J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Dave Mac

Ian Wickham wrote:If I pop my clogs tomorrow it's not gonna leave me too much time to ski Zermatt Or Saas fee, I guess you gotta realise that you just can't do everything before you die, Yes still breathing :shock: :shock:

You had better get on with it then Whickers. :twisted:

Tony_H wrote:

Dave Mac wrote:It should be on everyones "Places I must ski before I die" list

Zermatt or Saas Fe?

Zermatt. Sit on the right hand side of the Rack & Pinion train, facing forward, on the way up to Zermatt. My first view of the Matterhorn still lives with me, some 30 umpteen years ago. Have been back twice since.

It is even better higher up. There is no better backdrop to ski alongside. No, not even in N.

Choose a hotel with a view of the Matterhorn, and buy some bottles of wine, to help pass the evening light.

Saas Fee is pleasant, comfortable, enjoyable. Zermatt, with the Matterhorn is magic.

Anyway, Mikei, to answer your question. Saas Fee is an interesting village, retaining a lot of old village buildings. The runs are generally good, the snow is pretty secure, due to the height.

There can be an issue of bad weather closing the links to areas, but that is a feature common to most European high ski areas.

A day or two in the neighbouring village of Saas Grund is worthwhile, you get to ski right next to the glacier, I mean that as you are skiing, you can reach out and touch the side of the ice wall, as it towers above you.

My impresion of cost was that it was not too bad on the mountain, and you can find places in the evning that offered reasonable eating/drink costs. definitely lower than France, a bit more than Austria/Italy.

It is a good place to buy ski gear, in terms of choice, and we did find a few bargains, not that I am one to be overly concerned about cost. :wink:

You can also join an organised tour, and take a day in Zermatt ~ if you haven't been before, then it is a good way to get a taster of Zermatt. It should be on everyones "Places I must ski before I die" list

Mmm wonder exactly what kind of device/container we would need to put our lift passes in, (on the way down the hill), such that GPS signals could not get through?

That won't work, they would put an auto-stop on the pass if they didn't receive the signal. Damn.

You could give your pass to a slower skier, but then you would have to wait at the bottom to get the pass back.

You could buy two lift passes, and....... Ah-ha, so that's why they are introducing this gizmo.

Call me an old sceptic if you like but......

Ski well, if a little more slower than last year. :cry:

We are thread drifting slightly, but unless you buy new skis every couple of years, it seems to me that most insurance policies are useless, since there is an rapid age write down. And did you keep the receipt?

Dave, its only 3.5 hours on a flight from London, I dont think thats much for a weeks holiday. I did 4 hours flying for a week in Egypy in 2007, and it didnt interfere with the trip.

It may be an age thing Tony, we are 4+ hours, and transport time. We had only a couple of days notice, when the GD was taken into the Forfar training centre for a week. The choice was Menorca, Croatia, a couple of Greek Islands. The flights times were the real clincher, arriving in Greece at 2.30am, add transfer time, arriving back in Edinburgh at 4.00 am.

London gives you southerners an advantage.

My best memories of Kos were the ancient sites of civilisations. We both felt the hand of history on our shoulders. Now who was it that first said that......?

That is nice accomodation Rose. You proved your point about the snake though.

Have once seen a sea snake, ((I have met a few swimming in Australian rivers!), but this was just after jumping off a tourist boat off the Turkish coast, and swimming for a mile or so alongside the boat, then climbing back on board. The snake then appeared.

Ian Wickham wrote:

bandit wrote:

Ian Wickham wrote:Still bubble wrap, it's very cheap.............. 8)

Agreed Wickers, though it won't stop a determined baggage handler on a wrecking mission :evil:

I have never experienced one of those, I guess I'm just lucky 8)

Arrived back from Austria, coming through Glasgow airport. Was looking through the curtain at baggage arrival, and saw a wee fat guy on top of a 10 foot pile of baggage,throwing the bags down on to the ground.

Unfortunately, on that trip, had taken a banjo, wrapped in ski clothing, multiple layers inside the rucsac. Arrived home, and the neck of the banjo had snapped.