J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by bedrock barney

Looks like papa has a different approach to us!

Usually tucked up in bed by 11pm and up each morning by 7.30am.

If we're not at the lift station by 9am I'm Mr Grumpy and I don't like leaving the slopes until at least 4pm. Knackered by the end of a skiing week......think I'm getting old.

We enjoyed a short moment of total isolation in terms of noise and visual impact when in Zermatt recently. We decided to head down piste no 69 which runs near to the Matterhorn and into it's own valley away from any other pistes. We stopped part way down and realised that we couldn't see anyone or any signs that we were in a ski resort (other than the narrow groomed piste) and could hear absolutely nothing. No wind, no voices, no mechanical noises from lifts, no birds, nothing. Quite a special feeling to be honest and perhaps relatively unique to the pastime that we all enjoy so much?

Anyone else had a moment like this?

Have a look at my topic on Tignes from summer 2013. Skiing is really only possible from 7.30 to around 11am each day. After that, the snow warms up too much. Best included as part of a wider activity holiday imo.


http://www.j2ski.com/ski-chat-forum/posts/list/14261.page

A fact I forgot to mention in my report.

The ratio of skiers to boarders appeared to be around 90:10 - by far the most skier centric resort we've visited so far.

Presume you've had a look on Owner's Direct? There are quite a few on there although a lot do look to be at the shoddier end of the marketplace for some reason.

A snapshot from a bit of gopro footage:



This is piste no 69 (red) which runs into a valley in the shadow of the Matterhorn. Actually quite a dull and tiring run, fairly flat and quite narrow in parts.....until you get to a short drop off section with rocks either side. I knew it was coming as the piste was barely a blue until that point. Mrs BB not impressed when we got to it. If you look to the right of picture, the lady in white was slowly edging down the piste at about 0.2mph!

I thought it was good fun! :D

Dave Mac wrote:

AllyG wrote:Thanks very much BB :)
Lovely photos :)
I have thought about going to Zermatt but I decided it's too expensive :(

We have been to Zermatt several times during the winter, and in summer. We have not viewed it as expensive, especially when compared with much of France, on a like to like basis.

Have you got a special discount card Dave?? -)

Seriously though, the resort was more expensive (town and slopes) than Val d'Isere.....and Val d'Isere is expensive.

Saying that, I didn't take up skiing expecting it to be a cheap hobby. I'm actually quite happy to pay £4 for a coffee if I can sit in the sun at 3,000m and gaze upon the magnificent Matterhorn.

Would love to join the gang but too close to our planned New Year trip with family. Eventually our children will leave home and we'll have more flexibility....