Woke to an amazing bright sunny, calm day - although the local weather forecast had said snow. We were well pleased to have such a superb day for our last day here. However a fellow guest upset me at breakfast by telling me the lifts were closed due to 100k winds on the mountain - dont be so silly - she was just a very pretty bit of a kid - couldn't possibly be right, as looking out over the mountains from the breakfast room was idyliic conditions.
I think this was her dad's revenge when I told him that his team had lost to Leeds - how was I to know the whole family were massive Man U supporters??? Sadly she was right so we set off for a walk. We were stopped as were about to enter the walkie ski piste - we cant read swiss or understand their "international" pictures - and had forgotten the Champoluc saga (until then), continued our walk through the woods, slipping and sliding - needed some ice bug boots really !!!!!!!!!!! A superb walk though and ended back at the lift station, attempting to get a refund for today's unused pass (told you they were miserable), so email to tourist board gone already.
Looking forward to the 5.20 am start tomorrow and then the inevitable several hours at Geneva, am still waiting for the rep to ring as promised with update of the airport problems. Will go now to start preparing the email to Inghams ready for when the rep hasn't rung.
Friday, 8 January 2010
Thursday 7th January 2010 - Crans Montana
Woke up - straight to the window to check the weather as usual, grey skies, so decided to go with Kay up the mountain. Got off the gondola at the mid station to have a look at the little ones learning to ski - the majority of which all far better than me !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, although I fail to see how a two year old can develop any skiing skills at that age, just pushy parents - not that I'm bitter and twisted not to have learnt until I was 50.
When we tried to get back into the gondola Kay's ticket wouldn't work - security appeared from nowhere, and after much interrogation she was let through - quite sad that the 30 year old sun god didn't need to carry out a full body search - dam.
Fantastic views from the top, and over a hot chocolate we put the skiers abilities to rights - getting them almost as good as us.
Then I went off for the afternoon's ski - not so good conditions, flat light quite a bit of ice, but was going to get my moneys worth out of the lift pass - I'm a Brit you know !!
Started thinking about possible delays at the airport so may need reserve food and drink - an acute shortage of pork pies is obvious so have settled for bananas and crisps at £3.50 a bag
When we tried to get back into the gondola Kay's ticket wouldn't work - security appeared from nowhere, and after much interrogation she was let through - quite sad that the 30 year old sun god didn't need to carry out a full body search - dam.
Fantastic views from the top, and over a hot chocolate we put the skiers abilities to rights - getting them almost as good as us.
Then I went off for the afternoon's ski - not so good conditions, flat light quite a bit of ice, but was going to get my moneys worth out of the lift pass - I'm a Brit you know !!
Started thinking about possible delays at the airport so may need reserve food and drink - an acute shortage of pork pies is obvious so have settled for bananas and crisps at £3.50 a bag
Wednesday, 6 January 2010
Wednesday 6th January 2010 - Crans Montana
Blue skies, no wind. Met check wrong again - Mrs Miggins right once again. Up a T bar which seemed easy, until I tried to get off and then remembered why I didn't like them (as I just managed to move the bar from my thigh before I hit the bank), still the run down was worth it. Well until I hit a narrow icey run through the trees, my relief that I had got down somehow was short lived as "on a high" I then realised that I'd got on the wrong lift which took me back to the top of that run. Why at my age am I ski-ing - should I concentrate on bowls or bridge ????? Side slipped it the second time around, and then made my way to the very top of the resort - 3000 metres, time for a gluwein - no messing about now !!
Skied a couple of short runs on the glacier, it brought back fond memories of glacier skiing at Kaprun. Skied a lovely long red back down, then fell on a blue (out of control - Dangerous Dave had nothing on me at that moment in time), so decided time to meet Kay, even came down in the gondola.
Rendezvoused at "our" bus shelter, did a super walk on a championship golf course, coverered in snow, kids on skis and sledges, walking skiers, free tows for the more timid skiers on very very gentle runs, lovely man made sledge runs, very rich widows in fur coats CARRYING stupid little dogs. Did Sevvy B really design this golf course to be used in this way ????
I wanted to buy something for Kay in Louis Vitton, but was escorted out when I asked where the sale rail was!!! I must add that at this point Kay was nowhere to be seen.
Lovely end to the day when Matilda (aged 11 today) rang all excited about the snow and her PINK netbook birthday pressie.
Skied a couple of short runs on the glacier, it brought back fond memories of glacier skiing at Kaprun. Skied a lovely long red back down, then fell on a blue (out of control - Dangerous Dave had nothing on me at that moment in time), so decided time to meet Kay, even came down in the gondola.
Rendezvoused at "our" bus shelter, did a super walk on a championship golf course, coverered in snow, kids on skis and sledges, walking skiers, free tows for the more timid skiers on very very gentle runs, lovely man made sledge runs, very rich widows in fur coats CARRYING stupid little dogs. Did Sevvy B really design this golf course to be used in this way ????
I wanted to buy something for Kay in Louis Vitton, but was escorted out when I asked where the sale rail was!!! I must add that at this point Kay was nowhere to be seen.
Lovely end to the day when Matilda (aged 11 today) rang all excited about the snow and her PINK netbook birthday pressie.
Tuesday 5th January 2010 - Crans Montana
what a perfect skiing day, blue skies, sunshine, no wind, great snow, but this was nearly ruined when I had to queue for 2 minutes to get into a gondola.
Have stopped looking at Met Check which suggested grey skies, snow flurries - in other words a crap day, Mrs Miggins didn't publish todays weather as she said it speaks for itself.
Managed to reach the far side of the resort so I've now skied down to all four gondolas. At one point I was cruisng down this lovely blue run through the trees thinking this cant be right and I was going to have get the bus, but it turned back towards the lifts, like a mirage , so then all was well with the world. Came back to the hotel for lunch and then went out again this afternoon for a blues cruise - brilliant.
Now gotta a feel for the layout of the ski area, and have concluded that it will do the group just fine. The whole area is accessible by chairs or gondolas and the only tows are on blue slopes which would be ideal for the not so confident skiers. Some lovely runs through the trees and above the tree line ample opportunity for safe off piste, boarding or skiing. Good WINDOW shopping, bars and lots of snow walking routes through the woods.
Kay has today decided that she doesn't want the ice bug boots after all, it's surprising that once she found her snow feet her confidence came back, although I'm pleased and relieved to say that she no longer wants to ski at all. Mind you all this is today - tomorrow is another day - in Kay's thought pattern.
The Inghams rep has just rung to see if all is ok with us - as she was distraught that we had missed the Welcome Party - must have had a prior engagement. I gave her ear ache about the luggage handlers strike, which is bothering me now that I may not get my stuff back in time for Canada. She felt it was all over, but I have insisted that she rings me on Friday with an update and a guarantee that MY ski gear (sod any body elses) will get home in an overhead locker - can you get skis up there do you reckon - knew I should have become more proficient on blades.
Just off now for a shower and the use of those exfoliating towels that they always seem to have in hotels !!!
Have stopped looking at Met Check which suggested grey skies, snow flurries - in other words a crap day, Mrs Miggins didn't publish todays weather as she said it speaks for itself.
Managed to reach the far side of the resort so I've now skied down to all four gondolas. At one point I was cruisng down this lovely blue run through the trees thinking this cant be right and I was going to have get the bus, but it turned back towards the lifts, like a mirage , so then all was well with the world. Came back to the hotel for lunch and then went out again this afternoon for a blues cruise - brilliant.
Now gotta a feel for the layout of the ski area, and have concluded that it will do the group just fine. The whole area is accessible by chairs or gondolas and the only tows are on blue slopes which would be ideal for the not so confident skiers. Some lovely runs through the trees and above the tree line ample opportunity for safe off piste, boarding or skiing. Good WINDOW shopping, bars and lots of snow walking routes through the woods.
Kay has today decided that she doesn't want the ice bug boots after all, it's surprising that once she found her snow feet her confidence came back, although I'm pleased and relieved to say that she no longer wants to ski at all. Mind you all this is today - tomorrow is another day - in Kay's thought pattern.
The Inghams rep has just rung to see if all is ok with us - as she was distraught that we had missed the Welcome Party - must have had a prior engagement. I gave her ear ache about the luggage handlers strike, which is bothering me now that I may not get my stuff back in time for Canada. She felt it was all over, but I have insisted that she rings me on Friday with an update and a guarantee that MY ski gear (sod any body elses) will get home in an overhead locker - can you get skis up there do you reckon - knew I should have become more proficient on blades.
Just off now for a shower and the use of those exfoliating towels that they always seem to have in hotels !!!
Monday 4th January 2010 - Crans Montana
Hello everybody - today woke up to cloud, fog and light snow - yuk. Checked weather at reception which suggested a better afternoon but Mrs Miggins (hotelier) said the weather report could not be relied on and the snow would be all day - no sunshine - why does metcheck even bother when all they need do is ask Mrs Miggins. We then decided to have a bimble and furkel and walked around the lake into Montana. Crans is very upmarket, designer shops - people oozing money whilst Montana was more our prices. Kay fancies some boots called Ice bugs that have built in ice studs, that retract on non snow ground (crampons to the ladies wot lunch) - £100 plus - so she's currently writing a full justification for the household finances !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Stopped for hot chocolate, but had to leave smartish as a sparrow was hopping around the tables, the final straw came when it perched on a coffee cup and *****, as Kay freaks near any feathered friends we made a nifty exit.
The sky cleared a bit around noon, still snowing and overcast - being a Brit I cant let that deter me, so off I went. Did quite a lot including ski-ing down to three of the four main lifts in the valley, enjoyable runs through the trees linking the whole ski area. A first for me was a ride on a 6 man that had a mid station wher you could get on and off. Sun came out briefly just as helicopter was down on a piste - thanks for the facefull of snow. Skied home, Kay met me - justification not yet satisfactory. Seems Mrs Miggins the Weather was rightm so have deleted all the wdeather sites from the computer and will ask her each day.
Soon be off to dinner - raclette tonight - memories of La Thuile - all this cheese - what more can I say.
Grumps
Stopped for hot chocolate, but had to leave smartish as a sparrow was hopping around the tables, the final straw came when it perched on a coffee cup and *****, as Kay freaks near any feathered friends we made a nifty exit.
The sky cleared a bit around noon, still snowing and overcast - being a Brit I cant let that deter me, so off I went. Did quite a lot including ski-ing down to three of the four main lifts in the valley, enjoyable runs through the trees linking the whole ski area. A first for me was a ride on a 6 man that had a mid station wher you could get on and off. Sun came out briefly just as helicopter was down on a piste - thanks for the facefull of snow. Skied home, Kay met me - justification not yet satisfactory. Seems Mrs Miggins the Weather was rightm so have deleted all the wdeather sites from the computer and will ask her each day.
Soon be off to dinner - raclette tonight - memories of La Thuile - all this cheese - what more can I say.
Grumps
Sunday 3rd January 2010 - Crans Montana
Sunday 3rd January 2010 - Crans Montana
Well a better day than yesterday's luggage debacle at Geneva airport caused by baggage handlers on strike.. Apparently incoming passengers like us fared better than those going home - we only had to wait 3.5 hours with the rest of the patient Brits for our luggage to come to the belt. Those returning home left Geneva with no luggage on board and the promise that the airlines will deliver it back to their homes in due course
The day started well. Good breakfast, grey skies but good visibility. Went to the boot room to pick up skis etc and wondered why right boot was tight. The mice (from home) had tried to nest in it -full of peanuts and chewed fluff. The traps will come out once we get home. Went to the lift by hotel mini bus and found my locker for the week which is a godsend. Whilst it is less than 10 minutes walk to the lift its great to know I can do it without carrying skis and negotiating the ice in ski boots. Skied twice back to the village, once to meet Kay for coffee.
Snow good especially on wide pistes but icy in places on the narrower reds that lead back to the village through the trees. Fell once on an icy red or was it down to my lack of ability. No queues at all. Enjoyed some wide blues after lunch.
Met Kay at supermarket for provisions and booze - but no booze on sale. Thought at this point that the Swiss discourage home drinking. However found another shop which sold booze so relieved
Looking forward to dinner and more skiing tomorrow
Cheer
Grumps
ps.the day got even better when I saw on tv that Leeds had beaten Man U, but missed who Fergie blamed other than his team, his selection and his tactics - not even to mention that Leeds was the better team.
Well a better day than yesterday's luggage debacle at Geneva airport caused by baggage handlers on strike.. Apparently incoming passengers like us fared better than those going home - we only had to wait 3.5 hours with the rest of the patient Brits for our luggage to come to the belt. Those returning home left Geneva with no luggage on board and the promise that the airlines will deliver it back to their homes in due course
The day started well. Good breakfast, grey skies but good visibility. Went to the boot room to pick up skis etc and wondered why right boot was tight. The mice (from home) had tried to nest in it -full of peanuts and chewed fluff. The traps will come out once we get home. Went to the lift by hotel mini bus and found my locker for the week which is a godsend. Whilst it is less than 10 minutes walk to the lift its great to know I can do it without carrying skis and negotiating the ice in ski boots. Skied twice back to the village, once to meet Kay for coffee.
Snow good especially on wide pistes but icy in places on the narrower reds that lead back to the village through the trees. Fell once on an icy red or was it down to my lack of ability. No queues at all. Enjoyed some wide blues after lunch.
Met Kay at supermarket for provisions and booze - but no booze on sale. Thought at this point that the Swiss discourage home drinking. However found another shop which sold booze so relieved
Looking forward to dinner and more skiing tomorrow
Cheer
Grumps
ps.the day got even better when I saw on tv that Leeds had beaten Man U, but missed who Fergie blamed other than his team, his selection and his tactics - not even to mention that Leeds was the better team.
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