Search:
marcwan.com
Up
  Spring Skiing in the Swiss Alps
 
2011-02-05

Skiing in Switzerland? What better time to hit the Alpine slopes and do some good mid-winter skiing in Crans-Montana? Well, apparently ANY other time, because this year in early Feb it was 10C and there was no snow. But it's Switzerland, so it still rocks.

Seriously, I've been skiing in Ontario, and seen better skiing conditions. So, our original plan of skiing for two days was changed to a single day of skiing and a day of serious wandering around alpine towns and villages.

And, it's hard to forget you're in Switzerland, so you're still completely overwhelmed by the mountains and valleys of the landlocked country. And the skiing was good enough to at least get in a few good long runs before they turned into complete slush.
[Click on any photo for a larger view]
View in the morning. Blue sky and mountains!
Working our way up the first gondolas.
Nope, no real snow here. D'oh!
But well groomed at the top, so still not so bad.
Europeans taking their clothing for skiing very seriously. In North America, we tend to dress like bums.
This was my first time using one of these tow-poles. They take some getting used to.
Looking down into the big southern valley of CH.
Up top on the mountains
The Europeans take resting just as seriously as they do their clothing.
That's a lot of green up there on the mountain.
SOLAR FLARE!
We snuck our way up to the top (our passes were for only half way up) to get some longer runs in.
It's tongue-sticking-outing time!
I am wearing borrowed snow clothing that is easily 2x too big for me. And way too warm to boot.
Resting is serious business.
Some parasailing going on today too.
Resting at the end of the first day.
Home made pizza for dinner woo!
Day 2, we skipped on the skiing and opted for a nice long walk instead.
Swiss towns are gorgeous.
Old house is nonplussed :|
Downtown Montana (Crans is up the road a few km)
Weird sculpture downtown
Still gotta have a church though.
And cool wall-art.
In case the skiing bores you.
Ponds were still all frozen solid.
More Swiss mountain goodness
SOLAR FLARE++!!!
I want one of these cars. So cool.
Up