Chapter 195
12/1/2008
Ch 195 Les Diablerets virtual skiing
Did I mention we skied a glacier? If you ever get the opportunity, do it !
Our Swiss Air packages for airline employees included the flight, transportation, meals, lodging, and skiing but we had to pay the extra $6 for this day's optional adventure. It was kind of a flip of the coin really, a fork in the road, as the all day run was going to cut into a lot of more intense skiing on other slopes. But what an awesome experience, and here I am writing about it 33 years later. You might say we had the time of our life. Maybe this demo video can give you some sense of it. I had to borrow a few photos and some video to illustrate this one. Shot above is Kathy (pink) following co-worker and longtime friend Dianne (and husband who went with us). We'd just exited the magnificent and breathtaking 2 mile cable car ride up from the valley suspended thousands of feet up in the air. Such engineering!
At the time we were following ski instructors and didn't really know just where we were going. You need to stay in the marked trail to avoid the dangers of falling into a crevasse, skiing off a rock cliff, an overhanging snow cornice or starting an avalanche. Half way down the steeper portion I've included a picture of a crashed skier caught in the all important safety net. Just below is a steep drop off and jagged rocks ! When you fall you really pick up speed. My still photos by themselves don't convey the immense size or scale of the distances involved. It's a great kick to now see on Google Earth just what we did to complete one of the longest ski runs in Europe at 8 miles. Vertical drop of 5000 ft is about twice that of Gore Mt. We made the best of this test: You can sideslip down anything.
The hot spiced mulled Glühwein warmed our souls, but it was really sad to load up the bus in front of our Chalet and leave such a beautiful place.
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Video Notes:
green for lift up
red trail down
Kathy in pink
Thank you CamStudio for the beautiful free download of video capture software that lets me record the Google Earth video instead of recording with my camera.
Lodging at Mon Ambri chalet in Les Diablerets (Ormont Dessus) Switzerland, the Lake Geneva region on the west.
Cable car Telepherique {interactive map} from Col du Pillon valley to Cabane and the Secx Rouge peak to ski the large 2 mile long Tsanfleuron Glacier or Glacier 3000 at 3Km elevation or 10,000 ft (which most of us mistakenly called the smaller higher Les Diablerets). Believe there is year around skiing on the glacier portion.
We did the difficult 5,000 ft vertical drop La Combe d'Audon ski trail. I spliced in a little video of this trail from these Israeli powder skiers and snowboarders Metacafe video. Went from the top at Secx Rouge to Oldenalp to Oldenegg down to Reusch near Gstaad, bus back to Chalet.