d1AsoIuQizTiYDu_ITZ7hcXNBNUm4CDsCa2P8xSX9DaazGi_w5qxnBPzU-C2d3kQsGg/s320/P1010786.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500060405397325426" /></a><br /><em>A fantastic evening for snowboarding...</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />So onto Engelberg, and unfortunately I have no photo's available from this trip as I broke my camera in Wengen. The first time I had taken a backpack up the slopes, usually ahering to the philosiphy that if it don't go in your pockets you don't need it. Anyway, backpack packed with spare layer, bottle of water, hipflask of rum and my camera and I'm off boarding. First fall on my back breaks the camera, typical as all those years in my pocket it never suffered. So I am gonna shamelessly steal from the web and post a piste map for reference.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.myslopes.com/images/en/piste-map-engelberg-a289.jpg">Engelberg Piste Map</a><br /><br />Engelberg is an off-piste heaven. Actually, the resorts tagline is "it's heaven", and it's not wrong. Saturday morning, first on the lifts and there is just miles of untracked off-piste powder. With about 50cm of snow overnight this was gonna be a hell of a day.<br /><br />So for those of you familiar with the resort, or who are inclined to look at the map, I can tell you that the Black 12 on the Graustock is simply amazing with half a metre of powder on it. Not that is was open with half a metre of powder on it, but that didn't seem to be putting off a few die hards. I did it accidently without realising it was closed, look up at it from the bottom with a big smile and had to do it again. I know, I know, not the wisest thing in the world, and I stopped short of doing it 3 times, but quite possibly the best two runs I have done to date. Steep and deep.<br /><br />Sunday threw up another challenge, the itinary run from the glacier to Stand, this is just hilariously bumpy and steep, a true work out for the legs. It got to tiring for me on the board, so I went seriously off-piste to get a layer of powder under the board. When my mate got down on his skis a couple of minutes after me I thought he was going to expire!! Huge fun.<br /><br />In between these two great moments of riding, and on a true high, I decided to pop the question to my girlfriend, who was not there. Not one for drawing out decisions, I called her to ask. After establishing that I had in fact been drinking, but was compos mentis enough to know what I was doing she agreed. Now we are moving to Zermatt together in October, and there might be a mountain wedding on the cards in the next 9 months or so.<br /><br />So for many reasons Engelberg has a place in my heart, it's definately going to become an annual pilgrimage, I have even started to look at "buy to rent" property there!<br /><br />Don't think I need to write much about various weekends in Zermatt, as this blog is soon gonna become rather Zermattified. That being said there is no reson not to have a few pictures from my trip down in March.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl6ZecBe7qkXKpFQT8RGSF47Ou8XmZkcz9lq2kKf-ui6H9BclBlkpB6T0CvFl4TomNqbqqe09XYFYYOMLcYDOjQ8PJt7r1bUXg2gHGCGHLhzQcORsEvAzWOwc_Vs7peiUvXUCZdXmam6g/s1600/IMG_0015.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl6ZecBe7qkXKpFQT8RGSF47Ou8XmZkcz9lq2kKf-ui6H9BclBlkpB6T0CvFl4TomNqbqqe09XYFYYOMLcYDOjQ8PJt7r1bUXg2gHGCGHLhzQcORsEvAzWOwc_Vs7peiUvXUCZdXmam6g/s320/IMG_0015.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500083937698193074" /></a><br /><br /><em>A view down the empty Black run between Furgg and Furi...</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJOn-NoYgpVqG2MaFbn2VzkYCM5YpcS5TfQj3BkxKBZu6HepGGCiz9eAbQAPHLEjU0rctE4K4zTnSTxAQ27vd2-dh7H3fVkQuJxLyl36hdCssyaFH5yrfwOh5s7l68yVHdGGhyphenhyphenedNgD4s/s1600/IMG_0019.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJOn-NoYgpVqG2MaFbn2VzkYCM5YpcS5TfQj3BkxKBZu6HepGGCiz9eAbQAPHLEjU0rctE4K4zTnSTxAQ27vd2-dh7H3fVkQuJxLyl36hdCssyaFH5yrfwOh5s7l68yVHdGGhyphenhyphenedNgD4s/s320/IMG_0019.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500085347341036322" /></a><br /><br /><em>My favorite coffee stop at Riffelalp...</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5DmB5KvxA8moqIxkr6yX8pCRy4CmH77mEBEzHmlErZLuuHKVJ-0V0qfSVBFF2WqTyJzjuBmZ4qV_c__cpNFNJ-l8QW2Abk_AZMXYzVVELaRlgjFdbT2hlQGCwat2Vhb_b23SpdTCDRCI/s1600/IMG_0017.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5DmB5KvxA8moqIxkr6yX8pCRy4CmH77mEBEzHmlErZLuuHKVJ-0V0qfSVBFF2WqTyJzjuBmZ4qV_c__cpNFNJ-l8QW2Abk_AZMXYzVVELaRlgjFdbT2hlQGCwat2Vhb_b23SpdTCDRCI/s320/IMG_0017.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500084610766170962" /></a><br /><br /><em>Flat runs out to Furi...</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Where next? 5 days in Mayrhofen, for the fun and games that is Snowbombing. My fourth year at this festival in the snow (and sun). I am getting to old to do the package with wristband included, so usually we sort our own accomodation, do the traditional apres ski thing, and only really get involved with the mayhem on the slopes and the night of the street party. That being said the atmosphere is always great fun, wether you are raving with Zippy or sleeping off the excesses in a field, there is something for everyone.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3fpiNDGi1nGrWL5TUHu4APByOTJ_5tC1K6KcNBiu-TbEMRCrrc6GNEMOPZGem54ueNS1Ck6r28RFeT8xmt8XF7ghU3aGwAo71oD11RkIwB6xJv58MbOtDVb1SlL8ojx63X2WAFs7tkp4/s1600/IMG_0157.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3fpiNDGi1nGrWL5TUHu4APByOTJ_5tC1K6KcNBiu-TbEMRCrrc6GNEMOPZGem54ueNS1Ck6r28RFeT8xmt8XF7ghU3aGwAo71oD11RkIwB6xJv58MbOtDVb1SlL8ojx63X2WAFs7tkp4/s320/IMG_0157.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500087935498879986" /></a><br /><em><br />The madness starts here....</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizmW9SJJts-jIEF9gSRUM-nGOF8NBdkYb-bC_-m7ymIhL-pD69HE8nXsVAN54xZX153WM8Yeg1NXMEuLFl3h6tH3kNa7ww6WrnnLKwe-vpKwtdKINOUyqY7VVsheSXzRgrflRsjoc6Ew4/s1600/IMG_0160.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizmW9SJJts-jIEF9gSRUM-nGOF8NBdkYb-bC_-m7ymIhL-pD69HE8nXsVAN54xZX153WM8Yeg1NXMEuLFl3h6tH3kNa7ww6WrnnLKwe-vpKwtdKINOUyqY7VVsheSXzRgrflRsjoc6Ew4/s320/IMG_0160.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500089562740326002" /></a><br /><br /><em>It just gets stranger...</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />There was a five point challenge issued early on in the holiday consisting of the following:<br /><br />1. To get a certificate for the <a href="http://winter.mayrhofner-bergbahnen.com/en/100305/100317/view/481/hoehenmeter-fresser_runde_anspruchsvoll.html">Gaining Elevation Tour</a>, 13,000m of vertical in one day.<br /><br />2. Get a kiss from a robot (harder than it sounds)<br /><br />3. Get down the Harakiri (78% gradient and Austria's steepest prepared piste)<br /><br />4. Not suitable for family reading unfortunately, sounds much worse than it is, which is what made it so funny!!<br /><br />5. Do the <a href="http://winter.mayrhofner-bergbahnen.com/en/100304/100316/view/479/xxl_runde_skifahren_aktion.html">XXL Runde</a> ski safari taking in every corner of the surrounding mountains<br /><br />Well, with a challenge like that who would decline. Out of the 4 of us, I was the only one to complete all 5 challenges, if you can count sliding down the bottom half of the Harakiri head first on your back as completing the challenge. The top half was fine, even though the condition of the piste was somewhat questionable.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfOEg_BtF5ZN4-mE6oH98pluiByii1MD4BeNwGxBGjGmq5TmkCKmsZNVHieqBwDHzxt0_TvNPn0oY5u5BMnwHncC9Ey1PDwGtSqDNjBfPKkdeCFf3i2QHme9lyPK3OzTdOscamTwAFGCE/s1600/IMG_0198.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfOEg_BtF5ZN4-mE6oH98pluiByii1MD4BeNwGxBGjGmq5TmkCKmsZNVHieqBwDHzxt0_TvNPn0oY5u5BMnwHncC9Ey1PDwGtSqDNjBfPKkdeCFf3i2QHme9lyPK3OzTdOscamTwAFGCE/s320/IMG_0198.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500125177424887218" /></a><br /><br /><em>Hmm, looks okay to me...</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />And if anyone is in any doubt what it is like to come off half way down, as I did, this gives you a little insight into the difficulty of stopping. <br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpy5c1dR3aI&feature=related"><br />...a little tumble on the hill</a><br /><br />Funnily enough thats near enough where I decided a wee lie down might be appropriate.<br /><br />So after the chaos of Mayrhofen with the lads, the rest of the season was played out on various weekends in Zermatt. The last weekend I did was in May, the main resorts' last weekend and it was great. Quiet slopes, no lift lines anywhere, sunny and warm. I didn't know it at the time, but the Sunday was to be the last day of my season and one of the best in terms of really letting rip on the mountain. I had no idea that when starting next season I would be living here.<br /><br />Roll on October 1st, new job, new home, new country, new start,.....<br /><br /><strong>NEW SEASON.</strong>tino_11http://www.blogger.com/profile/07569955974509944531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702740315285024071.post-72235496052341530342010-01-08T17:55:00.035+01:002010-01-08T23:01:07.374+01:00Oban & Glencoe - 4th - 9th JanuaryNot a snowboarding trip unfortunately but a relaxing few days and some lovely pictures nonetheless. A New Year spent in Newcastle with my daughter and a night in Glasgow before a few relaxing days in Oban with my folks. Was planning on bringing a snowboard with me and spending a couple of days up at Glencoe, but decided against hauling all my kit all over the UK which was just as well as I would have missed my flight out if I had more than hand luggage.<br /><br />So just been mooching around and taking some pictures. It' strange being on the west coast of Scotland and having the most settled weather in the UK. It's been cold but no fresh show at sea level. One day saw a long walk along the beach with the dogs.<br /><br />The next day saw me heading out to assist my father and common-law brother in law in a shore dive at Loch Creran. A very cold morning (-3deg), but clear and settled.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5PLVCKhPvRYs7ZyIs17p7bn6JCwhnCxw5RWVE1CX0l7GWjZUV81iyrCmW9J1H74RVhBU-VEoJ1nfkpAclu-C-hE0bG71EjA7poKrz1WQ9ZnHtwhojfcPWffH9GY_e-mwNZ6ZojHzZS2A/s1600-h/P1010355.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5PLVCKhPvRYs7ZyIs17p7bn6JCwhnCxw5RWVE1CX0l7GWjZUV81iyrCmW9J1H74RVhBU-VEoJ1nfkpAclu-C-hE0bG71EjA7poKrz1WQ9ZnHtwhojfcPWffH9GY_e-mwNZ6ZojHzZS2A/s320/P1010355.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424415628165239170" /></a> <br /><br /><em>Rather them than me!!</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuMOnQxZ73r-P5oto6F2CnXu0I2ZvPk4IIxa7_zwC5T8WDKEtxFy_SFAE0bQg_EXrkcuW8LPAUUmQj_30iK3Et9uEay3gn93cXrjTcK501iUVN-4sXcQoZR_V_B41miaUwl9APGF_3fZY/s1600-h/P1010357.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuMOnQxZ73r-P5oto6F2CnXu0I2ZvPk4IIxa7_zwC5T8WDKEtxFy_SFAE0bQg_EXrkcuW8LPAUUmQj_30iK3Et9uEay3gn93cXrjTcK501iUVN-4sXcQoZR_V_B41miaUwl9APGF_3fZY/s320/P1010357.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424416861295079362" /></a><br /><br /><em>The water was 10 degrees warmer than the air</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />All of this activity left me 3o minutes to take some pictures whilst they were under. Unfortunately my sisters bloke had his dry suit leak and he spent 30 minutes in the water freezing his preverbials off. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3yi8taV88eID2A71fgu0z5-WdgdahJXDzV3mIE5BUxdkuRscrGpFbjytSu8v7X0jDL7WH8Ybje7MQyWrZZgs7gFlfjtrxHMQrjveDkW1wP-59dWqScrTFYt57GtELWvgsmiG3sNlzuIk/s1600-h/P1010363.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3yi8taV88eID2A71fgu0z5-WdgdahJXDzV3mIE5BUxdkuRscrGpFbjytSu8v7X0jDL7WH8Ybje7MQyWrZZgs7gFlfjtrxHMQrjveDkW1wP-59dWqScrTFYt57GtELWvgsmiG3sNlzuIk/s320/P1010363.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424418349013527570" /></a><br /><br /><em>Stunning scenary</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga_HyCbxWefg4eQcRlM2tsxh3ZmBlC1uRdxl3NR-C9bL_iGaOCu7z-iR20tkzpTERW0AWpNoiJrodJZ-zTInMbwYH22XKmzt4nJfh30V1CCGmVrL9ZqGEb2iBH6LyMUpmsFK4UJzNzEI4/s1600-h/P1010369.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga_HyCbxWefg4eQcRlM2tsxh3ZmBlC1uRdxl3NR-C9bL_iGaOCu7z-iR20tkzpTERW0AWpNoiJrodJZ-zTInMbwYH22XKmzt4nJfh30V1CCGmVrL9ZqGEb2iBH6LyMUpmsFK4UJzNzEI4/s320/P1010369.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424419331318973506" /></a><br /><br /><em>Colourful beach</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Later that afternoon we headed up to Glencoe for some lunch and a drive through the pass. After a massive and extremely warming serving of Haggis, Neeps and Tatties at the climbers hangout "<a href="http://www.clachaig.com/">Clachaig Inn</a>", we headed up to the pass leading to Rannoch Moor to get a good glimpse of the snow. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwGKM6fzVRFjgPNlcak-tTbRlQMWoflPo3loDfAh7LT_iAopppqweLBJaQpwmVim8G5awGSPUMY6YN-7fRMDpO7nb0QvB_J0jvxlpAcUuMDuhx1WU1evy4tTyUlIJ6aEceHD9Akul6UsY/s1600-h/P1010377.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwGKM6fzVRFjgPNlcak-tTbRlQMWoflPo3loDfAh7LT_iAopppqweLBJaQpwmVim8G5awGSPUMY6YN-7fRMDpO7nb0QvB_J0jvxlpAcUuMDuhx1WU1evy4tTyUlIJ6aEceHD9Akul6UsY/s320/P1010377.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424422224279420434" /></a><br /><br /><em>Clear skies and fantastic light</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />It was cold up there, about -7 degrees and not a huge amounts of snow compared to the other Scottish resorts especially the Cairngorms which is appartently having a record January. However it did make me yearn to out with my snowboard wrapped up and throwing myself down the mountainside. So much so that I have decided to head for the Jungfrau on the 15th and catch the Lauberhornrennen.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHUj8fTn_vtZZXcVcbawEt-3bwEUigVDmyLHnAedUX5grV8WDq2AXqgnTlka96xSAxtchmI_ZhFuL-P-aHPfPDGkMAUd8mMpsf671D5YxXCS8kAb11839fZlRFB6eW0l9Zaxa4K8-6Q64/s1600-h/P1010376.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHUj8fTn_vtZZXcVcbawEt-3bwEUigVDmyLHnAedUX5grV8WDq2AXqgnTlka96xSAxtchmI_ZhFuL-P-aHPfPDGkMAUd8mMpsf671D5YxXCS8kAb11839fZlRFB6eW0l9Zaxa4K8-6Q64/s320/P1010376.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424423886143437538" /></a><br /><br /><em>Rannoch Moor</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZvojZz0OnSaMM7S7QO-7Op0QDqJaggTJMSU8YOR2UbjwWR4tTbFB_thdfAfbINdU5XVsbrs8LYw-p1Sr0gMVK4tzhBV0o8dfUHTD8x0g0u6gT-EdMlBxrkObmGq3a9hriDFSY3bzKc70/s1600-h/P1010383.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZvojZz0OnSaMM7S7QO-7Op0QDqJaggTJMSU8YOR2UbjwWR4tTbFB_thdfAfbINdU5XVsbrs8LYw-p1Sr0gMVK4tzhBV0o8dfUHTD8x0g0u6gT-EdMlBxrkObmGq3a9hriDFSY3bzKc70/s320/P1010383.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424425021290014498" /></a><br /><br /><em>I'll stick to the car thanks</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />So to today and a lovely walk along the headland and back along the beach with the two dogs. Stayed behind to catch the sunset on the way back. I really had forgotton how beautiful this bit of coastline is, the colours are wonderful and the sheer range of landscape is wonderfully refreshing after living in a rather flat part of Germany, miles from any coastline.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtJpCkpAABZCcXIxwWXhQ_OZBBEi3sDPCm5ulDimr5o6pSbxct-i1VS258t8Bv5va6hq7I2dZxqrwRF0xqsdfYKvg0UK2zRPNbnGuKl24dusOKx8Hi91LR0cDXC5ClLUvC7bDjz1d52G8/s1600-h/P1010402.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtJpCkpAABZCcXIxwWXhQ_OZBBEi3sDPCm5ulDimr5o6pSbxct-i1VS258t8Bv5va6hq7I2dZxqrwRF0xqsdfYKvg0UK2zRPNbnGuKl24dusOKx8Hi91LR0cDXC5ClLUvC7bDjz1d52G8/s320/P1010402.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424428084547039714" /></a><br /><br /><em>Amber having a great time</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />No matter how far you walk the, they must be covering four time the distance as they keep shooting off then running back. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl4yJ9KPxnrLADWPeuVz4w58DhHeg_FnuzhKV4eFqOdRv6cQMwjOIuRrnEHRrHL5aW977B5FSDfglM0_EvK_6W1zjY5rbs7sCglVpwXWzp2sbIWnc_o9vVsYzVccC3iI3QzulfXWLDWdg/s1600-h/P1010426.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl4yJ9KPxnrLADWPeuVz4w58DhHeg_FnuzhKV4eFqOdRv6cQMwjOIuRrnEHRrHL5aW977B5FSDfglM0_EvK_6W1zjY5rbs7sCglVpwXWzp2sbIWnc_o9vVsYzVccC3iI3QzulfXWLDWdg/s320/P1010426.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424428107402168466" /></a><br /><br /><em>Phenomenal colours</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkOkykDsDIQYfAnkSW_25jl2SiLfV6cKLHTeaLfvYTBmNpq0g_uZ5wtgWQr9uqIlnT1Batk-z8RLP8z4OpUWcwYHKJKGtufHXb-eM4DRceBN5xcd3ZnssV_TJWrW4FAaFqaNK_kdunfqI/s1600-h/P1010405.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkOkykDsDIQYfAnkSW_25jl2SiLfV6cKLHTeaLfvYTBmNpq0g_uZ5wtgWQr9uqIlnT1Batk-z8RLP8z4OpUWcwYHKJKGtufHXb-eM4DRceBN5xcd3ZnssV_TJWrW4FAaFqaNK_kdunfqI/s320/P1010405.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424428070916823650" /></a><br /><br /><em>Dunstaffnage</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This was as far a we walked today, but it gave a great view of the mountain Ben Cruachan under which lies Taynult where my granparents lived when I was a kid.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN4-k6yyK7vc4IfNv8IOM15KRLWdQB0o4j_0iDIvZTGowH9Kd5aOAVJgEIJjm8B4UllHoTtvWFJG2rm9TXlBgBgV8ogFVEazxvJp6GLt42Vj5u53NSbNU70ZEllzgP4qjGUAJNaWGQoUM/s1600-h/P1010407.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN4-k6yyK7vc4IfNv8IOM15KRLWdQB0o4j_0iDIvZTGowH9Kd5aOAVJgEIJjm8B4UllHoTtvWFJG2rm9TXlBgBgV8ogFVEazxvJp6GLt42Vj5u53NSbNU70ZEllzgP4qjGUAJNaWGQoUM/s320/P1010407.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424428095951008466" /></a><br /><br /><em>Ben Cruachan</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />So turning around and walking back the sun started setting. Every night this week there has been beautiful sunsets, with many pastel colours and I was determined to get a few snaps before heading home. Problem being the sunset was 40 minutes off and I would have to wait in the cold, it was well worth it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrWYztxTLTJgl7j3LUJ7jBpmmH6fvJS4mTVs5pC18tdqwhS5atelD87bCzHwakUCce4yqtGDBEPeq-KAsuHDP7tccnVpxPJbDjR2YLbgVyy6Pei0E6GPdaxHrs-Dz522AJrbxLm_niM0M/s1600-h/P1010471.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrWYztxTLTJgl7j3LUJ7jBpmmH6fvJS4mTVs5pC18tdqwhS5atelD87bCzHwakUCce4yqtGDBEPeq-KAsuHDP7tccnVpxPJbDjR2YLbgVyy6Pei0E6GPdaxHrs-Dz522AJrbxLm_niM0M/s320/P1010471.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424478529835713170" /></a><br /><br /><em>Contrasting landscape</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqwHG8G0XR2BJgSnnBXqwQWOUfi814O1Y13_xGrdev6gRnW9Irgi3xnUEsRPUmIxV0q4qfAwCYSnPmepMzGqNlq0zEPi-KOsonnjKzKM0arWsXKBLTKp7iUIIzPCtTD9ZjwtUpMJUCSZQ/s1600-h/P1010509.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqwHG8G0XR2BJgSnnBXqwQWOUfi814O1Y13_xGrdev6gRnW9Irgi3xnUEsRPUmIxV0q4qfAwCYSnPmepMzGqNlq0zEPi-KOsonnjKzKM0arWsXKBLTKp7iUIIzPCtTD9ZjwtUpMJUCSZQ/s320/P1010509.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424474473374504594" /></a><br /><br /><em>Stunning sunset</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZiXW07ejTO_jXA9Oj2n5YJigniwp0faE_TfgXfyZLn4ALZQuuCeNBuc-EiM7aiy4JjeGIHNBCLYRdLJ9Mkx0gDxbLjBEoWQ3YRkjqFSKljY7GQLI3MKQstN50-8mA0iPGoytx1hSP51E/s1600-h/P1010518.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZiXW07ejTO_jXA9Oj2n5YJigniwp0faE_TfgXfyZLn4ALZQuuCeNBuc-EiM7aiy4JjeGIHNBCLYRdLJ9Mkx0gDxbLjBEoWQ3YRkjqFSKljY7GQLI3MKQstN50-8mA0iPGoytx1hSP51E/s320/P1010518.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424473637564601186" /></a><br /><br /><em>The end of a lovely walk</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />All in all a very relaxing week with the family!tino_11http://www.blogger.com/profile/07569955974509944531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702740315285024071.post-49331887904194072342009-12-26T22:49:00.034+01:002009-12-29T21:32:42.079+01:00Grindelwald - 24th - 27th December<strong>Day 19 of 60. Christmas Eve.</strong> It's 12.55pm and having a wee break at Kleine Scheidegg. A mixed bag weather-wise. Gonna ride down blue 22 to Brandegg for some Rösti. After a very quick but filling lunch I ran the remainder of the Blue 22 back to Grindelwald. It was closed, but hey. I remember cracking a rib on that run this day last year and that was when it was open, now unpisted it's like a wee walk in the sun. I have been having trouble with my boots today, I think they are just about done, a lot of the support has disintergtated, don't think they will last another 41 days!! <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizjQwQc7a3UXRAq5UebyAg82Y6MwBzpq7dxbN2QJvQXKwUBdFCrt5zdyGhJE6KuLOta_K9HmcFTepFDXySIAtpD-7BJrIKDRsVWwEaD-jnEFjiSu1KviKSKsVz72U84Ib-8X1xYuw0jwY/s1600-h/Wetterhorn+1.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizjQwQc7a3UXRAq5UebyAg82Y6MwBzpq7dxbN2QJvQXKwUBdFCrt5zdyGhJE6KuLOta_K9HmcFTepFDXySIAtpD-7BJrIKDRsVWwEaD-jnEFjiSu1KviKSKsVz72U84Ib-8X1xYuw0jwY/s320/Wetterhorn+1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419668797876124930" /></a><br /><br /><em>The Wetterhorn</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />On the train back to Kleine Scheidegg. That's twice from there to Wengen and twice to Grindelwald today along with sone messing up top. Think I'll ride the Red 21 back to Grindelwald a couple of times before having a wee cheeky at the tepee at KS before a twighlight decent back to base. Did the bottom half of the Lauberhorn twice this morning but was feeling a bit awkward with my boots so never ran it top to bottom. Tara is in for a hand done service today; base grind, gouges fillled, waxed and edges tuned to 88 degrees. Not cheap but I asked the guy to really spend some time and effort personally. He said he would do his best but feels the edges are to badly damaged to get perfect. Think I will write to Prior, the edges just don't seem as hard as on my other two boards. Assuming she is good enough nick I am gonna do time trails down the Lauberhorn tomorrow. Gotta say the last steep into the grandstand is somewhat of an issue!! <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFfBdRvuXs3-BIQvaJz-mGp2zT7A3MsfZIPHTBNJ88XiciWjD4W8iaaH_5568gbL07FgcGe2n10GepgGwKiCvkv4sDBKwEbc86FXq7o-Skh0oQpfl76pB-2DmWiUGWNwFZFSRnzrvjut4/s1600-h/Grandstand.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFfBdRvuXs3-BIQvaJz-mGp2zT7A3MsfZIPHTBNJ88XiciWjD4W8iaaH_5568gbL07FgcGe2n10GepgGwKiCvkv4sDBKwEbc86FXq7o-Skh0oQpfl76pB-2DmWiUGWNwFZFSRnzrvjut4/s320/Grandstand.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419680396891499650" /></a><br /><br /><em>Building the Granstand</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Even on Christmas Eve this place is quiet this year. I have noticed it everywhere I have been, just not as many skiers or snowboarders around. Must be a sign of the economy. It should mean there are deals to be had mind. <br /><br />Well once over the snowboard-unfriendly top section of Red 21 it is an awesome run!! A wee bit slushy at the very bottom, but magic in the middle section through the trees. Down for the day and I've just picked up Tara. What an wonderful job the guy has done, he has restored the edges to just about thier former glory. The base has be filled and he has finished it with a micro groove (!?!?) to make it go faster alledgedly, we shall see tomorrow but I am thrilled with what I can see. She's going nowhere near any more rocks!! It cost 80 CHF which is about £50 but it's infinately better than the machine service I had done in Saalbach. <br /><br />My goodness, it's 10.22pm, I've just retired to the smoking room after an 8 course Christmas dinner and a wonderful bottle of Chilean Cabernet. I had planned to find a wee bar and see in Christmas day with like minded souls, but I can not move!! <br /><br />Taken a wander into town and ordered a large beer to see me through to midnight, but at 40 minutes from now I don't think I'll last. Everyone seems so young and energetic, I feel distinctly worn out, not to mention full. I have spent 3 months on the hop, working and snowboarding. Flip side is I have never been fitter, I can romp up a hill in boots with a snowboard in either arm and a fag in my mouth without feeling it. Ah I suppose we will see what the morning brings, I guess a few family phonecalls, around 50km of snowboarding, a few beers and a full belly. Merry Christmas to anyone and everyone!!! <br /><br /><strong>Day 20 of 60. Christmas Day.</strong> A third of the way to my target. It rained at village level last night and it really is quite warm. Yesterday I didn't need my hat or goggles which is a marked difference to Saalbach a week ago!! Didn't set an alarm for this morning and enjoyed a little Christmas day treat, a lie in. Well it 10.30am and I'm on the gondola to Mannlichen, now I know this lift is slow but I am in no hurry today and want to do everything whilst here. However it's stopped for the 3rd time now and I am regretting my decision. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoED55USYWJo1Jeah-44FSChq_IxK0lASEVb9wQ1Y15eFfSkjlZvjOg2LPe0OUUvtvV8pMmwZQjDcZwajH-hf7vAjGAP8r6PHuqOaYD6IXOfXV4mUnol3_TkK_pMnybVzwRoTZUZr9jGk/s1600-h/Mannlichen.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoED55USYWJo1Jeah-44FSChq_IxK0lASEVb9wQ1Y15eFfSkjlZvjOg2LPe0OUUvtvV8pMmwZQjDcZwajH-hf7vAjGAP8r6PHuqOaYD6IXOfXV4mUnol3_TkK_pMnybVzwRoTZUZr9jGk/s320/Mannlichen.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419667769468029138" /></a><br /><br /><em>A sign of things to come</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />So Mannlichen was dreadful, icy underfoot and blowing a blizzard on top. Back over the top to KS and far more pleasant with powder on the piste. Down to Wengen and lunch at Restaurant Allmend. I have witnessed 3 helicopter rescues so far, it seems every corner I turn the bloody thing lands in front of me!! <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw84ewpHEg9AhAVhZPtHpGQaQ-UnrKYrbgXhmLa91_egrgpiLt4MAsJ2-VfHrtfARTOpAgbZlhJIzHPIU27Fg7D0GhmhXCsyCgJXzv2pQBO9ONfxokqzIMVrG8PpdFSGi4b090RSYFe8U/s1600-h/Rescue+1.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw84ewpHEg9AhAVhZPtHpGQaQ-UnrKYrbgXhmLa91_egrgpiLt4MAsJ2-VfHrtfARTOpAgbZlhJIzHPIU27Fg7D0GhmhXCsyCgJXzv2pQBO9ONfxokqzIMVrG8PpdFSGi4b090RSYFe8U/s320/Rescue+1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419669860633500066" /></a><br /><br /><em>A common sight</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Yesterday I was on about the steep at the bottom of the Lauberhorn downhill, well I've just come down the slalom course (no slalom) and it's even steeper! I've now done the top section of the Lauberhorn following some skiers in visibility of 20ft, everyone bottled the middle section and I was not about to argue. Sun is forecast for tomorrow so I am gonna delay my full attempt till then. I don't mind ice, rocks, deep powder, slush, but bad light freaks me out. <br /><br />So 4pm and having a Gluhwein at KS before riding out and having a quiet Christmas night. Christmas dinner was excellent again, and after acquiring a corkscrew and an adapter I had the chance to watch some British Christmas TV and update the Saalbach Hinterglemm section of my blog. <br /><br /><strong>Day 21 of 60. Boxing Day.</strong> <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTsbJuSSYml69irqw34nTOIKUaV_ZkHuOYkshmxuDLHW4oIJm5396ql6P3FEOoIoUIGN_iGTkfO-48lbmkf7WnZ-vsTxb-fZmLsUGRmLPw83Q2N7nSwGT3y7bt6pfyW_hpUyo_s6l8yuU/s1600-h/A+Lovely+Day.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTsbJuSSYml69irqw34nTOIKUaV_ZkHuOYkshmxuDLHW4oIJm5396ql6P3FEOoIoUIGN_iGTkfO-48lbmkf7WnZ-vsTxb-fZmLsUGRmLPw83Q2N7nSwGT3y7bt6pfyW_hpUyo_s6l8yuU/s320/A+Lovely+Day.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420753214999125314" /></a><br /><br /><em>A Lovely Day</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Got up at a reasonable time this morning and headed for the sunny pistes of First. There is a big contrast to the KS area, far more boarder friendly but not as interesting. Flew around a while before taking the Bort Direct Black run back to Bort for a quick chicken and chips accompanied by a particulary cold pint of Coke. That is a great little run actually, one of those that you wait patiently for a break in the traffic then hurtle yourself down. This time I made a mistake and came round a right hand bend on my front edge, high and just off piste to avoid the exposed surface on the tight turn. Before I realised it I was committed to a 6ft drop onto a flat section of hard piste which was about 10ft wide. Thinking I might be able to clear it with a bit of thrust I committed the front of the board straight at it, sprang and aimed for the powder on the far side. Thinking I had made it I leant back for the landing determined to ride it out. Unfortnately the powder wasn't powder and the rear of my board connected with a large chunk of snow covered ice. Pushing my back leg forward with as much force as I could I got the heelside edge into the the slope and eventally ground to a halt, not before my backside took the brunt of a few jarring bumps over the uneven and hard surface. Oh well, no harm done and off to run the Lauberhorn top to bottom at last.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvALa1zKVHSEPuSJyHZqmSujU9kTTxAZu1T8R5qKxBNsj1InN_7X75UmHZHfWOK9x896CtVQKM8Ar5K9c-Ujt8P9KuQFFdYgl37uducb3oyJSXe6CFo1vaHYv-admh512IQF1VKVydDug/s1600-h/A+lone+Boarder.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvALa1zKVHSEPuSJyHZqmSujU9kTTxAZu1T8R5qKxBNsj1InN_7X75UmHZHfWOK9x896CtVQKM8Ar5K9c-Ujt8P9KuQFFdYgl37uducb3oyJSXe6CFo1vaHYv-admh512IQF1VKVydDug/s320/A+lone+Boarder.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419670970323754162" /></a><br /><br /><em>A lone Boarder on the First side</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I am about to go all American again. AWESOME. What a run, that is simply magnificent. It has everything from very quick carving sections, jumps and tunnels to extremely tight bends followed by icy steeps. I watched this video of it last night but it doesn't really quite let you know how tricky some of the sections are.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/mN3ihZ6yB_U&hl=en_GB&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/mN3ihZ6yB_U&hl=en_GB&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /> My back leg is having a disco all by itself as I write this watching some experts fly down the last section and some not so experts falling down it. It's a shame but it's not a run you can stop and take photos on. I am tempted to go and buy a helmet only so I can put a camera on it and do that all over again :-) Simply magnificent. <br /><br />I have a new idea for next seasons challenge which I will poll during the last third of this one: <br /><br /><strong>IDEA 1:</strong> Ride the 2010/2011 European World Cup circuit. <br /><br />Riding down from KS on the start of Blue 22 is always tough as there are 2 skinny flats where skiers seem to wait for one another totally unaware that the only way a snowboarder can get through is to keep thier speed and line. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3BUkvNwrMbKDe0Oro1kTLIjzxfNh4rr1J6ph7uPsOIKPQ3rToWojqZew_AgMwDW3BXWvOFkbCj0N9eOr1wfi9RpmABU4HK4-EUSnHlAbli9tAHmT8y1Php8_m3B3UcafgauT5mhLdOMY/s1600-h/Blocked+Piste.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3BUkvNwrMbKDe0Oro1kTLIjzxfNh4rr1J6ph7uPsOIKPQ3rToWojqZew_AgMwDW3BXWvOFkbCj0N9eOr1wfi9RpmABU4HK4-EUSnHlAbli9tAHmT8y1Php8_m3B3UcafgauT5mhLdOMY/s320/Blocked+Piste.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420750179528393202" /></a><br /><br /><em>Bit of a blockage</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Well I had to stop for a group. Unbuckled and walked a few yards clipped in and set off again. Acutely aware there was lots of beginners around I got on my front edge with my back to a 30ft highly angled drop and started a controlled descent along the edge of the piste. Lo and behold I look up and behind me to see a skier sliding down the camber directly towards me, with no speed and nowhere to go I shouted to him to stop. Oblivious to what was about to happen he slid straight into me, outside ski first followed by the inside for good measure. I ended up over the edge and sliding down to another piste on my back and headfirst. Luckily I righted myself after about 20ft and stopped before the piste....... <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLXoMdtJKKI8931cfRk1DkpLePBe1dcscLbST4uHc41rAr0OYASqFE2He9AcgF390jOj_LWhpyDu0iJ4HL-B2O55dUJof2rN7jl0ErwvZAOYGH3G9Vml0x1ZVEojfnRVkGb9rUtg7Mpso/s1600-h/Freeride.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLXoMdtJKKI8931cfRk1DkpLePBe1dcscLbST4uHc41rAr0OYASqFE2He9AcgF390jOj_LWhpyDu0iJ4HL-B2O55dUJof2rN7jl0ErwvZAOYGH3G9Vml0x1ZVEojfnRVkGb9rUtg7Mpso/s320/Freeride.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419674431894897586" /></a> <br /><br /><em>Kleine Sheidegg Freeride</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Anyway i digress, this forced me onto the New Eigerwand lift, and this is a great addition to the area. Loads and loads of freeride options and a good selection of pistes. So thanks to the skier who tried to do away with me, I may never have got around to doing that!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigP9jxhhz2gdymAWM9ZummlwssinbIibtS6-RG4Yb8u0alvnFinlXfDFxP12Nzf7OPwOQ8XwHj5rHatlFCLQCYqvxmj30TL9yU2dvp6PPC5EXm8i9te54Kc8_x14xpKmmjqIShTEPcBWw/s1600-h/Late+off+the+slopes.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigP9jxhhz2gdymAWM9ZummlwssinbIibtS6-RG4Yb8u0alvnFinlXfDFxP12Nzf7OPwOQ8XwHj5rHatlFCLQCYqvxmj30TL9yU2dvp6PPC5EXm8i9te54Kc8_x14xpKmmjqIShTEPcBWw/s320/Late+off+the+slopes.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419679151591172450" /></a><br /><br /><em>Late off the slopes</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Day 22 of 60.</strong> Maybe the last day of 2009 on the slopes. On the train to KS on what will be a short day, I have to be on the train back to Interlaken at 5.15pm, or I could get the 6.15pm but it's a more complex journey home. I only have one thing on my mind today. The Lauberhorn. It's so good I dreampt about it last night. Much colder today but not a cloud in the sky!! It's now 1.15pm and having a beer down in Wengen. Have done the Lauberhorn 3 times this morning and managed 6m41s on the third attempt which was the only one I timed. I was brought to an abrupt standstill twice by ski schools (adults) snaking around just over a brow, and lost my front edge once resulting in a rather undignified slide. Reckon I could do it in under 6m given a good run at it. Just finished messing around on the WC slalom at the bottom which is massive fun. I think I could spend a week on the Lauberhorn it's that good. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlvS8vsBK6Qx-bZpdyzlluOhDaTnL8lnT-U2YQAl2bCZUbm_WULWTyYnm-ZryWBW1gLtR2MCGRJ58-HTvZVIxQQgibaezfaWA-GoaBaiGCwDStJEmSh9o2KMbsZtCDpjnXSFgCfpWGqoo/s1600-h/WC+Slalom.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlvS8vsBK6Qx-bZpdyzlluOhDaTnL8lnT-U2YQAl2bCZUbm_WULWTyYnm-ZryWBW1gLtR2MCGRJ58-HTvZVIxQQgibaezfaWA-GoaBaiGCwDStJEmSh9o2KMbsZtCDpjnXSFgCfpWGqoo/s320/WC+Slalom.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420751272448620354" /></a> <br /><br /><em>Lauberhorn Slalom Run, a wee bit steep</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />So bugger the 5.15pm train I will take the dodgy connection and ride out at 5pm, having too much fun. <br /><br />Finished Joe Simpson's "Storms of Silence" last night which is a great lead into my book for the train home; Henrich Harrier's "Seven Years in Tibet". Simpson is a natural writer who is unafraid to let the reader know both his physical and mental limitations. I've read all his stuff after going to see "Touching the Void" at the beautiful Tyneside Cinema many years ago. In fact looking back that may be what started this obsession. I want to start climbing, nothing serious but my ultimate goal is to climb Mount Elbrus and snowboard down it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpJJvGtCNI0ULwbLLeXxiT7VkLyWwaOtPgHXdk4C_HynBW61XLiBAW8yWISK1ws1plW8cQ_tnLYI7kmj9gW0ePv644TVMCZyLnWhyIgo2qccPt4ct49-s5rSQPkSmGm3JRBX-d1YBSM2o/s1600-h/Wengen.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpJJvGtCNI0ULwbLLeXxiT7VkLyWwaOtPgHXdk4C_HynBW61XLiBAW8yWISK1ws1plW8cQ_tnLYI7kmj9gW0ePv644TVMCZyLnWhyIgo2qccPt4ct49-s5rSQPkSmGm3JRBX-d1YBSM2o/s320/Wengen.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420752131126396322" /></a><br /><br /><em>Wengen</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />So all in all a great wee trip to Grindelwald and the Jungfrau region. Love the mountains here and the towns of Wengen and Grindelwald, but it's not quite the snowboarding resort that I need. I have come to like resorts with a lot of area, so I can just set off in one direction and see how far I can get. I guess a trip to France will have to be planned. As long as I can get the vacation a week in Morzine in February should be great.<br /><br />Another great hotel: <a href="http://www.belvedere-grindelwald.ch/index.php?lang=en&category=48">The Belvedere</a>. I managed to get a late deal, fantasic 4 night package with breakfast, dinner and ski-pass included. The accommodation was not quite on a par with the hotel in Hinterglemm, but the food and service were top notch.tino_11http://www.blogger.com/profile/07569955974509944531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702740315285024071.post-68409350535870198312009-12-12T23:01:00.042+01:002010-01-05T23:26:03.031+01:00Saalbach Hinterglemm - 12th - 19th DecemberWell I have arrived in Sallbach Hinterglemm and it's been 24 hours of very mixed emotion and stress the likes of which I have never experienced, I am not gonna get into it here, but it's unfortunately apparent I will not be able to relax as much a I wanted and that this challenge may be put on ice for a long time. However, there has been some highlights to the last day, meeting an attractive Dutch ski instructor before even getting to the hotel :) She got a free lift to the resort courtesy of my hotel transport, the driver got a good tip and I got her phone number. Result.<br /><br />Also I had heard a huge amount about this hotel and it was my prime reason for visiting this resort. I have been here 5 hours and I am impressed, very impressed. This was meant to be a reconciliation, try to get something important to me back on track, but alas life dont work that way very often. So I am paying for two and it's not cheap, but compared to some places I have been, the price for 1 is the best value I have ever had in any country for work or pleasure. Not gonna post a link based on 5 hours but this place is stunning. The accomodation is out of this world, I am typing this on an iMac provided for me in my living room!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0RNgOzEhg8m71Rz3RdqkBx4oba0Z1OcneMlP0iPttnOZKh3fOq9JCu9NtSFZbT3H7lKMZtqWo7azDMXjowHg4tasqz7_n8GO_ae40RUF8ZCvFv17T7CEnPX0O7HhW2epYv9h-ona5pKU/s1600-h/Living+Room.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0RNgOzEhg8m71Rz3RdqkBx4oba0Z1OcneMlP0iPttnOZKh3fOq9JCu9NtSFZbT3H7lKMZtqWo7azDMXjowHg4tasqz7_n8GO_ae40RUF8ZCvFv17T7CEnPX0O7HhW2epYv9h-ona5pKU/s320/Living+Room.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418135310457003154" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><em>All the mod cons!</em><br /><br /><br /><br />More about all that throughout the holiday. The skinny reads that although the snow is still sparce here 60% of lifts and slopes are open and conditions are good according the folk I have talked to. The masses of cannons are running and it's cold and snowing lightly right now.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Day 12 of 60.</span> All of the high runs are open and all the low runs closed. Well they is usually one wee signpost indicating such, but that is being ignored by quite a few including me. They are perfectly good but I get the impression the resort is being half-arsed about it and trying to keep the volume down. Seems also that all of the 472 snow cannons are going throughout the resort. It's 11.13am and I'm having my late morning constitutional at the top of the Zwolferkogel before riding back to the village and the lift that takes me up to Schattberg West. First impressions are good and it's nice to be riding in the trees again after a summer of Chilean Andes and European Glaciers. There is something very special about Austria, although I can't put my finger on it.<br /><br />So it's now 2.40pm and I forgot to stop for lunch so a mid afternoon libation is the order of the day before I head back to Saalbach from above Leogang. It's an absolute doddle to get around this place must have done 15 or more lifts, no pulls and no flats. I am hoping for a 50km+ day, it's very hard to tell but I have been going for it. Even the sun has come out to lend it's weight to the cause. Think I might SMS that ski instructor, this may be just the right time to try 2 planks.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG8vNvn3msgckrDTTCC1LjlciiClwr_CREagZtFbMY_bxrnVyH6Hcbk2wipsL8E1H6FWK69tNi2fqo3KaVr4uOCEhl7iOpawjTlXPwmWDgdJW4nzmqYy12Q4kP1sTiB0yD85xl7KB4NyE/s1600-h/Guterweg.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG8vNvn3msgckrDTTCC1LjlciiClwr_CREagZtFbMY_bxrnVyH6Hcbk2wipsL8E1H6FWK69tNi2fqo3KaVr4uOCEhl7iOpawjTlXPwmWDgdJW4nzmqYy12Q4kP1sTiB0yD85xl7KB4NyE/s320/Guterweg.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418136022625081186" /></a><br /><br /><em>About 400m too late, oh well....</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />4.42pm and I'm down, Tara is off for a makeover so I have some time to enjoy a beer before I head for a swim and sauna. Dinner is also greatly anticipated. Today was my 6th day on my new setup and the edges are completely gone and I mean right along the entire length of the sidecut. The bloke at the service centre was amazed when i told him it was factory tuned 6 ski days ago. I hope this is a consequence of the terrain early season and my natural ability to time every turn over a rock, rather than the quality of the board. Engelberg was rather tough on the old girl.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF0tH7JCWTj6xEmkkmEzWK_b_An-gU6OlA6Nnbx99H6hs0aUtRTIbFlc5GlTLTxajOMvEbdtJazw8p2A7JiQg4o85KNAiuE-2yWdzh8XNwl3wYlIFwU0Zyz29nX5T_0kZf78PpiuoCkFQ/s1600-h/Sunlight.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF0tH7JCWTj6xEmkkmEzWK_b_An-gU6OlA6Nnbx99H6hs0aUtRTIbFlc5GlTLTxajOMvEbdtJazw8p2A7JiQg4o85KNAiuE-2yWdzh8XNwl3wYlIFwU0Zyz29nX5T_0kZf78PpiuoCkFQ/s320/Sunlight.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418137079080823410" /></a><br /><br /><em>Fantastic light late on</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />So managed one end of the valley to the other, then on to Leogang and back halfway; to Saalbach. This Ski Circus business is great, add to that I have not had to queue once all day!!! The resort is quiet enough but that suits me down to the ground.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQJeayBTeU7WGiqpzx37pX9tpvR2Ogur6kxLQzvq9rJJ_mu0K_63tpQZVAx3qzkfHCrV3m3unXX4_7IMdd_Kz8cigushISj3Wq2QjJNIWHX1mvhgrXLx8GW2ifSxSKPACWs-oSaqejHw4/s1600-h/Mountain+Huts.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQJeayBTeU7WGiqpzx37pX9tpvR2Ogur6kxLQzvq9rJJ_mu0K_63tpQZVAx3qzkfHCrV3m3unXX4_7IMdd_Kz8cigushISj3Wq2QjJNIWHX1mvhgrXLx8GW2ifSxSKPACWs-oSaqejHw4/s320/Mountain+Huts.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418139157147525778" /></a><br /><br /><em>Not a soul about</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Actually thinking about it, I have not once adjusted my boots all day, not broken for a bio-break and not stopped for food. I'll be really upset if I have not done 50km+<br /><br />Well it's now nearly midnight and I have have an exquisite feed, a fatastic bottle of Austrian Merlot and my brain seems to be calming down to something that resembles an anxious teenager, believe me it's an improvement!!<br /><br /><br /><br />Skiline reveals 52km and a few metres under 9600m of vertical (5th biggest recorded in resort this season), for the sake of 400 odd metres I would have walked back up the hill in the dark. I also don't believe the 52km, I think it's a good bit more, but that's what I will add to the stats as I have to guess others. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw-XFNqWtgzjxPEGDOZLEg9sFqlFUK9o5J3bvqc8veK7iHIrOQAL1Ummwm6jWpY6Dg4uBJVAvdwKOi-mg2y-qpUqUzwzJeS05VaQs3-xdZQdqdnJHwyCFmU6uKvihWDyTJ13o95ZYsbjs/s1600-h/Afternoon+Sun.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw-XFNqWtgzjxPEGDOZLEg9sFqlFUK9o5J3bvqc8veK7iHIrOQAL1Ummwm6jWpY6Dg4uBJVAvdwKOi-mg2y-qpUqUzwzJeS05VaQs3-xdZQdqdnJHwyCFmU6uKvihWDyTJ13o95ZYsbjs/s320/Afternoon+Sun.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419297183751666946" /></a><br /><br /><em>A Lovely Day</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />That all being said a great day and I have to say both hotel and resort are great, so is the fact I have a date for tomorrow!!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Day 13 of 60.</span> Maybe the 13 is an omen, but the first half of today was awful on nothing other than a personal level. Little riding and much gut wrenching stress.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibmN0ZjhVvxwlghqy81nAr_Ga54qOezlOZj2gHV_qM8AVozWAsHN0zyZ47XxLPje5-in4ZM4-uG8UA4gnFzGZ-UqWycJ0UsjjXPLDyI3HFziVMEpK4rAKjmuCYS8emhx69_ck9ZxDV7bY/s1600-h/Snowy+Trees.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibmN0ZjhVvxwlghqy81nAr_Ga54qOezlOZj2gHV_qM8AVozWAsHN0zyZ47XxLPje5-in4ZM4-uG8UA4gnFzGZ-UqWycJ0UsjjXPLDyI3HFziVMEpK4rAKjmuCYS8emhx69_ck9ZxDV7bY/s320/Snowy+Trees.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419298290520633746" /></a><br /><br /><em>Veiws like this help the stress</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The afternoon and evening were far better and I really went for it aggressively clocking 42km and 7500m of vertical. Met up with the instructor I had met on the train and spent the last part of the day trying to keep up with her, no easy task on tired legs. A few après ski sherberts and some lighthearted snowboarding vs. skiing banter ensued. Back to the hotel and refused a bottle of 12 year old Crianza as corked, this was quite a nerve racking experience as the waiter took a look at the colour, had a good whiff claiming so far so good. He then asked my permission to taste before screwing his nose up and exclaiming 'kaputt', phew!!! One of those things that has the potential to be very awkward and embarrasing.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwHdfcXsV5UhFQ_V7IWbxzIL7jqLiky4rslKj8iJL5mXDaweB9-HQMUQvtBSb6DI-8TqN3yk7GGAR_y3qtabJfePZseNzGetemqfHLED8d6vAf4DxkNA89LNNRnvlRCjD_l82zJEPAwrQ/s1600-h/Warhole.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwHdfcXsV5UhFQ_V7IWbxzIL7jqLiky4rslKj8iJL5mXDaweB9-HQMUQvtBSb6DI-8TqN3yk7GGAR_y3qtabJfePZseNzGetemqfHLED8d6vAf4DxkNA89LNNRnvlRCjD_l82zJEPAwrQ/s320/Warhole.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419300144016772418" /></a><br /><br /><em>Original Andy Warhole</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Day 14 of 60.</span> Snowboarding awfully this morning, tired legs and a hangover to boot. It is bitterly cold but the sun is out and the slopes quiet. I have figured out the reason I like Austria so much and it's the friendliness. Even though travelling alone I don't feel like it. The personal attention in the hotel is awesome. The staff at my newly established late morning bar are very pleasant, especially the very attractive blonde from Maria Alm. All in all I really like this resort, will definately come back here.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEignEeCWd_DzvNp50ROsOArVu_N6fbMecmDSybVUuIvEPjVs79JHaCPjNDf21YdqRINJupmcnlnI10o5oY5j58JtpNSok68A65PuEjIZds0wP7_5iw_E7AuDiOUGtC-SN8ErX7s21cXbks/s1600-h/Empty+Pistes.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEignEeCWd_DzvNp50ROsOArVu_N6fbMecmDSybVUuIvEPjVs79JHaCPjNDf21YdqRINJupmcnlnI10o5oY5j58JtpNSok68A65PuEjIZds0wP7_5iw_E7AuDiOUGtC-SN8ErX7s21cXbks/s320/Empty+Pistes.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419299156679477570" /></a><br /><br /><em>Empty slopes</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Not gonna be a high mileage day today, I'm too tired on all counts. A cruising tour and some photography is the plan.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjYnGchOnxb20M5FkNv9fkbqahLi3uRJ4jJOYGrTIOKI3epVvC8vVgjMpAYnqJR96PZ-0p2X8FpOQZ6Z0nxQxGtT9cFqwthKhnsvZ-P2jNX0XBs56Rzkx-yKDrhkE6rMmORGORSLh0Gak/s1600-h/Austrian+Peaks.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjYnGchOnxb20M5FkNv9fkbqahLi3uRJ4jJOYGrTIOKI3epVvC8vVgjMpAYnqJR96PZ-0p2X8FpOQZ6Z0nxQxGtT9cFqwthKhnsvZ-P2jNX0XBs56Rzkx-yKDrhkE6rMmORGORSLh0Gak/s320/Austrian+Peaks.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419301239514064290" /></a><br /><br /><em>Austrian Peaks</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />1.39pm Well then, a few runs more and it's now a white-out!! That's the photography out the window. Think I'm gonna call it a day around 4pm and head back for a massage and a swim. Long way back from here mind, 6 lifts, so should keep the milage ticking. By the way, "Crime" by Irvine Welsh is one of the best books I have ever read. The last 30 pages make you frightened to continue reading. Highly recommended. <br /><br />I almost forgot, I found what appears to be a rather large diamond earring earlier!! That might pay for a wee snowboarding trip sometime!!<br /><br />So 6.45pm and I am just getting ready for dinner, fondue is on the menu this evening which should be good, everything else has been so far!! Then am out to explore Hinterglemms nightlife.<br /><br />Ony 33km, but a short day.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Day 15 of 60.</span> A late lie in this morning due to a late night of beer and bad music with my skiing friend, and not on the hill till 11am, however I still managed to shift 43km and over 7000m vertical. Actually snowboarding-wise it was the best day so far, nearly everything is open now or in the final stages of preperation and my ability seems to have picked up a little after yesterdays impersonation of a drunken Bambi.<br /><br />Also I have acheived my first target of <span style="font-weight:bold;">15 days before Christmas day!!</span> I have also decided to get an extra day at the end and ride on Saturday travelling back into the wee small hours on Sunday, which will take the tally to 18.<br /><br />There are some great runs here, and the <a href="http://www.saalbach.com/fileadmin/user_storage/saalbach_com/Downloads/WI_Panorama_09_10.pdf">Red 6</a> at a length of 5km and 1000m of vertical is one of the most constantly challenging reds I have done. It runs down from Schattberg West to Hiterglemm and is truely a wonderful piste with lots of challanging camber and some very steep sections. Only the top half was open earlier in the week but now it's open to the village and I am seriously tempted to do it 10 times tomorrow as a training session. I still sometimes slip to switch when tired or on something steep, but now my linked turns and carving have improved so the challenge would be to run it 10 times in classic style without once slipping into old habits, unless warrented by some danger. Add to that the 50km and the magic 10,000m vertical it will gve me then I have quite some incentive.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Idjf7IBRq1FnmMoeyumUYdh3YLkfCgGhX_2lmYh3SJtJNqGagDd9FHKoM8jeeArUjfH-xlxEBldh4veikPffM_E_E1SWxKwU9rtwT5CFBRYxSEUexQSDWKCXtIP6ltujzFY5-okVbew/s1600-h/Lovel+Day.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Idjf7IBRq1FnmMoeyumUYdh3YLkfCgGhX_2lmYh3SJtJNqGagDd9FHKoM8jeeArUjfH-xlxEBldh4veikPffM_E_E1SWxKwU9rtwT5CFBRYxSEUexQSDWKCXtIP6ltujzFY5-okVbew/s320/Lovel+Day.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419302158396457218" /></a><br /><br /><em>Simply a lovely day</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />One thing that is worrying me is the edges on my board, 3 days after being serviced they are shot again. Will get it tuned in the morning and see how it goes for the remainder of the holiday.<br /><br />Not a great deal more to say, other than than I had the most insanely large dinner last night. Tuesday is Fondue night and they go for it big time, I was eating for 90 minutes and came nowhere close to finishing the selection of beef, turkey, pork, spicey sausages, mushrooms, carrotts aubergines and cauliflower they provided for frying. The plate of french fries and massive jacket potato with 5 sauces didn't help either.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Day 16 of 60.</span> On a mission, decided to abort plans to do Red 6 over and over and I'm currently about riding all the closed runs they are prepping for tomorrow or Saturday; the true season start. Just done Red 13 the World Championship Run which was hard cordorouy top to bottom (-17C up here today) and littered with piste bashers. Think I will have to wait for Saturday to get the Black Zwolferkogel Nordabfarht done mind still looks a little dicey. The one I really want to do before it's littered with beginners is the 7km Blue 2a & 2b from Schattberg Ost out to Vorderglemm, so heading that way now via Schattberg West andRed 6 ;-) it's meant to be a great run down with long tree lined sections. I have really taken to long Blues through the trees, I guess I will be skiing before long!!<br /><br />So 11.45am and nearly at the top of Red 6 and excited as it's really a run on the edge of my skill. I mean I can get down most Black runs or difficult ski-routes but it's not always elegant. This one borders on Black in places not least the last section, but I can do it properly. Another late start today @ 10.20am but I have my excuses.<br /><br />So far today:<br /><br />Blue 18 @ 2km,<br />Red 17 (twice) @ 1.4km,<br />Blue 11 @ 4.5km,<br />Red 13 @ 3km,<br />Blue 11 @ 4.5km and about to do<br />Red 6 @ 5km.<br /><br />21.8km in under 2 hours makes up for the long and much needed lie in this morning.<br /><br />The piste map has distances on it, I want to see how accurate SkiLine is by keeping a record.<br /><br />12.05pm and I'm down and back in the gondola. That is simply too much fun for one person to have, gonna have to do it again!! This time I'm gonna time it. If the piste map is correct at 5km I trust my Swiss watch enough to work out average speed. Outwardly I would just claim a passing interest, inwardly though I want it to be at least 30km/h.<br /><br />This is a great resort, especially on the big runs, lots of gondolas, so I can write my blog till my heart is content whilst going uphill. Okay so here we go, goggles cleaned, chrono set, bindings tightened a notch..... let's see what happens.<br /><br />12.25am and on the Gondola again after a well earned smoke. I can hardly contain myself: 5m45s which my GCSE maths tells me is a notch over 52km/h average!!! I have always been a quick rider using my bad habits but being able to do that without putting the board through 180 once makes me a very happy boy indeed. I neglected to have my edges done last night but I will tonight and give that another bash, maybe I can nudge 55km/h with a bit more grip. Blue 7 next down to Shattberg Ost and a well earned Gluhwein.<br /><br />Okay, missed Schattberg Ost in the fog now at Silamalm having a strange mixture of Jagertee and Gluhwein?!?? Gonna try and scope if anyone is doing the long Blue 2 back to Vorderglemm.<br /><br />So to keep the tally going:<br /><br />Red 6 @ 5km - 5minutes 45 seconds :)<br />Blue 7 @ 1.5km<br />Blue 4 @ 1km<br /><br />So, 1.24pm and on the Schattberg Express after riding the 1a which the board said is open but not a soul on it, not a single sole other than me. Wanted to do the Black 1 down to Saalbach but it I seriously roped off with many images of potential horror, so, I got on the lift at the middle station and headed for the top again. Gonna do the Blue 7's if I get lost I get lost.<br /><br />Well that one ain't opening any time soon!! No markers, only cannons to guide you. My edges will need huge attention tonight. Howeve it was fun not knowing exactly where you are going. Biased back to Saalbach and an now in the Kohlmaisgipfelbahn heading fir the top and the long haul over to Leogang.<br /><br />For the total;<br /><br />Blue 2 @ 7km<br />Blue 18 @ 0.5km<br /><br />So far 36.8km and it's 2.08pm. Off to just above Leogang and a beer at the Stockalm. It's all speedy reds and blues over this way, so should be fairly rapid. Need to back in Hinterglemm by 5.00pm for an I-health check up (?!?!) and a back and leg massage. Think I'll need it.<br /><br />Blue 56 onto Red 59 @ 2.8km (approx)<br />Blue 66 onto Blue 65 @ 3.3km (approx)<br />Blue 62 @ 2.5km<br />Red 61 onto Blue 62 onto Red 62a onto Blue 64 @ 4km (approx) ooops!!<br />...... and again @ 4km (approx) ooops!!<br />Blue 62 @ 2.5km...... At last ;)<br />Red 81 onto Red 82 @ 1.6km<br />Blue 87 @ 1.5km<br />Blue 88 @ 2.0km<br /><br />Beer!!!!!<br /><br />Running at 62.5km so far 3.33pm gotta keep an eye on the time I am a long way away from home, will have to cancel my check up by the looks of it.<br /><br />Right, wolfed a pint of Hefeweizen and back on the lifts, guess it's between 12km and 15km back to Saalbach, don't think I'll make Hinterglemm as the link is a vicious drag and I'm beat. Looks like I'll be touching 75km to 80km for the day and god knows how much vertical. SkiLine will tell me but I'm guessing I'll have killed the 10,000m mark easily. Cancelled the health check but not massage at 6.30pm, if I make it down in one piece I may cancel that and consolidate with some hefty après ski. Until Saalbach.<br /><br />Not there yet, it's 4.23pm and I just had to negotiate access to the Schoenlietenbahn so I can get high enough to get back to Saalbach.<br /><br />Red 87 @ 1.7km<br />Red 84 @ 0.9km<br />Blue 64 @ 3.5km<br />Blue 65 @ 3.3km<br />Blue 66 @ 3.0km<br />Blue 52 @ 4.5km<br /><br />4.49pm - Après ski!!!<br /><br />According the piste plan that's <span style="font-weight:bold;">79.4km.</span><br /><br />Skiline records it as closer to 65km, but the 10,000m was achieved in some style, and I now don't believe SkiLine on distance, as they can not possibly know what riutes you take when there is a choice. Not gonna ammend every day accordingly but keeping my own running tally here.<br /><br />Gotta run.<br /><br /><strong>Day 16, Captain's Blog Supplemental, Bardate 9.35pm.</strong> Well my blog was posted in a hurry earlier as I a had an appointment with the massuese, and she is good. Yesterday I had my back and legs done and think it played a big part in my day today. The same again today, but the left side of my back and shoulders was so much more tense than my right. That must tell me something. I ride regular so left foot forward maybe that has something to do with it. Funny, in the one aborted snowboarding lesson I ever did I was taught to lead with my shoulder, I used to but almost never now.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnGxvFiYI52QFmNJZt72mMHLL-ED-a_19CFarivze3OeMor5ObuW4dHbi5B3xxZc-jFv_lybFl2GVxUI9Wsj5SXYlnrtDfbiBuHNYrEc8-MY__Kkve2lGXt0TxLZXaeHhTYzuq2Pebx0/s1600-h/A+Nice+Book.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnGxvFiYI52QFmNJZt72mMHLL-ED-a_19CFarivze3OeMor5ObuW4dHbi5B3xxZc-jFv_lybFl2GVxUI9Wsj5SXYlnrtDfbiBuHNYrEc8-MY__Kkve2lGXt0TxLZXaeHhTYzuq2Pebx0/s320/A+Nice+Book.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419304657460141890" /></a><br /><br /><em>A nice glass of red and a good book</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Day 17 of 60.</span> Would it surprise anyone to know I am playing around on Red 6 again? Not with quite as much gusto as yesterday mind, the 80km has really taken it out of me! Weather is fantastic today, not a cloud in the sky, cold and not a lot of wind to speak of. The slopes are starting to become a little treacherous and icy which combined with dull edges serves to slow me down as well.<br /><br />It's crazy but I always get really down on the last day of a snowboarding week, it's not so bad for a weekend but after settling into a groove it's tough to go back to earth so to speak. Oh well Christmas is coming and I can sneak a few days in Switzerland. Was talking with an old school friend on the phone last night and it looks like we are having a reunion in Morzine in February, should be a blast. The last time he saw me ride, well he didn't actually as he was off zooming down black runs whilst I spent a week sliding down the beginner slopes of La Plagne on my backside. That was very nearly 3 years ago. France doesn't usually thrill me but Morzine is on my tick list, so happy to go with the consencious.<br /><br />2.12pm and I've found the powder!! Acres of it under the Speileck Sesselbahn. Don't need razor sharp edges for that :-)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3rkW-y5kdBK-X6QQJV7T6UYrHeniE-vNA60mJEVNSykj1lqCa7zvOGk9qyoEEKe3lJYMcXicrHOM8lYf98hOmnvuQa_3FaDj_vS3Ub7p8HEpuTmJWmOzSxzVwq42VIEMgg4aMgELyVDE/s1600-h/Powder+1.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3rkW-y5kdBK-X6QQJV7T6UYrHeniE-vNA60mJEVNSykj1lqCa7zvOGk9qyoEEKe3lJYMcXicrHOM8lYf98hOmnvuQa_3FaDj_vS3Ub7p8HEpuTmJWmOzSxzVwq42VIEMgg4aMgELyVDE/s320/Powder+1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419305611073335122" /></a><br /><br /><em>Found the powder at last</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiNRo2Hc-NW1QdFJlYRj8JdaZ0RjGVOxdjuM46nf2MXU1CrTT1_y5IOQYYCqI53d_Dyc_hROYLVdfQPxBafMaqRgQ0yKQ8Lh-surFj_6W7qwsUADKIN5tmrEJXZDrRUKNlOKnjzyRbHvk/s1600-h/From+Where+I+came.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiNRo2Hc-NW1QdFJlYRj8JdaZ0RjGVOxdjuM46nf2MXU1CrTT1_y5IOQYYCqI53d_Dyc_hROYLVdfQPxBafMaqRgQ0yKQ8Lh-surFj_6W7qwsUADKIN5tmrEJXZDrRUKNlOKnjzyRbHvk/s320/From+Where+I+came.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419306396444836402" /></a><br /><br /><em>From where I came</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />That was great fun, however my legs are now totally shot so giving up early, taking an après ski beer before putting Tara in for another makeover. She's costing me a fortune!!<br /><br />43km today!!<br /><br /><strong>Day 18 of 60.</strong> Well it just goes to show that there are many things left to see. This morning I stumbled across the official opening of the Hasenauerer 8 seat lift above Hinterglemm. Not so remarkable really, but the Priest who was blessing the installation was in full regalia.... and ski boots!!! Hung around for the Mayors speech etc, and was lucky enough to be amongst the first 8 commercial skiiers/ riders to go up :-) the fact I had been using it the day before did not detract from the sense of occasion. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNwpUIOgDAqOZxD699bn51UFOopSNMefT14L5x1qwceUryc1plHbZuMQrNQb2MgNzzeGIN99mlplQxtOJezp4-r63wwDW0-OHfITW4Z26E_0tuA7suboOUlec3AJEqyT6slgdMjx5hYsM/s1600-h/Priest.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNwpUIOgDAqOZxD699bn51UFOopSNMefT14L5x1qwceUryc1plHbZuMQrNQb2MgNzzeGIN99mlplQxtOJezp4-r63wwDW0-OHfITW4Z26E_0tuA7suboOUlec3AJEqyT6slgdMjx5hYsM/s320/Priest.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419310685231464642" /></a><br /><br /><br /><em>Priest in Ski-Boots</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />So no live blog today. I am in the hotel shuttle back to Zell am See for my train. 1am I arrive at home but the extra day makes it worthwhile. Train 5 minutes late so a quick Gluhwein in Zell and we are set. So today was a day of messing around, playing in the powder, getting in the Christmas spirit and having a drink or two. Was really nice to have some company this week, and if Veronique is reading; thank you for a lovely week and let's keep in touch, I might still come back for New Year!! <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg53YQ5HcI7zSuwqxhGzIrgw-OQmZPIIFtZIyQhWxhX8rV5hXRbuqZplw5mzoWw5jaJp3FToro32gRSDpLlhzVJN2fNOPNWEc9rUA8u3HZPUDYaVQ8W99J2rhr2LS8GmK2KnARTGKrtaTQ/s1600-h/Train+Home.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg53YQ5HcI7zSuwqxhGzIrgw-OQmZPIIFtZIyQhWxhX8rV5hXRbuqZplw5mzoWw5jaJp3FToro32gRSDpLlhzVJN2fNOPNWEc9rUA8u3HZPUDYaVQ8W99J2rhr2LS8GmK2KnARTGKrtaTQ/s320/Train+Home.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419311468660664594" /></a><br /><br /><em>Train home</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Only 35km done today, but Day / of the week, tired and was nice t watch the Ski Jumping from Engelberg on the TV in an alpine hut.<br /><br />So I am now on the 2 hour delayed train from Worgl to Munich, lucky I caught this one as the one I was due to be on is also delayed. Trying to work out why my ticket has me travelling back through Mannheim a good 40 minutes north of Karlsruhe? Hoping to catch the lads who were in Zermatt this week for a few après ski holiday schnapps when I arrive in at 1am. <br /><br />So to the synopsis. Saalbach-Hinterglemm is an awesome resort with an ultra modern infrastructure. You can get miles without really trying. Even though it's low altitude at 1000m to 2100m the sheer amount of snow-cannons and piste-bashers mean it can be well maintained with little snow. I guess what you have to watch here is the temperature rather than the snow forecast. If it's cold there will be a substantial amount to ski. <br /><br />I suppose now would be a good time to name and review the hotel. The <a href="http://www.hotel-theresia.com/designhotel/en/willkommen/index.php">Gartenhotel Theresia</a> is simply one of the best places I have stayed anywhere in the world from Singapore to San Fransisco. This was due to be a very special trip for two and as such I had booked a suite. It turned into a vacation for one and there was no single supplement on this grade of room so I decided to go with it and to hell with the cash, I needed a total break from it all. That didn't quite work out either but that was no fault of the hotel. Simply put I am hard pushed to fault the hotel in any aspect. <br /><br />The accommodation first: simply magnificent, very chic yet practical. A huge bathroom with wet-room type shower, double-ended bath for two, underfoot heating and more towels, bathrobes, slippers and toiletries than one could shake a stick at. The appartment was on two floors with the living room complete with MacBook , DVD player and Loewe LCD TV situated upstairs with the compact but comfortable balcony. Downstairs was the bedroom, furnished with an orthopeadic double bed (no Austrian twin here) with remote controlled positioning of head and foot angle, egyption cotton bedding and such little touches as cotton floor mats should your feet be a little sensitive in the morning. Here the lighting was able to be set to anyones requirements and another Loewe LCD TV linked to the DVD upstairs. Simply put the accomodation was first class. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpsDxvG8Lk8RBEnEmydCIHvuQAF9x3d7QUqQtY3Z8iwQdwcWDbSjEzoSvtUnm70VRMlQ-W5_uK8j_jXprqHDVc2EPtXMq2uYvJXKAY6ZCMgmwlvUgZkK3FqU_JDEMpxE0b99ST3g5aTQc/s1600-h/Bathroom+2.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpsDxvG8Lk8RBEnEmydCIHvuQAF9x3d7QUqQtY3Z8iwQdwcWDbSjEzoSvtUnm70VRMlQ-W5_uK8j_jXprqHDVc2EPtXMq2uYvJXKAY6ZCMgmwlvUgZkK3FqU_JDEMpxE0b99ST3g5aTQc/s320/Bathroom+2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419315280361990338" /></a><br /><br /><em>Great accommodation....</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikt6KdFnu-Hve84rFtc1Hsd0wkokvr71xTXSmds8cTHKEyZcH9OQkPf0tYsZDV_0I7bU2yj44V-BDoEDAecTfoIR08oGadFdjFt6YXYRTuXhkrVZCuA-5KHctrKkJP9xUBuHWDqIAUTjs/s1600-h/Bathroom+1.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikt6KdFnu-Hve84rFtc1Hsd0wkokvr71xTXSmds8cTHKEyZcH9OQkPf0tYsZDV_0I7bU2yj44V-BDoEDAecTfoIR08oGadFdjFt6YXYRTuXhkrVZCuA-5KHctrKkJP9xUBuHWDqIAUTjs/s320/Bathroom+1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419315276328313554" /></a><br /><br /><em>....and a great way to unwind</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This however was overshadowed by the food. I was so well fed at night and with the breakfast buffet being so encompassing I never once ate lunch this week!! Apart from interfering with snow based silliness, I was just never hungry. With the choice of four fully interchangeable menus, one could pick any combination in any quantity they desire. One menu was fully Bio, one traditional Austrian cooking and the other two a wealth of influence from all over the world. Last night I had a curry dish which was probably one of the nicest things I have eaten. I could spend hours about the food, but won't, they put the menu up daily on thier website if anyone is interested. <br /><br />So what does that leave us? The wine selection was comprehensive and varied enough to suit all but the very tightest of budgets. I was recommended a particulary good Austrian Red (Merlot) one night after the sommelier had realized my fondness of heavy strong reds. Previously I had a lovely Cabernet Sauvingan from the region of Chile I was in in July, a cracking Zinfandel as well as a good Chianti Classico further to the Rioja that got a special mention on day 14 :) <br /><br />So that's us about 50% of the way there with the hotel review. Sorry to those who tune in for the snow based stuff but this hotel made my week. Should the pistes have been closed I would have suffered my dissapointment in quite some style. The Sauna/Swimming Pool/Steam Rooms/Gardens/Massage Facilities - The Spa; I hate to use an Americanism, but awesome is about the only word that will do it. Indoor and outdoor heated pools were superb, the "quiet pyrmid" with loungers and Denon CD Players and personal headphones so you could listen to waves crashing or a piano concerto depending on your mood was just right. The best however was the sauna area, I only used it twice but the hotel is worth visiting if only for this!!! <br /><br />A special mention goes to the measseuse without whom I am sure I would never have managed 80km in one day without once tiring. On that note I will bring this to a close with a special mention for the staff. Extra attentive, friendly, accomodating are a few words I would use. The use of my name all the time rather than Sir, is something you really appreciate if you travel a lot. The reluctance of the bar tender to leave you alone as he attends to something and the sheer politeness made the cement which held together the gold plated bricks of this place. All I can say more is 10 out of 10. I hope I am fortunate to stay here again sometime. I will post this on Trip Advisor in order to do my little bit for an outstanding hotel.<br /><br />A fantastic resort and a wonderful hotel. Simply Perfect.<br /><br />Until Grindelwald....tino_11http://www.blogger.com/profile/07569955974509944531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702740315285024071.post-63522298011047438952009-12-05T19:58:00.010+01:002009-12-16T18:05:48.909+01:00Engelberg - 5th & 6th DecemberRight then, Friday evening and off to Engelberg, a mere hop, skip and jump at 4 hours door to door. Had seen earlier on the week that they were cut off by snow, so 11.30am at work today I decided to finish at 4 pm and head on down. <br /><br />Hotel is not quite my style, a bit like an all inclusive beach hotel in a ski resort but at 99€ a day with 2 meals and a ski pass it will do :) So check in at 9.30pm and head down town to explore the bars!! <br /><br />In the first one and very local, just what the doctor ordered. This is the official opening weekend down here, and I am looking forward to trying some of the off-piste that this place is highly regarded for by snowboarders. Not sure what this takes my tally to for resorts, but it's my 4th in Switzerland which is fast becoming my favorite place on Earth!! Still sitting in bar no. 1 as the beer is good, music terrible and you would get flogged for not smoking!! Perusing the piste plan and they have a yellow run?!?! Blue, Red and Black are classified as normal but Yellow is "very difficult" and carries a disclaimer on the flip side. Wonder what I will be attepting tomorrow?? <br /><br /><strong>Day 10 of 60.</strong> <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2OCJulU-C6DLeKNoBKt6OGODCyy1K4mSxLmRaAMRih91kzxDlTmSGqo8veoH25NM5ifBgpxi6oKo9qxHVnp2X3P5qLMSMq-qFbTte9EFCtqVh369ut_bKjpBFk-1P2YyDTTuaZqyl234/s1600-h/P1000939.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2OCJulU-C6DLeKNoBKt6OGODCyy1K4mSxLmRaAMRih91kzxDlTmSGqo8veoH25NM5ifBgpxi6oKo9qxHVnp2X3P5qLMSMq-qFbTte9EFCtqVh369ut_bKjpBFk-1P2YyDTTuaZqyl234/s320/P1000939.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411830161763571586" /></a><br /><br /><em>The view I woke to this morning</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />What can I say, this place had a huge amount of snow this week and only select runs were open. Well they opened officially this morning and at 9am there was untouched powder everywhere. The area has obviously been pisted to a minimum, no wide cruisy blues or reds here. However if you like off piste this is a little gem. I was a little cocky this morning and got off the lift and went straight off-piste without warming up on-piste first, resulting in having to walk out back to the run in snow up to my waist. 80-90 yards of that and you are warmed up I can tell you!! <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGtOqGb3YTnzAaJDs2C4g7_IV26gIArx3921turllDrN_T14_4ApElvu-cs9wII6sHj9vUn8OuJYX6WTp5J2EWR0TzBDsWNQPVGiIFvuOsjING3qtf1x2dHg2yQke8642d9FkwxVdVvi0/s1600-h/P1000945.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGtOqGb3YTnzAaJDs2C4g7_IV26gIArx3921turllDrN_T14_4ApElvu-cs9wII6sHj9vUn8OuJYX6WTp5J2EWR0TzBDsWNQPVGiIFvuOsjING3qtf1x2dHg2yQke8642d9FkwxVdVvi0/s320/P1000945.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411831526831085154" /></a><br /><br /><em>The pitiful end to my waist deep trek</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />It is 3.20pm as I write this and I'm having a beer up top before riding out on what looks like a massively long red/blue run back to village. For those of you inclined to look it up it's Red 8 from Jochpass @ 2207m to the Trubsee, then Red/Blue 5&6 back to earth........<br /><br />......Apart from the first 600 yards that was a great finishing run, now in the Chalet bar having a constitutional and listening to some classics. <br /><br /><strong>Learnt several things today:</strong><br /><br /><strong>1.</strong> Glacier skiing/snowboarding is very diffrent to proper mountain.<br /><strong>2.</strong> I am nowhere near as good as I thought I was.<br /><strong>3.</strong> I simply do not know when to stop.<br /><strong>4.</strong> Powder hurts less than piste.<br /><strong>5.</strong> Powder is a ***** on a board when you fall.<br /><strong>6.</strong> Skiers have it easy off-piste compared to boarders.<br /><strong>7.</strong> I need to learn to ski, and then........ <br /><strong>8.</strong> I need to buy a split board :) <br /><br />This place is awesome. The piste is only provided so you can get to endless areas of untouched mountain. Never had such a diverse days riding. Will be back here a few times to reach my goal.<br /><br />No certainty on mileage today as there is no Skiline at this resort, but 7 hours up the hill and a bit of messing about, so I am going for 45km, it feels a hell of a lot more!!<br /><br />Some more pictures to round of the day.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD2EfBsTQIiIv1I1hLsnG_UsWcKuJS5XF14viVBlS_uHRZPtEB9j-oYa4V2xGcTlK8vbMLL1KnSQq6KbVr7vVnAV5xEUxiNb6VuPGuJWWlthhpw4YfYCKYpHnQ4GxHaEvoV8564vyiDxU/s1600-h/P1000949.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD2EfBsTQIiIv1I1hLsnG_UsWcKuJS5XF14viVBlS_uHRZPtEB9j-oYa4V2xGcTlK8vbMLL1KnSQq6KbVr7vVnAV5xEUxiNb6VuPGuJWWlthhpw4YfYCKYpHnQ4GxHaEvoV8564vyiDxU/s320/P1000949.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411833511959403730" /></a><br /><br /><em>Stunning views</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCVchDWFhufV3vDrTAr0nXKGDqCsoeGwD9Kj-zJohTT3oj_13CPEwQ7e8BMz0Aj3_UVWXFmcUKg1c_WDkhxYsFsBv161GFBKYSDh3116dZ-xuUr88OChGdablG5G6EY1lWI4LMhwQWpWc/s1600-h/P1000951.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCVchDWFhufV3vDrTAr0nXKGDqCsoeGwD9Kj-zJohTT3oj_13CPEwQ7e8BMz0Aj3_UVWXFmcUKg1c_WDkhxYsFsBv161GFBKYSDh3116dZ-xuUr88OChGdablG5G6EY1lWI4LMhwQWpWc/s320/P1000951.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411837557814532914" /></a><br /><br /><em>And some more</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5P8rI-Twc6b00tofENLAdVtHka9ZmcGdl2luK61B4o_JPRmEl_qM2zrC4EzScoXvAKM685j2QZ8okt4fvHMigUNeAe9VZ54L8g1q7-O99glczYm3IKKLGBZ2NgghOwofWKzGNkV-_XHI/s1600-h/P1000953.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5P8rI-Twc6b00tofENLAdVtHka9ZmcGdl2luK61B4o_JPRmEl_qM2zrC4EzScoXvAKM685j2QZ8okt4fvHMigUNeAe9VZ54L8g1q7-O99glczYm3IKKLGBZ2NgghOwofWKzGNkV-_XHI/s320/P1000953.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411837563004152834" /></a><br /><br /><em>Wouldn't want to harm the wildlife</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Oh, and I didn't attempt the roped of "Yellow Run", although some did. I may tomorrow.<br /><br /><strong>Day 11 of 60.</strong> It's 12pm and a wee break for refreshment before getting the quiet lunchtime hours on-piste. I am riding far better than yesterday and have hardly used the piste at all this morning. Most resorts have some kind of tagline in thier advertising. Engelberg-Titlis simply uses "Heaven" and they are not far wrong. This is a great place for a few days especially if Freeride is what floats your boat. However I think for those who like to get a lot of distance done, a week may be a little long. That being said I will be reccomending this place to anyone who will listen and probably many more who will not. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi05OpuxDOGQqWzetVLKr6EQrJhyphenhyphenxmIbiFKKkSDJzVVDRWtGusGUcS10VkINmh7-Hl8QTGDB9q6bw-3cXSz4EzroDFMcsixOblMrKMYsZCtN4xDWKcTu44ETaYztxKs1oqtd6igkKLSGEk/s1600-h/P1000972.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi05OpuxDOGQqWzetVLKr6EQrJhyphenhyphenxmIbiFKKkSDJzVVDRWtGusGUcS10VkINmh7-Hl8QTGDB9q6bw-3cXSz4EzroDFMcsixOblMrKMYsZCtN4xDWKcTu44ETaYztxKs1oqtd6igkKLSGEk/s320/P1000972.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412245648993410434" /></a><br /><br /><em>Plenty of powder</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Last night I completely forgot to have dinner. This was a combination of a few après-ski sherberts, a wee snooze and getting my blog online. So about 10pm I headed down to the little local I was at on Friday armed with my book (Paul McGraths' Back from the Brink). It's not often I read an autobiography but this is extremely good. Before I knew it, I had consumed 100+ pages, 3 pints and it was knocking on 1am! A wee bit tired this morning. <br /><br />Stone me, I was so involved with writing this I didn't realise it had started to snow!! That means I have to use my goggles (I hate them) and hat. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOYw3yaIjeONW8NIXkbvJkPmjCDJf6OnLJM5WzcS1VCImeieqP7ii5gawcvzkiyuQ4wj26e4rKFIwkDs7SFDHaq41G8W7homrPck2ihmcNnnE5SHNKCCbOY9xNXQ1GlTTnh8gqZzh96PI/s1600-h/P1000966.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOYw3yaIjeONW8NIXkbvJkPmjCDJf6OnLJM5WzcS1VCImeieqP7ii5gawcvzkiyuQ4wj26e4rKFIwkDs7SFDHaq41G8W7homrPck2ihmcNnnE5SHNKCCbOY9xNXQ1GlTTnh8gqZzh96PI/s320/P1000966.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412245656916071042" /></a><br /><br /><em>Not a piste in sight (double click for large image)</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />2.25pm and I think I have a problem. My right (back leg) thigh is killing me. I noticed this on the run back to town last night but put it down to 7 hours of exercise. Today after just 4 it feels worse, I fear I may have stretched or torn a muscle. This is obviously the worst thing that could happen in early December and may put pay to my mission. Oh well, I will see how it is after the long run out I described yesterday, hopefully it's just tired.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDJ91JG60Q2E-MvXNDqdP8SKe5SeO_Uh7qUIaICbRemYh_ewj8epSMBunyTyAqcTPOq6Jd6aN95KzFwhDgFCsypt2a21erRcnOrx-KebsD7FJcQYId6XLbM_fUNZR511_TtUWf88NZQU/s1600-h/P1000982.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDJ91JG60Q2E-MvXNDqdP8SKe5SeO_Uh7qUIaICbRemYh_ewj8epSMBunyTyAqcTPOq6Jd6aN95KzFwhDgFCsypt2a21erRcnOrx-KebsD7FJcQYId6XLbM_fUNZR511_TtUWf88NZQU/s320/P1000982.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412245645617937058" /></a><br /><br /><em>The long runs back to resort</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Well my leg seemed to recover enough to let me run a few more times before heading down about 3.45pm. After lunch it got quite strange up there. The lower pistes were deteriorating fast, a thaw had started and the sheer volume of people on few pistes had worn out the bottom sections. I saw the helicopter dispatched 5 times ths afternoon alone, and 3 accidents being tended to at the same time at the bottom of Red 8. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSbo-VqYuZZ2YQoIcOzyQ9TzUWNQnvoJPeP4kLUqpuIezpbOvQbZoJxTeOZh3KYISJHijCucjPkjCQLoh5jsP0B_V8cV0wbzb4Kzb9_rkCvggIm9JdKUiZ5kpJ6yAcN7kHATaiD3xGwSs/s1600-h/P1000985.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSbo-VqYuZZ2YQoIcOzyQ9TzUWNQnvoJPeP4kLUqpuIezpbOvQbZoJxTeOZh3KYISJHijCucjPkjCQLoh5jsP0B_V8cV0wbzb4Kzb9_rkCvggIm9JdKUiZ5kpJ6yAcN7kHATaiD3xGwSs/s320/P1000985.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412245639876898514" /></a><br /><br /><em>Expensive taxi</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />A few rock and stones had been churned up as well, my edges are absolutely wrecked and by the end of the day the loss of grip was very noticeable. Reckon today was shy of the average I need, gonna put it down as 38km.<br /><br />So to round off a great little trip and a fantastic place for Freriders, I have never seen so many big skis in one resort, your standard rental skis were few and far between. Can't post withoput mentioning the Rotair lift up to Titlis. Its a circular cable car that rotates through 360° during the ride, making for a very strange experience.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsW7u1G1qMVfZEUpjUNysiaV1LLp1U-y40X07bsw9Fv956cWrtClX67aCqqqi6p-R31cY9985n_Y6_hjAQ90RQ57gggXQxq2_XQvMaZfRR3TXnlPVnriorthLIAhrPDexExdSh5vRkm7g/s1600-h/P1000961.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsW7u1G1qMVfZEUpjUNysiaV1LLp1U-y40X07bsw9Fv956cWrtClX67aCqqqi6p-R31cY9985n_Y6_hjAQ90RQ57gggXQxq2_XQvMaZfRR3TXnlPVnriorthLIAhrPDexExdSh5vRkm7g/s320/P1000961.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412245659714047842" /></a><br /><br /><em>Spinny things</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I did video the whole thing and will put it up as soon as I have had some sleep!!tino_11http://www.blogger.com/profile/07569955974509944531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702740315285024071.post-28264349726848372672009-11-28T17:14:00.009+01:002009-12-08T20:41:27.484+01:00Zermatt - 21st & 22nd NovemberNow then, back to Zermatt on the train. Late leaving work on the Friday to get my named train, and arrived in resort at 10.30pm instead of 8.15pm. At least the conductors on the train didn't charge me for not using the correct train. Arrived at the Best Western hotel near the Bahnhof and was told my room was in the neighboring house, I was dubious and must have appeared so because the receptionist smiled and said "don't worry Sir, your room is very nice". Too right it was, top floor and massive. Not bad considering I had only paid 70 € a night for a hotel with swimming pool and spa and breakfast included in the price. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcq2cq_EHHoYp8RSEo8lN1BYOq9mDvbAgD8PUJbAEUFahdJ1tsbskyHKV5aQRFdHA6VV7PcfuBfBZrHJ5ZpMEKF8iL5m4tpRiMDwj8uNR1E2Qn5wofEcZIE3JAIJJ3ek4AwffYIb8eppQ/s1600/P1000928.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcq2cq_EHHoYp8RSEo8lN1BYOq9mDvbAgD8PUJbAEUFahdJ1tsbskyHKV5aQRFdHA6VV7PcfuBfBZrHJ5ZpMEKF8iL5m4tpRiMDwj8uNR1E2Qn5wofEcZIE3JAIJJ3ek4AwffYIb8eppQ/s320/P1000928.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409236506642082354" /></a><br /><br /><em>Not too shabby!!</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />So after a hard day at work and a long journey down from which the only really pleasurable bit was a long chat with a very attractive Swiss girl on the train from Bern to Visp, a couple of beers in front of the TV was the order of play. Relax and get ready to put some distance in.<br /><br /><strong>Day 8 of 60.</strong> Woke up to great news, the sun was shining and they had opened the runs down to Furgg adding to the area and lifts that were already open. What a great day, up top by 9.20am and decided to forefit lunch, knowing they close the runs around 3.30pm. A really awesome day of solitary riding, nothing to distract me apart from some tunes on the iPod and stunning scenary. Its hard not to smile whilst riding here under the towering Matterhorn. <br /><br />Tara is behaving wonderfully, now I have got to grips with her. Exceptional control on transition and a lot less physical effort. I didn't tire at all all day, however I did notice sweat on my brow a few times and put this down to the mental effort rather than physical as I still need to remember I am on a shorter and thinner board which is akin to a Ferrari in comparison to my old Fiat. That seems a little unfair on Cindy (Supermodel), but it's not meant to. If I was going really big mountain in deep powder Tara would be left in the ski room whilst Cindy would be out having some fun. The Burton Supermodel is a cracking board off piste as the extra length gives you the chance to set the bindings to the rear and allows you toreally lean back. It makes you feel very safe.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSdwKhZOrBiWz_KstP5ii9WeLr3n9GqaF-pLxaMoFMKmgxyOyoaFw1m3J0mE9EnFMmRn0ojllfEL4k7-Lg8miL5OyqeradJ5LJU4gEOyiRnhUMZiy4ga2HyE7iCbcT4EbvFFo-_tZRFw0/s1600/Photo0096.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 178px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSdwKhZOrBiWz_KstP5ii9WeLr3n9GqaF-pLxaMoFMKmgxyOyoaFw1m3J0mE9EnFMmRn0ojllfEL4k7-Lg8miL5OyqeradJ5LJU4gEOyiRnhUMZiy4ga2HyE7iCbcT4EbvFFo-_tZRFw0/s320/Photo0096.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409501375474330002" /></a><br /><br /><em>Just you, me and the mountains.<br />(Hintertux 2008)</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />So back to the hotel for a swim, steam bath and a suana which is the only way to finsh a day on the slopes. But not before checking my distance on Skiline. 55km and over 7000m of vertical - result!!<br /><br />That evening I had agreed to meet a girl from Basel I had met here back in May, however she didn't arrive and get sorted at her hotel untill late, so I had time to kill with a quik nap.<br /><br />A nice dinner of lamb cutletts, before headng for the Hexen Bar (really nice place if a little pricey) and on to Grampis to watch Marco's rather unique style of entertainment. I swear this guy does it every night of the year! <br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/oo0msBjVkbc&hl=en_GB&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/oo0msBjVkbc&hl=en_GB&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><strong>Day 9 of 60.</strong> Weather not as good as Saturday but still good enough on the lower runs, which are really not very low at at all. Was due to meet at the lift at 9am but my friend bumped into someone she knew in her hotel and called to say she would be a little late. Not a problem get a few quick runs in alone. Decided to push it a little on my new board as I was now feeling confident with her now. Wow, it was great. Proper carving was not something I had been particulary well versed in until Zermatt in October when I just found myself doing it on the last couple of runs of the day, but with Tara it was like slicing warm butter with a razor. When doing it previously my old board was giving feedback and telling me when to transition, however on this setup it was almost automatic. <br /><br />11am and time to meet and have a quick Gluhwein before heading to the top of the Kleine Matterhorn which was very windy and the conditions were detriorating. The galcer up there is very prone to wind and it can make for tricky riding as the top layer gets blown off quickly and exposes large sections of ice.<br /><br /><em>To be continued.....</em><br /><br />41km today.tino_11http://www.blogger.com/profile/07569955974509944531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702740315285024071.post-69493910409675919292009-11-28T17:12:00.022+01:002009-12-08T20:42:49.903+01:00Hintertux - 7th, 8th & 9th NovemberA great weekend in the Zillertal, not so many km's covered but getting away with mates made a nice change after two weekends alone on Zermatt's glaciers.<br /><br />Leaving work at 2pm on Friday the 6th to collect the hire car and on our way by 3pm. Fortunately for me I do not drive, so one of my pals was left with that duty, however the roads were good until Munich where we got a little bogged down, but after that we were flying all the way to Mayrhofen and up to the Tux.<br /><br />Arrived at 8.35pm and just in time for dinner in the Badhotel Kirchler, a really nice hotel with great catering at a reasonable price. A coffee and a wee dram after dinner then time to unpack the bags and head for the club, where one of the lads orders a hot toddy much to the bemusement of the barman.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSalUiMhrUqFpdJbIK8lVcmYuu0QBUXRiZLtNEL6RTuP9RwsSIffp3ugmGeI1Q2_iSsGYBsCr9fOR_Pixg6YBKOhVW4p02SKWuKpgoarjavS0LcwxdNF1HLVmrHY7NnLaqJ0KJUjZtDHg/s1600/P1000874.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSalUiMhrUqFpdJbIK8lVcmYuu0QBUXRiZLtNEL6RTuP9RwsSIffp3ugmGeI1Q2_iSsGYBsCr9fOR_Pixg6YBKOhVW4p02SKWuKpgoarjavS0LcwxdNF1HLVmrHY7NnLaqJ0KJUjZtDHg/s320/P1000874.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409194199480533714" /></a><br /><br /><em>Ponciest hot toddy in the world.</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />So a few beers and a game or 5 of darts and it was off to bed to get ready for the morning and the first day out on my new set up.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii-4BuyXYpHmi_dtTEXC3IxICtb8JTBrUp-kAM-OwUUaHgxfe4_c9HobU29XKQrBAhcLYYWXt0lEPqDDsPjy44JfYpioX4w3gDq8-NI2zkp1WgrQwMXQi36ceuN9PhQ2-IXkMd8P6lkzU/s1600/P1000869.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii-4BuyXYpHmi_dtTEXC3IxICtb8JTBrUp-kAM-OwUUaHgxfe4_c9HobU29XKQrBAhcLYYWXt0lEPqDDsPjy44JfYpioX4w3gDq8-NI2zkp1WgrQwMXQi36ceuN9PhQ2-IXkMd8P6lkzU/s320/P1000869.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409195989932492098" /></a><br /><br /><em>Taken at home the week before, alas I was wearing my boots around the house.</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Day 5 of 60.</strong> So up at the crack of dawn, about 8.30 and feeling a little ropey we head for the breakfast room, a pot of coffee, litre of OJ and 2 asprin later and we are off. Lovely bluebird day up there and once the lads were sorted out with thier planks we were off. As usual on the glaciers out of season, the morning is generally good with piste conditions deteriorating in the afternoon, but this Saturday they held up well all day and allowed us to ease into it gently. As there is a bit of difference in the standard between the three of us there was a bit of waiting around, but nothing drastic. Managed about 30km for the day mainly on piste.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL771cqwPZRtr4Y3EMRVbnEtGV78mWdDQf9ABfuC8nbf8PXcgSXi0siCJQK6ThuC00vBcYbxnYgeEyAyTRO1S1UGejJAkKUgmtX-qMbIY09ImjbicoI1LA_bVaKFu9mW6d-UujPanZZYk/s1600/P1000895.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL771cqwPZRtr4Y3EMRVbnEtGV78mWdDQf9ABfuC8nbf8PXcgSXi0siCJQK6ThuC00vBcYbxnYgeEyAyTRO1S1UGejJAkKUgmtX-qMbIY09ImjbicoI1LA_bVaKFu9mW6d-UujPanZZYk/s320/P1000895.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409197886064987202" /></a><br /><br /><em>This is really what it's all about.</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />That evening we repeated the ritual, but added a swim and a snooze by the pool first. Spent the rest of the evening contemplating hard as to what I should call my board. As is the practice a name based on her characteristics needed to be ascetained.<br /><br />Attracive, twitchy, very edgy, highly strung, and just a little bit cheeky. This was going to be a challenge that required some thinking... and a beer or two.<br /><br /><strong>Day 6 of 60.</strong> and how different could the weather be. Very different. Cold and fog with visibility at a 30ft max. At one point one pof the lads and I strayed off piste onto a closed run and had to climb back up after realising our mistake, you really could not see anything!! Only 24km, a little dissapointing.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpKteSjIs4YhmyULSpyC88iVwLuDer6SZ0TYMN-zUgGFhVePpmgEYVtQAJjdLc0_VqaBLssbeEekZGPDTctdv1CNLYGwNUUFZB4EbzcPVpIWpuwPlUBhI_UvHPGvXYBB7WVi5dzXwZ-Y/s1600/P1000905.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpKteSjIs4YhmyULSpyC88iVwLuDer6SZ0TYMN-zUgGFhVePpmgEYVtQAJjdLc0_VqaBLssbeEekZGPDTctdv1CNLYGwNUUFZB4EbzcPVpIWpuwPlUBhI_UvHPGvXYBB7WVi5dzXwZ-Y/s320/P1000905.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409202161366173250" /></a><br /><br /><em>Er, where's the pub?</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />So a little apres ski was the order of the evening and a few drinkies in the Hohenhaus Tenne is always fun. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_t4XA5u0qHwVlM6ZYd6B3gCW63JPStxLDJR3G3wzF8R2rX8KqOmWbF3Lp-DjfOlNeX2wU6OlBqFIHMtxfa_SqQMOAx5dGOyHnaUfmbbeawArOJQc0IUaaWopvklHU98tlLMnF4jfyYY/s1600/P1000909.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_t4XA5u0qHwVlM6ZYd6B3gCW63JPStxLDJR3G3wzF8R2rX8KqOmWbF3Lp-DjfOlNeX2wU6OlBqFIHMtxfa_SqQMOAx5dGOyHnaUfmbbeawArOJQc0IUaaWopvklHU98tlLMnF4jfyYY/s320/P1000909.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409230865020938578" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />So as it was, a few beers and a Jagermeister or two and the lads asked me if I had come up with a name for my new stick. Well I hadn't, so they offered to help. Several names of female characters from the movie world came up, like Kathy (Bates) as well as a few real life serial killers!! None of these would do, even though she had tried to do away with me on no less than 3 occasions the last 2 days. It wasn't until I was in the shower getting ready for dinner that it struck me!<br /><br /><blockquote>Attracive, twitchy, very edgy, highly strung, and just a little bit cheeky.</blockquote> <br />Tara!!! I just wondered how she would take to the powder?<br /><br /><strong>Day 7 of 60.</strong> Variable conditions up top, but new snow!! So off-piste was the order of the day. Only short sections, but steep enough and a little rocky. Persuaded one of the lads who had never been off-piste to join me and despite having a tumble and ending up with skis 60 ft apart he did well. Really started getting into the new set up, it took some concentration but was rewarding. The board is a Prior MFR 165 (racing tuned) with SP Brotherhood Fastec bindings. A lot more responsive that my big Burton Supermodel 168 with Custom bindings. Whilst I could really throw my weight around on the the Supermodel, the slightest shift in weight is transferred to the edges almost instantly on the Prior. This can be rather frightening on a speedy flat section. About 28km done today, but a short one as we had to drive back.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ezcg3VRSfeOws4ELP0_Iy0KHpb1B5q3jnzMXdThJULUYdqYClMjT_gdfOcCLhss1Wny1VX4fSpi-u8kWKLUd8FWvJmNdDI7M7GWuzAE4qgFtj-JRBD8fpgVjmlTEa0lDou2u_WRzfc8/s1600/P1000921.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ezcg3VRSfeOws4ELP0_Iy0KHpb1B5q3jnzMXdThJULUYdqYClMjT_gdfOcCLhss1Wny1VX4fSpi-u8kWKLUd8FWvJmNdDI7M7GWuzAE4qgFtj-JRBD8fpgVjmlTEa0lDou2u_WRzfc8/s320/P1000921.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409212690290208642" /></a><br /><br /><em>Notice the rather bizzare looking tracks on the last section, wonder what could have created them?? </em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />All in all a good little trip, nothing too drastic in terms of distance but fun none the less. Really reccommend the hotel to anyone wanting a off season few days at Tux, stayed there a few times now and it's always great, friendly service. The Tux is the best of the 3 glacier resorts I have visited out of season in terms of terrain choice and area. Saas Fee and Zermatt being the other two. Not on the same level unfortunately once off the slopes.tino_11http://www.blogger.com/profile/07569955974509944531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702740315285024071.post-5685968278630344802009-11-28T17:11:00.014+01:002009-12-08T20:41:46.704+01:00Zermatt - 24th & 25th OctoberAnother weekend down in the Valais region of Switzerland starting with a prompt finish from work and just over 5 hours on the train. No point reserving a seat on these trains, it's a far better plan to get a seat in the restaurant and have a beer and something to eat. It's also far more interesting as you invariably end up chatting with someone. With a Bahncard 50 from Detsche Bahn it is possible to get a return ticket down here for 80-90 €.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheYL46S_oyyrsQp_r4OQ3w7iB08S1wSYPLgEou85FNTWTzmmWFR4GbUchkilzjK4RZg_WFPQuNSxIBRJcx7Woh9PeMTfd7j3LTXvFS-PfZl9zGFMq4FeFmim-RyHBjQjqRNxYgvVBzCCk/s1600/P1000829.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheYL46S_oyyrsQp_r4OQ3w7iB08S1wSYPLgEou85FNTWTzmmWFR4GbUchkilzjK4RZg_WFPQuNSxIBRJcx7Woh9PeMTfd7j3LTXvFS-PfZl9zGFMq4FeFmim-RyHBjQjqRNxYgvVBzCCk/s320/P1000829.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409534974324922898" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Arrived in resort at 8.15pm and checked into the <a href="http://www.alpenresort.com/index_en.html">Best Western</a> hotel and promptly went out for some dinner and a few beers at the <a href="http://www.hotelpost.ch/de/bildergalerie/browncow.php">Brown Cow</a>.<br /><br /><strong>Day 3 of 60.</strong> Seems I maybe had one beer too many and getting out of my bed I was upset to see that the pull lifts high on the glacier were closed for some reason I could not fathom or find out. The only thing running was the cable car between Trockner Steg and Kleine Matterhorn, which means a huge amount of queueing. However up top the conditions were great and it was nice to get a few long runs from the KM down to Trockner Steg, but after a while the queues got to much and I headed down to Furi a late lunch. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMaJ-FI2zGmP3xcuH-nZjtHF7BN3-DkJtuZB9j7GAURDvSmoJ3l6xN_sgAWea6guGbPWJG32EmGnQq414LVvZLPVyILqqOb9pMSFa5CTPGe01ieI0f29Q6vKcuj7MmRqPu_tPYXbBlWcc/s1600/P1000820.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMaJ-FI2zGmP3xcuH-nZjtHF7BN3-DkJtuZB9j7GAURDvSmoJ3l6xN_sgAWea6guGbPWJG32EmGnQq414LVvZLPVyILqqOb9pMSFa5CTPGe01ieI0f29Q6vKcuj7MmRqPu_tPYXbBlWcc/s320/P1000820.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409535680722200674" /></a><br /><br /><em>From the top red 85, red 83, red 81 and finally here the blue 73</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />So all in all only 23km and 1782m of vertical achieved on the day, but the views, weather and Valais Rosti made it a very pleasant afternoon.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4HMCureK_Nft-Eeva_PUmlxw-psMu4YIV4m813RdJY5ynfrzvUFD_XPJDrrzgJTosNULV-ZBgrv39KsuP74WzkDNfssksOdWLKjoVQJuNZBDn0Aux7pUhx1oQO0x3G1QizEbxNfqTFGs/s1600/P1000823.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4HMCureK_Nft-Eeva_PUmlxw-psMu4YIV4m813RdJY5ynfrzvUFD_XPJDrrzgJTosNULV-ZBgrv39KsuP74WzkDNfssksOdWLKjoVQJuNZBDn0Aux7pUhx1oQO0x3G1QizEbxNfqTFGs/s320/P1000823.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409536516923667026" /></a><br /><br /><em>Restaurant at Furi.</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Day 4 of 60.</strong> News was far better this morning, all the pulls were running again at the top and they opened the Furggsattel Gletscherbahn which is a fast and modern 6 seater. As a snowboader pull lifts are okay, but a day on them is very tiring so this was fantastic news.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrCBudl7JLUnk-IH_HkaRsHyYW-I9ZbTRuowAP98oMsm0vzPFVONU1njGP8kpSVODhqvrczwTp4X1wAUj0AwWJ3bZnF9T_Np22UgXsoUbOe9wZCwoBHFcUCjva4WBK4m_XyBm3nyPFhac/s1600/P1000843.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrCBudl7JLUnk-IH_HkaRsHyYW-I9ZbTRuowAP98oMsm0vzPFVONU1njGP8kpSVODhqvrczwTp4X1wAUj0AwWJ3bZnF9T_Np22UgXsoUbOe9wZCwoBHFcUCjva4WBK4m_XyBm3nyPFhac/s320/P1000843.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409553089403687426" /></a><br /><br /><br /><em>Gonna be a good day</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Having decent lifts open makes it easier to get more mileage done, the time spent on an open air lift does not seem such as a waste as queueing for a cable car for 45 minutes. Gives you a chance to soak up the sun, watch the technique of others and take in the scenery.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYuzjgNFDErCkbZPIcvU80qE3knGqN_198MqBnIm6_pp5X1sKcMVz3lT_N0feTcBQdA0k136bSps1k5r-S1RMaLeaX5HOFCBlOdjivRt__fJk_nLEbFNSVcOrPUdIfqFOk4iAbwyR8bIg/s1600/P1000836.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYuzjgNFDErCkbZPIcvU80qE3knGqN_198MqBnIm6_pp5X1sKcMVz3lT_N0feTcBQdA0k136bSps1k5r-S1RMaLeaX5HOFCBlOdjivRt__fJk_nLEbFNSVcOrPUdIfqFOk4iAbwyR8bIg/s320/P1000836.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409546763224440674" /></a><br /><br /><em>Thats more like it</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />38km 4539mtino_11http://www.blogger.com/profile/07569955974509944531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702740315285024071.post-15839785365039916882009-11-28T17:08:00.005+01:002009-12-08T20:42:06.723+01:00Zermatt - 10th & 11th October<strong>Day 1 of 60.</strong><br /><br />To be completed.<br /><br /><strong>Day 2 of 60.</strong><br /><br />To be completedtino_11http://www.blogger.com/profile/07569955974509944531noreply@blogger.com0