Suppose they gave a Euro BBI and nobody came. A last year's TR

[garyfromterrace]

Yeah, this is late. Really, really late. Later in fact than my last long winded TR, which was probably posted 6 months after the fact. So shoot me. Just kidding gun nuts, please do nothing of the sort. Please.

So I know there is much stoke now building about Euro BBI 24 and I also know that I promised some photos regarding last years affair oh so many months ago. I just got busy. So I edited a few photos here, cropped a couple there, made some commentary in very small amounts (a few times a week) all leading to this happy day when I finally got it done. By no means will I suggest that Tri-ungulate or Carve-hard are "nobody". Eu contraire mon frere, a finer duo to slay pow with could not be found anywhere I suggest. No waiting required, good discourse regarding run and/or resort selection daily and super fun guys to apres with (along with the ungulate's wife). I am a little sad that my phone stayed in my pocket for much of the trip however I take way to many photos as it is, so there's that. Oh, and another thing - Vendul is a fucking gem (so is his wife), and deserves a very solid round of applause for not being pissed off in any detectable way that 3 people showed up at his lodge instead of 30. This place is magic, and until you stay at his lodge and ski the area around his zone, you just don't understand.

Also, I have decided to tack on my later trip to Arolla (where I was super super pleased to make the acquaintance of Subtle Plague, his wife and his family). Subtle was such a legit skier and mag, and was honored to be able to ski a run with him that he deemed best of the season. Fair warning, I also threw down a shit ton of other skiing with my mates at Arolla, and I would suggest (and I've done this before), that adventurous ski touring mags should hit up this place. The lines are obvious and as long as you've some semblance of avi awareness/snowcraft/can read a bulletin, you won't likely die. Well, there anyway. You're all going to die. Sorry.

So without further months of ado...



I decided to overnight in TO on the way to Yurp, and spend a day walking around the center of the universe (according to its inhabitants). It was a good idea. A pint in the oldest bar in Toronto. Pouring booze since 1833 (don't laugh Euros).



Cool “old” building. Thanks for dying for us, past generations. Thanks for allowing us the freedom we enjoy.



I wish there were more streets in TO that looked like this.



Had a recommendation from a T.O. friend to hit this bar for the jazz. Solid rec! These boys ripped it up for a little late afternoon sesh. Check out the Rex if you’re in Toronto and need a jazz fix. My friend also suggested that their open mike/jam sessions are amazing and all the heavy hitters of the scene play there at one time or another.





How better to complete my TO walking tour day than to hit up a yuk yuk show. I was walking back from the jazz show and for shits and giggles thought I’d google the Yuk Yuk theatre address. Damned if I wasn’t 100m away. Show time coincided perfectly (10 minutes to spare). Great show with about 10 comics each given 10 minutes to slay us. Great show, much side splitting material.



The phallic needle, lit up in electric blue. Just like the electro-glide I’d get if I liked Harleys.



Toronto hotel sink laundry service was excellent.



Finally (you are probably thinking to yourself), I arrive at Vendul's!!!
This was one of his rooms. Exce-fucking-lent. The trip from TO to Amsterdam was eventful in that a mechanical delayed the flight such that I missed my connection to Lucerne through Frankfurt. However the helpful lassies at Swissair got me a flight right to Lucerne. That’s when the trouble started.

I should have just stayed a night in Amsterdam and waited for my baggage to catch up. But no, I believed them when they said “my baggage will make it easily the next morning". Nope. I wanted to get to Vendul’s damn it, and would not be denied another day. So, I get to Lucerne and later to Vendul’s at about midnight. Luckily catching the last bus by mere minutes to Rueras from Disentis (missing the last train by mere hours).

I Stepped into a bar that was a throw back to legit ski bars everywhere. Populated by athletic, snow sliding, happy folk. My kind of people. Got to meet some wonderful people and drink some of Sabrina’s elixir of happiness. Made with love, artisanal and small batch. Yum!

Although I had arrived at my destination missing some of my ski stuff (skis, poles, probe), I had arrived. Thanks to Buster’s carry-on baggage tips, I did have the basics – boots and some gear made it. I can ski.



Breakfast at Vendul’s. You don’t like this? You’re weird.



The snow sitch when I got there. “OK”. I figure “there will be snow up high” (says ever the eternal fucking optimist). Vendul suggested taking the train to Andermatt and skiing back to Rueras. Good plan. A couple of small items made it much more challenging than estimated.
1) I hadn’t skied on a ski smaller than 180cms for perhaps 30 years.
2) I hadn’t skied on a ski narrower than 90mm for perhaps 20 years.
3) The photo shows weather up high deteriorating. It did. Complete whiteout all day, but it WAS snowing. Hard. So there’s that.
I lucked out and met an international couple (US and Swedish). And, for the love of christ – me and the Swede have a mutual acquaintance in one Mattias Fredrickson. Small bloody ski world indeed. The Swede ripped and his GF was an intermediate so it was a perfect pairing for me skiing on my death sticks on frozen icy groomers in a white out. While I do thank Vendul for stepping up and getting me some sticks to use, it felt like my 3rd day on skis. “It’s OK”, I figure. “My skis will be there any day”.

The other side of me is thinking, perhaps all of those light weights were right. Perhaps skipping the hallowed BBI Euro 23 trip was the wise thing. The “right” thing. The “logical” thing. Giving up was fine. Was BBI Euro 23 indeed over?



Nah, yeah, nah. Giving up is never the thing to do. It’s never over until you say it out loud. Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbour?

It puked all night. ULLR was pleased with me after all. He was pleased with the two hardy maggots who showed. Tri-ungulate and 70 post Jong, Carve-hard. It’s a summit!

Yes, small (better to stealthily poach pow, better to yo-yo fresh lines without sharing, never to wait for fallen comrades) because there ain’t any of you fuckers. Thanks for not coming. Fuck we had fun, and the skiing was sublime. It may have been a mini, but god damn it we were a maxi-mini.

One did have to ski lightly getting to valley bottom. Luckily 2 inches on grass is fine if you don’t turn. Gravel road needed 3 inches however, and we mostly had that. Most importantly we could ski from the train stop to Vendul’s door. Enough of the drivel. We went skiing.

[garyfromterrace]

Tri-ungulate masticating the blower, deep, pow off of Mulinatsch. Over and over we lapped this bad boy. No people, ridiculously good snow, capable and fun ski partners. Fuck yes.



Tri doing an amazing uni-plant. Pro level move on teles. Vis wasn’t great in the alpine but with a few rocks and some lift towers for definition it was perfectly acceptable.





Carvehard full of non-regret for making it here.



Carvehard full of euphoria for making it here.



I offer my glove to the photographer as payment for his time. I realize I only look fat because of the waistband of my avi pack. I vow to cut it off one day as an alternate to Ozempic. Ski note: though I’m not on 122mm underfoot, I’m on about 105. Better than my borrowed 70mm underfoot from yesterday. Also, I think my Movement’s were about 180cms. That helped.



A full third of the BBI 23 Rueras skiing contingent. Carvehard in cruisie, superb density, fluff.



Tri. Take away our 3 tracks and you get a couple or 3 others. Good news!

Attachment 470516


Gnaricorns. I wasn’t around when this became a thing. But I humoured these reprobates just the same. Haha gnanicorn. Haha. … fuck.



Yeah let’s do it again. "Take our picture GfT, take our picture". Gnarnicorn. Haha. Ha. Anyway.. we came from up there. And, it was worth flying here. Just for this run. With these guys.



Days not over.

[Buster Highmen]

There's more than a bunch of losers not showing up here.

[garyfromterrace]

There's more than a bunch of losers not showing up here.

Haha. Yep, now fixed. sorry...

[garyfromterrace]

Fun fact skiing the Gemstock area. Please refer to before and after photos.



We skied the obvious tongue. It was fabulous. Note from Carvehard on this day to the signal group - “Just got back from Gemstock afternoon session. 80cm new on top. All time epic fresh tracks under the T bar even at days end. I feel bad for the maggots that cancelled (sideways goofie tongue out emoji). “ Buster replies “your schadenfreude is showing”
Truth



The same area 2 days after we skied it.

The dates and the areas we skied blurred into one, luckily Carvehard had the semblance to take notes so here I will rely on him to relay exactly what we skied on what days. Thanks man!

"27th train to Dieni, 2 lifts open; morning freshies on Mulinatsch lift piste; travelled to Disentis, one lift open skied both sides of the Genusas; then piste under tram to summer switchback road then meadow and poled to Catrina bus stop, walked to Acla Fontauna train station “

I will add – met former patroller from Arolla who requested that I take a video of him saying hi to one of the Arolla staff that I’d be seeing later in the trip. That was fun, and sparked much hilarity when showed to the yurt-keeper in Arolla. I also skied out of a small slab avi. That got my attention.

"28th Vendul drove us to Disentis tram. Fresh tracks 7 or 8 laps on top lift. Skied a couple of laps on the Val Gronda T bar, then down Val d’Acletta. The run out was long skinny and exhausting”. Train to Andermatt where we took trams to the top. Skied high and skiers right of the T bar. “Freerode” tm the T bar.”

I will add – the term “freeride” when it involves uphill on a T bar involves the Tbar running surface fading/sloping left, the short fat guy rides the left side while tall light guy rides the right (or high side). This configuration invariably will pull the short fat guy out of the path, requiring him to bail off the bar to avoid getting cast into netting below. When properly “freeriding” the T bar, the remaining tall skinny rider then catches the end of the T bar in his unzipped jacket pocket allowing him to “invert” while still suspended by the Tbar and in fact getting more air as the T bar progressed. A final sweet trick was performed by my “freedride” lift partner immediately after getting the Tbar handle out of his pocket and plummeting to the ground. A 5.10d safety net self-extrication was required that reminded me of getting a root wad out of a gillnet.

I think this is the morning I came face to face with the "Swiss Guide" and managed to poach his line after he cut me off. The nerve! Did he not know who I was!!

Brian continues “Skied down to the valley and out just before hut. Long run with deep fresh snow up top, then soft patches through the bushes all the way down.”

True dat!! And damn good thing we skied it when we did. Refer to top before and after photos.

"29th 0830 train to Natschenm because of late opening of Oberalpass Gondy”

Here I will add we met the “Swiss Guide” and watched him debark said train and look woefully at the closed Gondola (“zis ist nich on zee closed leest”). Haha, we continued on the train to bust boat loads of freshies under the Lutersee Flyer.

Brian continues “then headed to Schneehuenerstock gondy for opening. Did gondy line 3 or 4 times but avi conditions were sketchy. Snow was wet, vis was low. Skied back to Natschen under Gutsch Express gondy line and skied to base, then train to Andermatt. Bus to Gemsstock and picnic lunch at mid station sun deck. Skied 3 laps on Gurschen Glacier staying high and right then dropping into bowl. After a quick drink at the Rondo Island Bar we caught the 4:30 train back to Rueras”.

Brian also had a great conversation with the train conductor, a comely lass who was a mutual friend of the infamous “Power Andy”, Party Man.

So, really that was it. a bunch of really fun ski days, with conditions that were better than good most of the time. The wild card that made them so memorable though was the sheer length of the top to valley bottom runs and doing them with like minded freaks from the interweb. And, oh yeah I did meet the Swiss Guide again. He showed up at Vendul's place for dinner and I very helpfully offered him some ski instruction since his ability to ride pow fast seemed to be lacking.

I bid adieu to the fine folks in Rueras and headed solo to St Moritz.



Attachment 470563

Here's what $225 cdn gets ya for a night in St Moritz. Do I care, fuck no. I am in St. Moritz, a place I had heard about for years. It was time.



Ah, a little sparce for coverage. I think it will go though.



The horned beast points to the direction I probably should have gone for more snow. But oh well, my time was short and I love lemonade.



My little minigolf line. Lapped it a half dozen times as it was a nice steep shot with good corn.



A WROD is better than no WROD when trying to get to valley bottom.





Time to leave CH for Munchin. Also time to appreciate an outstanding train bathroom. First rate, including the olfactory department. Worth the second photo. I think so. Sorry.

[garyfromterrace]

A little family visit in Munich



I visited the stepdaughter her hubby and the grandkids. Fun at the wildlife park.



I was an honorary maternity mom for a downtown day with the girls.



The clock, she still works!



The wine menu at my first Uyghur restaurant. How could we not have this wine? The food was interesting and amazing. My first Uyghur food. I like firsts.



The food. Sorta Chinese, sorta Mongolian, sorta Turkish. Good food, good company. Grandaughter (the other one), asleep on the table. Restaurant had a big beautiful resident dog too. I revel in the German acceptance of good doggies in restaurants. Reminded me of Tomba. Sigh.



Enough maudlin sentiments! After a lovely Munich stop and family hang it was off to Arolla!

[shroom]

good work Garry!

[garyfromterrace]

Damn, the road is narrow. And also damn, swiss drivers are good. Getting close now.



Night one in Arolla. The first time I’d stayed in a hotel while here (I think it was my fifth time). And, I’d not hesitate to do it again (if not for a sweet apartment deal my buddy swings every year). While the room at the Hotel - Restaurant Aiguille de La Tza wasn’t exactly level (adding numerous points to the quaintness rating in my eyes), the location, food, hospitality, and being the haunt of Dede Anzevui (the first descent of Matterhorn North Face) gives it credibility rating of 100/100. Cost was reasonable also. I got here a night early than my German posse for one reason. To meet another maggot.
After putting on the skis in the Hotel parking lot, I had a beautiful mainly downhill ski along the river to the Arolla parking lot. Where, in fine maggot form, dwelled the uber mag Subtle Plague. I really didn’t know who I was meeting at the time. All of my texts were with some Lars dude in the BBI Euro thread. What a pleasant surprise!

Mrs. Plague was a lovely women and Subtle’s 2 sprogs were wonderful kids. Knocked down a bottle of Swiss white with the Plagues and made a ski date for the next day. Side note, I’m a bit flummoxed by Subtle’s perfect English. Turns out he’s an English teacher. Yet another Euro with better grammer than me. Sweet..

Had a lovely bottle of local white with the Plagues, then a relaxing skin back up the xc trail to my hotel for an early night. Good thing, for there was a pow day a'comin.





Mr. Plague on the way down to the up. Even the traverses at Arolla are amazing. Really.



Subtly dropping in. Arolla couloir slaying ’23 begins in style.







Is Arolla always steep, blower pow? No, sometimes it’s steep awesome corn. Occasionally steep re-frozen mank. Fact - you don’t know until you go. Subtle suggested that the run was the best he’d skied this season. High praise buddy and I felt honored and pleased that I was there for it.





And just like that Subtle Plague is gone. Can't wait to ski with you again man, that was fucking fun!



Our sluff ran baby, it ran. Our lines were the little ramp on the left side of the photo (Lars furthest left, mine just a hair left).



A good view of our run from the top hut. Our line was the ramp lookers left of the top of the visible switchbacks (where the skin track becomes a boot pack).



Breakfast with my buddy Andreas' family included the sacrificial devouring of the bunny! Does the little easter bunny bread know I’m going to rip it apart and eat it within seconds of taking the photo? I think so, ergo the terrified look on it’s little bunny face.



Another day, another couple of partners. Andreas (on the left) I’ve known and skied with for over 30 years on both sides of the pond, Seb (on the right) I’ve skied 20 days with at Arolla and even a few in the Terrace area. He’s been coming here all his life. Good dudes, solid ski partners.



The previous photo was taken at the top of this pitch. This pitch sucked. It was basically a down climb on skis. French dry skiing techniques were employed upon descent. Even the bottom 3rd was high speed rock avoidance/death ruts. Oh well, the price for admission to…



…..here. Andreas crushing the top pitch of a very long descent.



Though we may not have been first tracks down here, conditions were quite acceptable. Keeping in mind that we were at this point only about an hour from the top of the lift.





Seb enjoying the sweet, light, Arolla crud.



A nice descent, and we’re only getting started. We came from the snow field lookers left of the obvious saddle.



Andreas finds some freshies.



The lads near the bottom. The ski through the summer huts near the bottom (close to Lac Bleu) always gives me pleasure. Could be the feeling of skiing through an ancient abandoned village, could be the playful skiing in this area, could be the fact that by getting here you’ve survived some pretty big terrain. Regardless, the buildings are cool.



Andreas and I enjoy a roadside cold one in La Gouille (a couple of villages before Arolla). Seb arranges a pickup from the wifey as we watched the last bus to Arolla depart just as we got the end of the snow.

[garyfromterrace]

good work Garry!

thanks man, this motherfucking photo upload fucking shit is going to drive me seriously fucking batshit though. Fuck. I'll try again tomorrow.
edit... working on it..

[Buster Highmen]

w000000t, although some attachments still don't display.

[Core Shot]

Schweeeeet!!

[garyfromterrace]

The next morning I decided to ski a little sportie couloir I hit a few years previously. The drop in point. Perhaps a boring photo, however scenics here are always magnificent and it does further illustrate the vast ski touring potential of this amazing little ski area. Sorta reminds me of another little ski area blessed with ridiculous touring possibilities a continent away…



The coloiur skied. Last time I skied this little baby (4 years ago if memory serves), the conditions were laughably heinous (a half dozen old ski tracks thawed then refrozen) requiring jump turns pretty much the whole coolie proper. Today it was glorious, and, all mine.



The modern lift system at Arolla. On this theme, there is talk of some trouble brewing at this idyllic little resort. Apparently the lift systems (all platter style lifts) are nearing the end of their serviceable life. The rumours I heard were that perhaps another 2 seasons were all the lift inspectors were giving them. What happens next at Arolla? Closure? Zermatt style gondolas and boutique mega hotels? Time will tell, however if you were ever on the fence about coming here I would suggest getting off your ass and visiting here soon.



Part of the crew. Young, old, ripper, meadow skipper, olympic gold medalist (nordic combined), lazy fat Canadian tourist. All love this wicked place.

Family friendly, yep you bet. Parents generally just let their kids run amok. The place is easy to get around and skiing on-piste is risk free. Adults get to go ski big lines that are fast and easy to get to. As noted before – one of the crew skied here as a kid and now brings his kids to ski here. Most of this crew has been coming here yearly for 15+ years. It’s an annual for a reason.



My German buddy Andreas preparing his Heidelberg farmer buddy’s Japanese style Kobe beef on our Swiss ski vacation.



Heading up to the same general area that Subtle Plague and I skied 4 days previously. Shitty vis, good folks.

We set out in a snowstorm and knew the vis was going to be shitty so our expectations for the day were low as were our aspirations for getting up high. We pulled the pin after climbing about 45 minutes (perhaps 1500 vert ft).



Timo heading down. Snow quality was actually pretty good.



It is not often that you get to ski with an Olympic Gold Medalist. Today was no exception. But I did get to ski with his wife. Here she is ripping down our super fun, great snow, no vis line.



A final run with Andreas, his family & Timo and Anka.

[::: :::]

so jelly -- looks so amazing -- thanks for posting this, gary!

[garyfromterrace]

The last supper. Andreas makes a kick ass Käsespätzle, and this was no exception



The Earth Pyramids of Euseigne on the way back to civilization (well Sion anyway).



Back in civilization, the business class ticket allowed the lounge which allows the bottomless glass of Bloody Marys.



Civilization also provides caviar and champagne. The St. Moritz stop had obviously infected my drug addled brain.



And, lox. Lox is civilized.

Attachment 470651

Though tempting, I passed on the man bracelet.



More Bloody Mary’s on the plane because they are there.



Not a big cola fan, but the next flight I had a hankering for a cuba libre. It is not often that life provides a free lunch (drink).



Haven’t flown into TO at night much.



The next day dawned scotch and soda. As the trip started with a booze photo, figured it was fitting to end with one. Cheers!

[garyfromterrace]

so jelly -- looks so amazing -- thanks for posting this, gary!

Thanks box cars! Appreciated.

[bennymac]

(Duplicate post)

[bennymac]

Amazing! Read it cover to cover. Thanks for putting the work in to post this. Inspiring TR.

[geo039]

Amazing OG style TR. Noice!!!!

[garyfromterrace]

Thanks Buster, bennymac and geo!

[MyNameIsAugustWest]

Jus chiming in to say:
(1) awesome TR
(2) I've skied with GfT IRL and he is a great guy to ski with.

[Mike Pow]

Top of the Notch

Arolla on the list

[tgapp]

damn gary, there are some absolutely money shots in this tr - frame in your living room quality. great read, amazing stoke, thanks for sharing

[garyfromterrace]

Shroom, MikePow, tgapp, thanks guys! August, cheers! Was great meeting and skiing with you and all the Magicians. I miss you guys, your hill and your amazing thing you got going out east. I shall return!

[subtle plague]

Huh. How did I miss this. Was a pleasure Meeting you.


You pics make it look like I could actually ski

[garyfromterrace]

Huh. How did I miss this. Was a pleasure Meeting you.


You pics make it look like I could actually ski

Well, to be fair the snow conditions were pretty much perfect for our run so any gaper probably would have nailed it...