Ski Europe Now

New Photo Album: Paris April 2012.

If you have really been paying attention to the blog, you would have noticed that in the last ten days or so a new photo album has popped up:  Paris April 2012.  You may wonder when did I find the time to visit Paris this trip, especially since I rant and rave about the inefficiency of Charles de Gaulle airport.  Well, the inefficiency of CDG and the appalling customer service of Air France gate agents are responsible (more on this titillating subject later this week).  Regardless of how it happened, I ended up with some time in Paris and took a bunch of photos and thought to post some in a seperate photo album.  Ergo, the new photo album.  Enjoy.

Paris was a nice city, but the weather wasn't fantatic.  I would like to return and spend about a week there to get a better feel for the place.  Someday.

Planning Ahead Part 3.

Sounds like Morzine isn't a good a spot as Avoriaz Philthy.  Some of the reports say Avoriaz is more ideally suited for families and more family friendly anyway.

Planning Ahead...

is kinda hard when certain crucial information isn't available.  I know that in February there are a lot of school holidays so the ski slopes would be absolutely packed, but there is no way to figure out the French school holidays for 2014.  Maybe in six months I can figure this out but this information is key; I sure as hell don't want to be anywhere near the ski resorts during the school holidays.

Already Planning Ahead...

for both 2013 and 2014.  Going back to Austria in 2013 and obviously someplace with a snow sure record late in the season so I will probably start researching now.  For 2014 my friend Philthy and his fam dambly want to go over in February which opens up a whole lot of possibilities because this is right in the middle of the season and one would hope that all the resorts are open.  It is nice to go in April for spring skiing but a lot of resorts are already shut down at that time and the weather can still be pretty poopy.  At least in February if the weather is poopy it probably isn't raining.  So, with February 2014 the tentative dates, I would consider Portes du Soleil, an area with twelve different resorts all connected by lift and/or bus service and under one lift pass.  After looking at the ski map the resort town of Morzine looks to be the largest and most central point.  This resort is on my bucket list of resorts I would love to ski but timing was always going to be an issue until 2014.  Sooo, this may be a very good option.  Of course, this really depends on Philthy and fambly too.  We'll see.

I'm HEEEERRRRREEE!

I am writing this post from my dingy, smelly hotel room in Zurich, Switzerland.  And I mean dingy and smelly.  Silly me, I forgot to ask for a non-smoking room (as if they have anything other than non-smoking rooms anyway) so everything has a sickly odor to it.  Like a full ashtray.  Had a fine flight over and discovered the joys of the exit row seating.  Huge amounts of legroom, more than even first class.  A seat that doesn't recline (pretty shitty on long flights).  Free drinks (including hard booze).  Two, count 'em, TWO tray tables.  The ability of the window seat person to get out without the aisle person having to get up too.  The downside is other clydesdales like myself gravitate towards these seats so throw out any visions of no seatmates or a small person.  The guy sitting next to me was bigger than I am.  Not much fun for eleven hours. 

I got my bags into overnight storage (after running around for about an hour finding out about the details) and went to my hotel.  Very warm in Zurich, probably mid-60s.  This doesn't bode well for the snow but lots of eye candy for horny 45 year olds to ogle in the street.  After getting settled briefly I went back out for beer shopping and a quick walk around.  I have that funny, woozy, out-of-body feeling I get from lack of sleep and jet lag so I may not get back out tonight.  I would love to walk around after dark and get some photos but that may not be in the cards.

BLASTOFF!!!

Yay!  Today is the day I fly out of here.  About time.  Needless to say posting will be spotty over the next couple weeks but I will try to put some stuff up.  Don't expect any videos: they take a long time to upload to Youtube and then post on the blog.  Photos are a bit easier but don't expect huge numbers of them.  Keep coming back for more updates.

Counting Down.

Three weeks and counting before I take off.  Whee!!  Me so happy!

Another photo to liven things up.

Watching skies descend north face of Valluga, St. Anton, Austria, April 2008.

Counting Down.

OMFG!!  Only four weeks left.  Crap.  Time to get serious about lists and packing.

Counting Down.

Five weeks and counting til I leave for Switzerland.  This is the last week I can order stuff and be assured it will arrive before I leave so time to consult my list.

Sounds Like a Scam.

I actually got a response back from the folks at the Flims-Laax tourist office saying they try to keep all the facilities open in the low season but will close them if keeping them open represents a danger to the public such as high winds, extreme cold, high avalanche danger, etc.  Sounds fishy.  I guess I need to investigate on other websites.