Quick link to Winter 2003/4 report: [1]
[2] [3]
[4] [5]
[6] [7]
[8] [chamois
voice]
17th Jan 2004
WEEKS 5 & 6
SNOW AND CHALET REPORT
Les Arcs
The 24 strong Planet Subzero team arrived
in resort 2 weeks ago and we've had a great start to
the season. The first week saw loads of sunshine, which
gave everyone a chance to find their legs and get to
know their way round the mountain. The first day's skiing
took in some serious kms, including the 9km black to
Villaroger ... by which point Simon had had enough and
moved straight to the dark side. Two days in and he's
already convinced that boarding's the way forward.
The skiers are kicking arse, with Gary
leading the way and Ben, Sven, and Gareth not far behind.
Mike's been helping Andrea and Simon get to grips with
boarding, and Susannah, Alison and Rach are straight
back on it.
The first week started with a meal out
for everyone, followed by a bar crawl around resort.
Jimmy's has been treated to several nights of Justin-aaah.
The Bison-Justin dance off is scheduled for next week.
And the Blanc is firmly establishing itself as lunching,
drinking, chilling hole of choice.
The chalet 15 boys have landed on their
feet, with Susannah and Rachel cooking for them every
night. How very civilised - don't get too used to it!
So as not to miss out, we've had a massive Sunday roast
for everyone, with Chris outdoing himself on chicken
consumption.
The Arpette torchlit descent took place
on the second week, and started badly for Graham, who
managed to lose his way there and walked up from 1800
in the dark (an impressive hour of up piste hiking).
Some of the boys attempted to beat last year's Jack
Ass cheese-off, but failed to rise to the challenge
with Sven's face a picture of overindulgence, and Smurfo
not even making it to double figures on the portions.
Out in the main room, the dance floor was taken by actual
70s porn star dude ... complete with huge tash, yellow
roll neck, and quality out of time hip thrusting. Greig
and Susannah did their level best to compete, but couldn't
even come close. Although in terms of facial hair, Gareth
is well on the way to a close second. The run home was
the usual random carnage, with Toby not quite managing
to follow the trail and taking the prize for last man
down. 30 minutes after everyone else ...
Week 2 in resort started on a downer with
the promised snow turning to torrential rain. However,
that soon changed back and started dumping. So, with
a couple of days lost, we've been making the most of
the powder conditions. More on the way ...
Chamonix
From the guys in Cham ...
With more stalling than Maureen from Driving
School, the (lack of) snow has been testing early -
season nerves. Everyone has had their own theory about
when the white stuff would arrive, "the hot summer
meant a cold winter"; or wouldn't, "we were
on the 40th year of a 40 year dry cycle". Certainly
once the hip of Chamonix's oldest resident began to
twitch we would be well on our way to metres of it.
The twitch came at the end of the first week, prompting
a day of rolling around in deep powder. Zero visibility
didn't help the old technique, but at least no-one could
see you. The next few days were spent greedily searching
out the powder nobody had skied. But as the sunny weather
persisted, this became more and more difficult - requiring
either local knowledge or more ballsy off-piste. We
have now hit the bars to wait safely for the next batch.
There we found two of our housemates, Dan & Neal,
who had hedged their bets and stuck with après-ski
until the ski had sorted itself out. This, apparently,
was in the aim of 'getting known'. I think we can say
this has been achieved - even if it does mean waiting
6 hours for them to come back with the shopping after
'being distracted'. Not that the rest of us are whiter
than white. Too much indulgence and too little exercise
makes for guilty housemates. Still, as they say, 'It's
a long season'.
So far most skiing has been done in our local area
of Grands Montets in Argentière. The far sides
of Combe de la Pendant and left of La Herse have been
the most impressive, retaining the snow and allowing
you right up to the imposing stone walls that tower
above you. Here you feel how small you really are and
how well you have done to make it down in one piece!
When the top cable car opens the ski area will triple,and
together with Chamonix's 5 other ski areas will offer
plenty more impressive and challenging runs. So far
we have barely scratched the surface.
Chamonix is wild terrain and good living. While we
are hoping the second doesn't stop us from exploring
the first, there is a feeling that this will be a great
place to spend the winter and that by April we'll all
be lookin' gooood on the slopes.
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