Skiing 2017

We didn't have great snowfall this winter, but I bought my first pair of skis and ski boots and I was determined to hit the slopes in style. I managed to get in some skiing in the Portes du Soleil, first on the annual school ski camp at Champoussin and surrounds. The sun was out everyday, but it meant that the snow melted each day and froze at night which made for icy conditions on the pistes.

The Dents du Midi

My favourite blue slope

The village of Champoussin

Looking over into France

Later in the season I went back to the Portes du Soleil with some friends, this time to Champéry. For the first time ever, I skied across an international border, from Switzerland into France! The only difference was that the prices were in euros :) We also took a chairlift to the top of the "Swiss Wall", the hardest slope in Switzerland, but I chose to descend safely on the chairlift. Maybe next year...

The Swiss Wall

Avoriaz, a major ski resort in France

To finish the season, I went with my friend Scott to a resort closer to home: La Dôle in the Jura. Daniel and I have been hiking here in summer and it's always interesting to see the landscape in its winter colours. I don't recognise it at all! The conditions were a little slushy, but I did some proper off-piste skiing for the first time and it was good to end the season feeling confident on my skis. Unfortunately, on this trip I fell of a chair lift for the first time, did an embarrassing face plant at the top of the slope, and they had to stop the lift to get me out the way. Fortunately the only thing hurt was my pride so we were able to keep skiing!

View into France from the top

View into Switzerland (and then France) from the top

We ended the day with a blue cheese fondue in front of the fire!

Swiss Winter

We had an incredible second winter in Switzerland! Daniel had a great off season, resting and then training hard for the summer and I worked hard on my skiing, completing my first red AND black slopes! I also won a friendly staff slalom race :)

We spent our first Christmas in Switzerland and we had great fun decorating the house when Daniel's parents visited. We had a real tree and blue and silver themed decorations. Here are a sample of photos of our activities over the winter:

Beautiful winter sunset over the Jura mountains

Amazing spa retreat in Adelboden in the Bernese Oberland

Lucky birthday girl!

No leaves on the trees or vines but our village is still beautiful :)

Montreau Christmas Market

Montreau Christmas Market

Homemade Christmas decorations

Christmas wreaths on the doors in our village #1

Christmas wreaths on the doors in our village #1

Our first Swiss Christmas. Cheers!

The Dent du Midi - I spent most of slope time here this winter

Champoussin with the Dents du Midi in the background

Loads of snow in our courtyard!

Daniel training in the snow. Check out his video!

Daniel's running route in Autumn and Winter

The Arboretum covered in snow

Jane and me in Saanen

Skiing in Leysin

Skiing in the Swiss Alps

Skiing is a big deal in Switzerland. In the winter months, the lakeside towns and cities empty as everyone heads to the mountains to enjoy some Alpine snow. We're still finding our snow legs again so we didn't rush headlong onto the slopes. Daniel skipped the ski season because he doesn't want to risk an injury and I did two trips - one a school ski camp, the other a girls' trip to Gstaad.

The school camp was in Champoussin, a rustic Valaisan village across the valley from the famous Dents du Midi Mountains. I joined the beginners' group and I had a great time cruising the blue slopes with my students. On our last two days there was over 2 feet of fresh snow so even the blue slopes felt like off-piste skiing!

The Dents du Midi

Perfectly groomed slopes before the big snowfall

Me at the Snowli Park (for children)!

In February I went to Gstaad with Jane to enjoy the fancy resorts there. It was great to be able to stop at the bar and have a fondue and wine (unlike with the students). I nearly managed to get my skis parallel and I even went down an easy red slope!

Picture perfect views with conveniently placed lamppost and sleds in the foreground :)

Jane, me and Sam

Gorgeous weather for skiing

Taking a well-earned rest in the sun

When I returned my ski pass at the end of the trip, I was offered an exchange of my 5 franc deposit or cheese or chocolate! Only in Switzerland... :-)

Valle Nevado

On Sunday we drove 46km out of the city and climbed to 3000m above sea level to one of Chile's most popular ski resorts. We had a couple of mishaps involving a fall from a surface lift and one lost ski, but we spent a lovely day enjoying the fresh powdery snow and sunny blue skies of the Andes.

Termas de Chillán

To celebrate the long weekend of San Pedro and San Pablo, we drove down to Termas de Chillán, about 500km southeast of Santiago. In the local Indian language Chillán means 'where the Sun is sitting', and we certainly enjoyed a beautiful, sunny weekend. We rented a cabin at Bordenieve with three friends and enjoyed cosy evenings around a wood fire.

On Saturday and Sunday we went skiing on the snowy slopes of Nevados de Chillán, a ski resort located 1,650m above sea level. While I conquered the lower slopes of the mountain, Daniel skied the longest ski run in South America, a 13km ungroomed trail known as Las Tres Marias. It was quite an achievement!

The biggest novelty for us was getting so warm during the day that we had to take layers off. We even lunched outside in the sun and drank beers to cool down! It was about 25 degrees different from our previous skiing experiences... All in all, it was a great weekend!

Snow Fun!

Daniel's family visited us for Christmas and New Year, and we tried to squeeze a lifetime of snowy activities into two weeks. Top of the list was Phineas the Zimbabwean Snowman.

We also hit the sledding slopes with the brave Alaskan children, and although we may have had a few too many tumbles and falls, our smiles were frozen to our faces the whole time!

We also hit the bigger slopes at Hilltop Ski Area where Daniel's brother was constantly thwarted by trees, ski poles and deep snow.