This week we went to Les Contamines in the French Alps beside Mt. Blanc and just about at the Italian border. It was a beautiful day and warm enough to bask in the sunshine for a long lunch on the restaurant patio. It took me all week to work up the courage to ski again, but today was a ton of fun. No bruises, very few falls, and more confidence. At the end of the day I even wanted to keep skiing. My group has been spending our days on red slopes, which are pretty comfortable. This area was less crowded than last week's destination- that played a big part in enjoyable conditions.
Lesson 2: Recreation is hard work. We get up at 5:30, out the door before 6 to catch the 6:11 bus from Thoiry to CERN. Walk about a mile to the pick-up point. 2 hour bus ride into the mountains. Ski from 9:30 until 17:00 (with a lunch break). Then reverse, bus, walk, bus, walk back home a little after 20:00. Hot cocoa and straight to bed.
Skiing backwards down a mountain is always a fun idea.
