Zermatt Euro Mini TR Oct 27-29

**majortom** · 10-30-2006, 11:17 AM

Firstly, apologies for some of the pictures – I’ve not had time to touch them up, and I haven’t got the world’s greatest camera, so what you see is what you get.

What a quality weekend. I hooked up with the Roos at Luton airport at some ungodly hour on Friday morning (and due to my over-sleeping I actually only made it with about 5 minutes to spare) and (after a few delays) we headed out to Geneva. Bad_Roo collected what is possible the world’s smallest rental car (a Nissan Micra) and somehow we stuffed 3 of us and all our gear into a woefully underpowered machine.

Still, that didn’t stop Roo from acting as the consummate professional and testing it to its limits all the way. I’m not sure that kind of driving is quite what the Nissan engineers had in mind, and how he managed to spin the wheels of a 1.2L car with 3 people in it leaving a French toll booth is beyond me! Still, we were in no great hurry, so took the scenic route and stopped in Chamonix for lunch before heading on to Zermatt.

View over Martigny en route:

Despite Roo’s antics

we made it in one piece and it’s probably for the best that Zermatt is car free, so we left the car in the village of Tasch and headed up by train. The meeting point was arranged as The Pipe, so I headed down there a little early for a beer, and within about 5 minutes, I heard a guy outside asking the waitress to ask me if I had change for nickel. She looked rather puzzled, but fortunately I heard, and introduced myself to TeleAl. The Roos joined us shortly afterwards, followed by Geo039. 5 maggots and beer. It was on. Anyone in Zermatt, I highly recommend the Pipe for food – curried Springbok anyone?

L to R: TeleAl, Mrs Roo, Bad Roo, Majortom, Geo039

The Roos were both knackered from their early start, so the remaining 3 of us headed on to the Papperla Pub to get stuck into a few more beers. I’ll spare you the details to protect the (not so) innocent; suffice to say, entertaining…

We’d agreed a “leisurely” start the next morning, which I definitely needed, but the zoo that passed for a lift line, and the need to collect skis to test meant we didn’t hit the slopes till half 10. TeleAl had decided not to ski, and after finding he couldn’t take his bike up the mountain elected to head home. It was actually a lot better than any of us expected, with the snow in reasonable condition and not overly busy slopes. The fact that only 3 T-bars were open though did mean some fairly irritating lines, and the Europeans aren’t exactly the friendliest or politest when in comes to queuing.

Still, it was good to be back on snow, but after a few laps we figured it was time to head down for lunch. There in lay a problem. Due to the warm weather and high freezing levels, there was a mandatory bootpack out at the bottom, the “march of death”…

That said, not a bad view whilst having lunch…

The Matterhorn:

The Breithorn:

Afternoon saws us running a few more laps, and after some consideration, we reckoned this line would be a goer. Watching someone else ski it confirmed it, but the march of death required to get back to the top meant we left it for Sunday morning. Sadly, thick cloud on Sunday morning meant we couldn’t do it, as it was far too risky in zero viz. Next time I guess.

Saturday night was a little more relaxed than Friday night, although Geo appears to have a remarkable ability to attract crazies. Like the guy from Alaska who is working in Sudan. I’m not sure any of us really wanted to know what a .50 cal round does to a person. Or how many dogs the Nigerian soldiers can eat. And then there was the drunk Swiss kid who insisted on hugging him, while his not quite as drunk friend informed us they were just friends and not gay, and that they had been told they were too drunk to check in to their hotel. Moral of that story, check in first, drink later.
The weather on Sunday was not as good as Saturday, and for some reason Roo decided to give a pair of 65mm waisted carving skis a go. Rumours that he can now be found lurking on epicski have yet to be confirmed

The weather and the fact only one lift was open and that we all had to travel home meant we kept Sunday short. Still, it was nice to see some fall colours in the valley on the way back down.

For some reason, I totally failed to get pictures of anyone skiing, but I know the others did, so hopefully they’ll post them up.

The snow wasn’t the greatest, but it was good to be back on skis, and that combined with maggots and beer made for one of the most entertaining weekends in a long time. Massive thanks to the Roos, Al and Geo for it.

**Hicks** · 10-30-2006, 12:22 PM

Originally Posted by majortom

View over Martigny en route:

That drive up to the Col de la Forclaz is scenic for sure.

You should have taken a shot of the gnarly section right above the town though.

Sorry snow was so bony but I guess you guys and gal had fun.

**geo039** · 10-30-2006, 12:33 PM

So I think Tom cover the basics, so I will add to pics of the infamous Roo's and the Major.

"The Misses" showing how it should be done:

Tom about to poke the gaping snowbaord instructor in the crotch:

Roo showing a good weight shift:

Doing the tourist thing, but you have to admit it is a sick view:

Misses showing the line Tom highlighted:

Overall a great weekend and just got me more stoked for my first winter over here. Thank Roo's, Tom, and Al for making this a great weekend.

**Mr.Scruff** · 10-30-2006, 01:01 PM

Pictures man! Pictures!

**hemas** · 10-30-2006, 01:24 PM

Originally Posted by geo039

DumbaSS trying to hotlink photos from Blogger...

And since the peeps at Blogger are bigger scumbags.. Use something else (biglines, user galleries) or post the addy for yer "blog".

**geo039** · 10-30-2006, 01:34 PM

so I am a photo Jong.....live and learn..Is that better Hemas?

Originally Posted by hemas

And since the peeps at Blogger are bigger scumbags.. Use something else (biglines, user galleries) or post the addy for yer "blog".

**yogachik** · 10-30-2006, 01:45 PM

Good to see the roos are alive and well

Looks like fun

**Mrs Roo** · 10-30-2006, 03:22 PM

Nicely summarised, major. Good pics, though I was't aware Geo caught us all being such total tourists!

A great start to the season, though I now realise more leg work in my exercise regime before the next trip will prevent me walking like an old duffer. Not sure when I can manage my stillies again

For those of you who thought I'd sawn him up and buried him in the garden, there is the evidence that Roo is very alive and full of mischief as usual. He just has a bit more time on his hands now

**shera** · 10-30-2006, 03:36 PM

Originally Posted by majortom

Rumours that he can now be found lurking on epicski have yet to be confirmed

egad

Nice TR, englishspeak is so charming.

**IridePow** · 10-30-2006, 05:03 PM

Man....... makes me feel almost homesick, even though the powder here in Colorado is way better right now.
I remember one week of ski vacation in Zermatt very well. We got up every morning to a blue bird sky and watched out the window directly at the Matterhorn. What a sight!!!

A Swiss guy living in Colorado.

By the way: photobucket is also a pretty good site to link the pictures.

**climb2ski** · 10-30-2006, 05:29 PM

love the igear

**Nohillsnearby** · 10-30-2006, 07:58 PM

Nice pictures!!

**Ripzalot** · 10-31-2006, 01:46 AM

great pics! way ta get on it.

this is quite disturbing tho, looks like the kleine matt has taken quite a beating this summer. not sure i would want to take a line thru that crevassly area again (first time was spooky enough!).

Originally Posted by majortom

**geo039** · 10-31-2006, 01:57 AM

Okay my photo jong ass hopefuly fixed the pics to an acceptable mag level! (thanks for the recs on hosting sites).

Ripz,
I hear you. I looked kinda sketch, but we saw two guys hit it that day. One in the chute and one off the shoulder. The guy off the shoulder pretty much straight lined it. It was something that your sure as hell didn't want to do in the fog.

**Tectonically_Neglected** · 10-31-2006, 05:47 AM

Originally Posted by geo039

Okay my photo jong ass hopefuly fixed the pics to an acceptable mag level! (thanks for the recs on hosting sites).

Ripz,
I hear you. I looked kinda sketch, but we saw two guys hit it that day. One in the chute and one off the shoulder. The guy off the shoulder pretty much straight lined it. It was something that your sure as hell didn't want to do in the fog.

That face is called 'Spiegelwand' and is/ was on my to do list. Though I must admit that I don't like the prospect of those crevasses. Looks like the face to lookers left has opened up a bit more also...

**Wobbly Pirate** · 10-31-2006, 09:37 AM

Tom is helpfully indicating snowboarders about to indulge in hot bum sex.

**TeleAl** · 11-01-2006, 12:55 AM

Right On! Good to hear it was better than expected.

Twas excellent meeting Geo, Maj Tom, and of course, The Roos!
Kudos to The Pipe for the great food. Last time they suckered me into Carmel Vodka shots.
And I got my ass handed to me.

I was bummed to learn I could not bike up to TSteg. Oh well.

A few of my photos:

The Horn, from town, on the bridge near The Pipe.
The colors are excellent this time of year.

My ride. Clicked off 95km to Sion. A nice easy ride, downstream.

That debris field from a landslide just outside Tasch.
Always impresses me. Got a few more pics of that, available on demand.

**splat** · 11-01-2006, 01:01 AM

Schwank. Roos. Zermatt.
I've been roofully schwanking about their existence lately.

**Rasputin** · 11-01-2006, 03:19 AM

Originally Posted by TeleAl

The colors are excellent this time of year.

That mountain is just sureal, nice pic!

**Dam Skier** · 11-01-2006, 07:30 AM

Last time I was at the pipe we went in for one shot of that oh so good carmel vodka, and five of use drank a hole bottle in what seemed like 20 minutes. Zermatt is sweet if the weather and snow is good.

Thanks for the photos.