2007/2008
Whistler, TC and Niseko – Featured cover skier Jo Charley
Whistler, TC and Niseko – Featured cover skier Jo Charley
Whistler, TC and Niseko! Featured cover skier PJ O'Heany
Whistler, Banff and Steamboat – Featured cover skier: PJ O'Heany
Whistler, Lake Louise, Steamboat
Whistler, Steamboat, Banff, Treble Cone!
Canada, USA, Italy and New Zealand!
Front Face of Mont Gele
Wednesday morning brought blue skies and a "rest" day for the group. Some took advantage and slept in, some went shopping, others headed down to explore Le Chable and some took to the slopes. Kevin hooked up with Felix from Powder Extreme. Felix was keen to show off his playground and started off with a warm-up down Mont Gele before heading off to secret areas away from prying eyes. Meesh and Bob joined local skier Arnaud for a cruise around the resort. After a cruise to warm-up, it was off down the Vallon d'Arbi in a quest to find some fresh snow in the trees. Once arriving back in La Tzoumaz it was up to the top of Savoleyres and a short traverse over to the Marlenas area. Snow was great up top and got a bit heavier as we skied back to the village. A short bus ride and it was back up the Medran for a repeat of the Vallon d'Arbi before finishing the day with a front face of the Mont Gele.
Penny in the powder.
Kevin's group a top the Mont Fort.
Best lift ever???
Thursday brought more sun and some great skiing. Meesh's group was in the care of guide Seb and had a great day exploring the Verbier area. Tortin, Vallon d'Arbi and Gentaines were just some of the areas where Seb managed to find some good snow. Bob's group was on a quest for fresh snow and spent some time on Mont Gele and Tortin while Kevin's group was working on increasing speed on the groomers of La Chaux. A great day was had by everyone and the meeting place for the apres ski was on the slopes at the Carlsberg where the gang enjoyed a beer in the sun.
Bob's group.
Linda sampling the Verbier snow.
Fashionistas rocking the patio.
Friday came far too quickly. The sun from yesterday had warmed up the snow, so the off-piste had a bit of a crust. Kevin took the group over to the Savoleyres, while Meesh headed over to the La Chaux area and the skier cross. Lunch was at Chez Danny before heading over to the "yurt" for apres. Bob's group stayed up on Mont Gele taking advantage of all the powder they could find. End of week presentaions were made at the hotel with Mr. Johnson reciting a beautiful recap of the first two weeks. Well, it was really about one incident with a certain group in Courchevel but what happens on tour, stays on tour. (ask Bob for more info.) A final dinner at Le Relais des Neiges and it was back to the hotel for a nightcap and a start to the packing. Once again Verbier put on a great show and was over far too soon.
Cabane de Mont Fort with the Jumbo tram.
Meesh heading back to town via the Marlenas.
Bob's group enjoying the sunshine.
Tuesday morning brought overcast skies and some light flurries. Kevin’s group decided that Bruson was the way to go. They were rewarded with empty slopes and great grooming which meant some more speed. After lunch the sun came out and it was over to the main side for some late day runs down Attelas. The last run pit stop was the 1936 “Yurt”, where they were greeted by the PowderPuffs.
The Attelas area.
Skiing below Mont Gele.
The PowderPuffs had started their day by doing a quick warm-up on the James Blunt chair. From there it was several laps on the Fontanet powder bowl. The snow was great and the viz was still good. After each run the plan was to head over to Bruson, but the skiing was so good another run had to be done. With so many lines and aspects, the choices were endless and each lap brought out a different adventure. Finally after coaxing the group with chocolate, it was one more run to lunch at Chez Danny. With the sun coming out it was back up the lift to find some more powder stashes off the Attelas run under the Mont Gele. The day ended at the 1936 Yurt with a well earned reward.
Silvija in Fontanet powder bowl.
The P.E.I. PowderPuff.
Kim surfing through the powder.
Bob’s group was skiing with Powder Extreme guide Anders. After a turbulent start, the day settled down with a great run down the Vallon d’Arbi. Some good snow was found and the gang enjoyed every flake. Lunch was at Le Carrefour and then it was off to the Jumbo. After skiing under the shadow of the Bec des Rosses, a short hike/traverse brought them to the powder bowl facing the Cabane de Mont Fort. From there instead of hiking out of the bowl back to the lifts, the guide decided to ski the group down to Le Chable. The upper slopes of the journey were lovely but as the group got lower down it became more of a hard slog. Through rocks and dirt, over bridges with no snow and crossing roads and poling across the flats, the adventure quickly turned to an un-planned work out. With the light fading from the sky, the guide pointed them to the lift back up before bidding adieu. The very weary group finally made it back to the hotel around 18:30.
Checking out the possibilities.
Penny about to tackle the Verbier back country.
The road to Le Chable.
Almost there……
Dinner for the evening was at L’Ecurie and the food did not disappoint. A beautiful meal followed by a delicious dessert and then it was off to the hotel for a nightcap before retiring for the night. A day off Wednesday to rest and recharge.
After retiring for the evening with snow still falling down, the YES Crew awoke Monday morning to clear blue skies. With a fresh coat of powder covering the resort, the groups were eager to get out on the slopes. Kevin’s group had the pleasure of skiing with Adrien from Powder Extreme. He showed them some great spots and led the group to fresh snow all day. The group had a ball and was worn out by the end of the day.
Some got more powder than others.
Mont Fort, 3,330m.
Verbier village from the ridge above Lac des Vaux.
Bob’s group launched out of the gate in a quest to find some good snow. After a trip over to Mont Fort and down to Tortin, they hit pay-dirt in the Greppon Blanc area. After some good turns it was time to head back via La Cabane de Mont Fort and a gentiane. Upon their arrival they were not so shocked to see the PowderPuffs already there.
Team B.O.B.
The PowderPuffs had a great start to the day. A quick warm-up down to Lac des Vaux and the James Blunt chair had them ready for an adventure. A tricky little traverse through some rocks led them onto the ridge above Lac des Vaux. From there it was fresh powder in the sun back to the lift. With grins from ear to ear they then headed off the La Chaux in search of more good snow. They found it off the top of Fontanet overlooking the terrain park. The run was so good it had to be done a second time before heading up the Jumbo to access the top of the Mont Fort. Topping out at 3,330m there was time for some photos and to free a guy who locked himself in the toilet before heading down. With crevasses still visible, it was stick between the poles as they made their way down the bumpy slope. As they were heading up the Gentianes Poma, disaster struck. The lift broke down. That meant a 900 vertical meter ski down to Tortin in off-piste conditions. With tired legs and hungry stomachs, some hangry PowderPuffs made it to a well deserved lunch.
The PowderPuffs atop the Lac des Vaux ridge.
Mont Gele, 3,023m.
Becs enjoying the powder of La Chaux.
After re-charging the batteries, it was up the Tortin tram and back over towards La Chaux. Some good snow was found off to the side of the Gentianes which led to a quick break at the Cabane de Mont Fort. From there it was homeward bound through the powder bowl off Fontanet and then following the winding trail through the trees back to Verbier. A quick stop at the Pub Mont Fort for happy hour before finally making it back to the hotel.
YES Alumi Rombout was in town on a break from Uni and bumped into Bob and Meesh on the slopes. All in all a great day was had by everyone, and some very weary skiers headed off to dinner and a good nights rest.
Warning not to splat on the glacier.