Ski season days # 9 and # 10 are in the books at Verbier. Sunny and warming, but not fully bluebird days. The pistes were as expected: Hard, hard pack (and sometimes scratchy) on the upper mountain, medium to soft groomed hard pack mid mountain, and blending to buttery in the afternoon on the lower pistes.
I had planned to ski at Zermatt this past weekend. The weather and mountainier conditions forecasts were not favorable - one day of possible partial sunshine and colder temps upper and mid mountain. So, Verbier with sunshine and warming temps was an easy decision for a Friday afternoon departure from Lausanne.
My 'solo' ski days have evolved into a routine. Up on the mountain by 10 - 10:15; ski for 2 hours; take a mid mountain break, WC, rehydrate, refuel; ski for 2 more hours or until my legs signal "trop c'est trop"; then ski to the bottom. This weekend at Verbier was an 'RTM' effort -- roam the mountain. Starting upper mid-mountain at La Chaux each day, it was up and across the mountain.
I had planned to ski down from Mont Fort (3,300 meters), but reconsidered when I reached Col des Gentianes (2,950 meters). There is only one piste down from Mont Fort -- a black. My decision involved a debate between an ego-centric desire to add the Mont Forte piste to my 'done that' list versus Warren Miller's admonition: “You can’t get hurt skiing unless you fall.” and a healthy, conservative acceptance that I am 71, skiing alone. So the ride up on the 3 Jumbo (the largest capacity lift in Switzerland) substituted for the thrill of that day. The 3 Jumbo is a 150 capacity 'telecabine', transporting skiers from La Chaux to Col des Gentaines. Along with 149 other skiers, we were packed like Pringles in a can for the 6 minute ride.
My prime list of must ski venues is getting shorter -- Zermatt and Charmonix (France)..as is my 90 days residence here without an extended stay visa. The status of my extended stay visa remains unresolved. The Swiss consulate in Atlanta has responded with polite indifference and the Vaud Canton Bureau de Population is just unresponsive. For the remainder of this week as I try to press forward to resolve my visa status, I will be monitoring weather and ski conditions for both Zermatt and Charmonix. If weather conditions are not favorable, I may take a weekend trip to Milan.
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