it ain't over

although it nearly is ... today was the last day of lift operation here in the Val d'Anniviers, ironically the day started with fairly heavy snowfall so the skiing here in Zinal was great. Last day is a bit weird, they were removing the piste markers and all the nets and gates around the lifts so there's an odd feel and on one run when the cloud rolled in it was a case of relying on memory about where the piste was particularly as they'd not prepared the runs today.

Sat here now it's all very weird, I just watched the lifts stop for the last time this season, the last ski bus has gone, the car parks are all empty and the village is deserted. Not only that, Mrs Ise has gone back to the other house and taken the cat so I'm sat here in an empty chalet in an empty village

That may be the last lift skiing of the year for me but there's another month of ski touring at least.

Strange feelings reading that.

Stranger still was the snow outside the house when I got up today - It hasn't snowed here, just over from the Isle of Wight, in years.

Roll on winter. I'll be skiing in software mode until then.

Ise, As you say, the end of a season is a weird time. You look at the hill/mountain, it is like a dead body. Everything is there, looks normal, but the life has gone out of it.

Sorry to be so morbid. I took my last turns on Wednesday.

Have fun touring

Trencher

It certainly aint over. I got back from Verbier last night, and I had the best conditions I have ever ski'd in - fresh snow most days, beautiful sky and sun as well, but still cold enough not to get slushy in the afternoon (except at the bottom of the Medran run) and not too cold overnight so it all froze. Perfect does not begin to describe it.

Hamish Macbeth wrote:

Strange feelings reading that.

Stranger still was the snow outside the house when I got up today - It hasn't snowed here, just over from the Isle of Wight, in years.

Roll on winter. I'll be skiing in software mode until then. 

Hamish it was the same here this morning,14 degrees very sunny and then out of nowhere down came the snow.Bizarre weather or what ?.Ise all good things must come to an end, You`ve had one hell of a season and too much pocket money me thinks

AJ Adele

I think most of us have had a great winter, and we should be grateful for that. The season enders all had good finishing weeks. I always end up with mixed feelings, sadness for the end of skiing, and the saying good bye to Austrian friends, and joy for most of the runs down this season.

Sincere thanks to Admin for keeping us all posted with ski forecasts, ~ including those that were accurate!!

Thanks to Bandit and Ise for their sharing of ski gear knowledge.

Many thanks to Pavel for stimulating ski debate.

Thanks to AJ, Swal and others that share my love of Niederau.

Now next season..... Niederau, Utah, Niederau. Hmmm, that means cutting back on my skiing for next year....

just in wagrain now and woken up to 4 inches at village height! Not bad for 850ms!!!!!Skiing is going to be good today!

Definitely ain't over just yet....looking at magnificent conditions in Engelberg on the webcams....hands hovering over the keyboard to book a flight and hotel for later this week! I understand their winter ski season runs until May 25!

What a season it has been - and more to come I hope!

LOTA wrote:

Definitely ain't over just yet....looking at magnificent conditions in Engelberg on the webcams....hands hovering over the keyboard to book a flight and hotel for later this week! I understand their winter ski season runs until May 25!
 

not really, they run the ice flyer and rotair until then but that's only a couple of runs. The lower runs will have closed by the end of May.

That may be so, but they won't have closed next week!!!!

Dave Mac wrote:

I think most of us have had a great winter, and we should be grateful for that. The season enders all had good finishing weeks. I always end up with mixed feelings, sadness for the end of skiing, and the saying good bye to Austrian friends, and joy for most of the runs down this season.

Sincere thanks to Admin for keeping us all posted with ski forecasts, ~ including those that were accurate!!

Thanks to Bandit and Ise for their sharing of ski gear knowledge.

Many thanks to Pavel for stimulating ski debate.

Thanks to AJ, Swal and others that share my love of Niederau.

Now next season..... Niederau, Utah, Niederau. Hmmm, that means cutting back on my skiing for next year....

 

Well said Dave, Thanks to everyone for their input and advice, Thanks ise for sharing the lovely photos and your blog, Bandit, Ellistine and Jan for the humor.
Tony H thanks for being a sport for the stick i gave you over the RED SALLOS and for the interesting posts Trencher and Pavel.To all of you nursing an injury, Caron-a and ice ghost get well soon.Big thanks to Dave Mac and hats off to Dave the admin man for looking after us, With weather updates and info.

AJ Adele

LOTA wrote:

That may be so, but they won't have closed next week!!!!  

I wouldn't count on it, their press release was very careful about stating dates. Apart from the ice flyer etc they said the others would be closing in April with no exact date given. Given it's getting warmer and everyone's gone home I'd not bet on it.