Messages posted by : Neiltoo
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I agree very much with what Ise has said. I spent a wonderful 15 years working in the alps and the rockies. Whilst I enjoyed every minute of it I often struggled to support myself, I certainly couldnt have contemplated having a family etc. I did many jobs, teaching , working for tour operators, barman, cleaning apartements etc.
Even at a managerial level with a tour operator I was not making enough money to support a family (the next step up usually involves working in an office - defeating the purpose!) My aim was to ski as much as possible. Except for when I was teaching I pretty much skied (for me) 5 days a week for 10 or 11 years. I'm sure I gave up some pretty good opportunities because I just wanted to ski all the time but that was my choice. I think a gap year spent working in a ski resort (doing any job) is a great way of finding out what goes on, seeing what opportunities there are and then making plans based on that. Most ski resorts are communities which require all the usual services and skills which you would find in any small town. Most of the people I know who are 'living the dream' have either been lucky (right place, right time) or have started their own business and been successful or have a skill that is in demand. I could have kept teaching and maybe I would have got to a stage where I could have made a reasonable living but I loved teaching/didnt like working for ski schools and instructors don't get a lot of time to ski for themselves. A second language is a huge advantage [assuming they speak it where you are working ) ] |
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Tiffindel was just being developed when I was there. I think they may have snow making now - they certainly didnt when I was out in S.A. I skied in Lesotho a few week-ends. Wits ski club had a few rope tows up there and we stayed in a very dodgy lodge owned by a Greek bloke who was married to a local. Great fun but I wouldnt rush to book it for your next holiday :D The drive from Maseru up to the lodge is one of the scariest drives I've ever done, really steep gravel tracks with the longest drops I've ever seen at the side of a road. Great memories though, I havn't thought about it for a while. |
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Me too, but I'd rather ski on a carpet than not ski at all. I taught on one of those in S. Africa for a few years. Different but great fun and as Wanderer says, great for fitness. |
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As I said, things may have changed. The only 'gate' I remember was to access the hike up to Purple bowl which was closed depending on conditions. No problem with that as any avalanche there could affect trails.
I am a self confessed 'grumpy old man' and the older I get the less I like being told what I can do ) I had 2 wonderful winters in Banff |
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Things may well have changed, but we were told by the ski patrol in Lake Louise if we were caught accessing certain areas from the 'ski area' we would have our lift tickets confiscated. If we skinned in , from the other side, then no problem. Its a while ago and my memory may be hazy :( but I think thats what we were told |
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I think so!
My only problem with Canada is the whole concept of 'out of bounds' I should say that every day that I've skied S'te Foy it was dumping with snow - that was why we went ... cos the visibility was crap elsewhere. So that may have influenced my opinion somehow :) I ve also finished up in S'te Foy after heli skiing from La Thuile ( a whole lot cheaper than Canada and if the snow is good the skiing is superb.) |
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I worked 2 winters in Banff about 6 years ago. Never skied in the states though.
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Ive never stayed in Sainte Foy, but Ive skied a few days there from Tignes and Val D'Isere. Some of the best tree skiing I've done anywhere. And the mountain restaurants are great too.
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