If you are looking forward enought to the slope - then sun and blue sky might not be the only hope

Dear blogreaders,

One of my passions is to go skiing, and preferrably down mountains. And over the weekend I had the opprtunity to refelct on what makes a day of skiing really good.

It all starts with the slopes, bad slopes is nothing that good clothes, good skis nor good wheater can correct and this time it was exceptional with an opportunity to do resort hopping in France and Switzerland. Three big skiing areas in three days. The long runs in La Flaine in France, underestimated for day trips but perhaps not a choice for a week. More caused by the proximity to other great places close by than poor skiing in la Flaine. The superb skiing in Verbier in Switzerland. It was the best resort I had ever visited in 1988 when I first visitied, and I must admit that I wonder why I have not gone back befoire. Stunning. And last but not least a glimpse of a corner of Chamonix system in France. Full of history, myths and a great views over the white mountain. But I wounder if I qualify as a visitor without have gone up to Grands Montets nor Aiguille du Midi....

All of us love skiing in the sun with blue skies, or was it blue skis. I tend to be long to the weird category of skiers that prefer snowy and/or colder weather as that reduce the waiting time in the lift whan the sunshine lovers stay at home. There are only four situations that can stop me from skiing when slopåes are within reach:

• Rain - that is the true opposite of sun and that makeyour goggles impossible to use, even if you have great clothes that keep your dry.
• Fog or poor visibility - when the contrast go away skiing become annoying.
• Strong Wind - that cause the staff to stop the lifts
• Temperatures below -20c - when it is hard to keep going for more than an hour.

So what are safe bets in days of Global warming and climate change. I have found the following to be safe bets in Europe.

• Secure that you have great company, skiing on your own in whatever slope or conditions is quite boring.
• Pick a skiing system with high altitude skiing. At least 3000m peaks since above 2000m it never rains, sun is out more often and you can allways get in 1000m of vertical drop and a long run during a run quite late in the season.
• Pick a place to stay with access to a bsu to the main lift stations. Staying at ski-in/ski-out places has become very expensive.
• The option of picking a cheap flight, renting a car in Geneva with 10 great resorts next to each other and staying at small places close to the main places is a very attractive option.

soon back with more stories