Downhill All The Way

 

  January came around, and I packed away my skins to make the best of the pistes and easy to grab off piste that is all around the Anniviers. Had a great drive down across the Jura on the way out, stopping briefly in Kent to give a lift to a pal who was staying in Zinal for a week.

We got stuck in to the unpisted areas within the resort boundary and had a blast. The conditions varied widely, some slopes had breakable crust, though anywhere in the shade stayed powdery. 

It was cold again, so I was back wearing lots of layers, only this time I found myself having to say to Andy, no, wear more! We still saw skiers with no hats or goggles though, they must be more hardy.

Having been cruising in the back seat, Andy finds some Breakable Crust and decides to take a rest, and why not, he's on holiday!

My friend came round from Zinal, and brought all his friends with him, we had quite a crowd. We took them onto the same slopes we'd been skiing, smiles all round.

Most days we took a picnic and stopped at one of the Mountain Huts as the sunshine was glorious.On one occasion we had a visit from a confident local bird!

Spent a day in Zinal where there was still plenty of good skiing, though the bottom of the Freeride area was a little thin with a couple of streams showing through. Easy to avoid though. The main part of the resort had some Paragliders practicing for the Mauler Cup, which is a pretty big competition, so standards were very high.

The air was so clear that we were able to see the Cabane Becs des Bossons from the Corne du Sorebois in Zinal.

 A day in Vercorin offered us this great view across to Chandolin and the Illhorn drag lift, which is quite steep, and not just from this distance.

Back in Grimentz we'd been watching television and web reports on how bad the snow conditions were in France and Switzerland, um okay, if you say so.

There was a Skier and Boardercross competition in Grimentz, which also brought in the Freestyle skiers to the 6Park. Standards were quite high. You won't catch me doing this stuff!

 I took my Stockli's into the local ski shop for a service, and needed to sit down when the technician told me that the edges were so thin, the shop could do only 1 more service before they were scrap. I love my Stockli's so this is bad news. They also now seem to attract stones, and I spent several evenings with a P-Tex candle repairing the day's dings and holes.

I've not been counting my days on skis this winter, but in case you are wondering, it's 24 so far, more to come, hopefully.

Bring It On

Santa came to Grimentz a little early and brought some snow with him. I made full use of this early and very welcome gift. One of the village hotels looked really pretty in the snowfall.

A nice fresh fall of snow meant that the Snowpark kickers could be built.

New snow of course, meant new risks, so some places were unsafe to ski. As not every day was sunny, the flat light also caused problems.

As it's so dull, it's not possible to see the how this slope falls fairly steeply towards the skidoo. It's a red graded run and the bottom is often icy at the junction. I don't know if the helicopter was called out to a fall or a collision. This was someone's ruined Christmas.

My New Years' Resolution should be : I must set my alarm clock earlier and make the best of the new snow more often. On the day I did make the lift opening, it broke down, and did not start up for 35 minutes!

There were a few really stormy nights while I was there. I heard none of it, but could see the snow had drifted at the top of the Orzival lift.

All that wind was bad news for the new snow, which turned to breakable crust!

In between skiing days, I managed to order a new mattress for our bed, which arrived just as I was leaving for the UK. I became aware of the delivery with the sound of a revving engine and skidding tyre noises as the van tried to get up the footpath behind the apartment. The car park and entrance path would have been so much easier.

When I left for the airport, my flight was listed as on time. On my arrival it was listed as at least 2 hours late, so I headed for the information desk to try for an earlier departure. To my surprise I was successful, and my rearranged flight (now late also) left at the time my later flight was originally supposed to leave. I have my suspicions!

The check in hall was overflowing with passengers trying to check in and looking at all those unhappy faces really saps my willpower. I had needed to ask where the information desk was, I could not see it, there were so many people in the check in hall plus a long queue for "something" snaking back into the main part of the airport. Flying with budget airlines seems to bring with it a whole new level of travel misery.

The Slow Way Up At Least On Weekdays

Before Christmas when the lift was shut in Grimentz, it was the only way to get some skiing in locally. In earlier years nearby Zinal has opened during the week, and I've caught the bus over there, but for some reason this year they decided to shut. With Grimentz only open at the weekends, ascent on skins was where it was at.

I'd wanted to try out my new Fritschi Crampons, and my Salomon boots for ascent anyway, and both worked really well, though I did initially have a small problem getting the crampon off my binding rail due to ice, but I hammered it with a ski pole handle until it gave up!

I quite enjoy skinning up occasionally, as it's nice to hear the sounds of nature all around. I think I see so much more at a slower pace too.
The weekend arrived, the lifts started and there was powder to be had. I was a little late on the scene, but there seemed to be plenty to go around. I did end up falling into a Bisse at one point, but managed to dig myself out without too much trouble.

With the prospect of the lifts closed for 5 whole days, I packed a bag and headed for Zermatt!

More Stumbing Around The Anniviers

After my slightly snowy and muddy trip to Zinal, the next day normal summer resumed, and I was up and ready for the 1st bus to the Moiry Barrage, with a plan to walk back to Bendolla on the Sotier footpath. It was very warm, and I was soon across the Barrage and heading along the side of the ridge above the road.

This path runs parallel to the off piste route, but at a higher level. In winter it's an area that is avalanche prone,  in summer it should be stable. It felt a little uncomfortable on a very narrow path on the side of a steeply sided ridge looking at the rocks above and the road way down below. Pretty impressive scenery though.
This path was blocked by rockfall later in August, and enough rocks fell closing the road for several days as well, and a helicopter was used to clear the route in preparation for the Grand Raid Verbier to Grimentz Race.

As I started to climb towards Bendolla I got a really good view of the road, and Grimentz in the distance. My route got narrower and steeper, and I had to cross several areas strewn with boulders which were loose, plus areas where the path had eroded or tress had fallen across it.

Yes, this is the path, look there is a marker! I appreciated the chain to hold onto as I crossed the rocks. I'm not sure who did the timings for this route, but I took a lot longer than was suggested by the signpost, and by the time I reached Bendolla, I was pretty tired!

This should have been a fairly straightforward hike, but it turned out to be quite tiring and pretty physical. The hike up to Becs des Bossons was easier.  I earned my Tarte au Mytilles today!

Sunshine and Cow Pats

I've been hiking again, in and around Grimentz. Made my journey a little later this year, to avoid too much mud and snow on the paths. When the snows melt, the cows move in, to get the tasty grass. They bring their own portable milking parlour. The resort is really busy, but as usual, it's easy to avoid the crowds.

It was a very warm 1st day, and I was really surprised that my boots rubbed my heels. Compeed to the rescue!. I have no idea why this happened, and it's not happened since.

Andy arrives on an early flight the next day, so we take a gentle hike around the Naviscence in Zinal. I put a hand in the water to test the temperature, incredibly cold. The cows in Zinal seem much bigger, what do you think?

We walked past the remains of a small avalanche. Andy decides to poke a stick into it, and fails, as it's rock solid.

The cloud is starting to drop, so we head for a coffee and cake!
The next morning is fine and sunny, so we set off for the Cabane Becs des Bossons from Grimentz.

This is a walk that I failed to complete last summer, when there was just too much snow on the path. Soon we reached the snowline, and headed up to the Col.

After we cleared to Col, we spied our lunch stop, and on arrival the clouds descended!

Lunch over, we set off to return to Grimentz, stopping to observe that it's hours to everywhere from here!
The terrain in this area is quite different to what we experience in Grimentz. Far more rolling hills with more gentle paths.


As soon as we are back among the rocks heading for the Pas de Lona we see that we are being watched!

Looking back up to where we crossed the Col, at the end of a fairly long hike.

Five Months of Skiing

Well, not 5 months in total, but last winter I managed to ski in 5 different months. Some months were definitely better than others. March and April were rather warm for skiing, but I did my best!I'd like to think that my skiing has improved a little, but it's difficult to judge. Perhaps I'm now on the right equipment for my needs. I did fall over a few times, the most memorable falls were when I had no skis on! Ski boots are not made for walking on ice!

I did try the high traverse on this slope, so some of these tracks are mine. I found it quite steep though.


There was plenty of spring powder to be had, close to the pistes. Once the resort had closed for the season, I headed for Zermatt, staying in a little B&B, and walking up to the Klein Matterhorn lift.

This was a bit of luxury. The new gondola was operating between the base station, all the way to Trockner Steg. A seat all the way!
Last time I was in Zermatt the lift company were building a restaurant at the top of the Klein Matterhorn. It's now complete, and to reach the cafe or toilets, it's necessary to walk through the gift shop, just in case I should feel the need to buy a T shirt or mug! Coffee is good, and the view is wonderful. Much more comfortable than the Portacabin that was here on my last visit.



The glacier slopes were in great condition, but I'd never seen so much of the glacier exposed on earlier visits.


I was summarily fleeced at Trockner Steg. I'd forgotten to put my water bottle in my sack, so paid 6Sfr for a small bottle which was priced up at 80 cents in the supermarkets in the village.

Seeking a better value alternative, I followed an "Open" sign for the Gandegghutte. The piste runs underneath the KM cable car, and some of it is uphill. When I arrived, the staff out laying the tables, went inside and locked the door. One to avoid!

Though the glacier was in great shape, some of the lower runs were a little thin. This slope leads down to Furi from Furgg. Rocks, grass and mud with some wet snow, with a walk out at the end! This is not the village, it's well above it.

I decided to catch the gondola over to Riffelberg and then the train up to Gornergrat. Wonderful views, and it was fun to be on a train as a skier. I raced the train back down to the gondola.

On my way back down to the village one day, the lift company were running the old cable cars, so I was treated to the view of old and new together. Underneath it's possible to see the piste running down to the village. Based on how thin the piste was higher up, I didn't try the ski down.