Geneva - Saturday, Oct 27

I took the train to Geneva this am. While still in Zermatt I got to use my French to arrange a ride to train station. The train ride was incredible. The first leg descends through the alps on a cog railway. Zermatt is actually at almost 1,600m above sea level. That's the base of the three trams! So I have certainly been getting altitude training.

A couple of noteworthy places the train passed through were Sion - cool castle you could view from train and Montreaux - referred to as the Swiss Riviera, stunning architecture and because it is sandwiched between a mountain and Lake Geneva, a micro-climate that allows the growth of olives, grapes, palm trees, etc. I would like to return to check it out some day.

My hotel in Geneva is literally across the street from the train station. Once again Sandy totally came through. After checking in I explored the city on foot, taking in the fountain, flower clock, and the old city. I had the world's best pretzel (my description) from a street stand for lunch. I ventured into the shops on rue Rive. There was a fun toy store. Jillian: J'ai acheté un cadeau formidable pour Dylan pour Noel! Although a lot of workers speak English my French is finally passable enough that I have been getting by in French! I am so proud and motivated to continue my studies.

At the end of my long walk I took a much needed nap at the hotel before showering and heading out for dinner. I went to a pub near the hotel that I heard was really good and actually ran into someone I know! It was one of the guys from Toronto that had been on the ski trip and had added some days to his trip. So we joined each other for dinner. After a day on my own it after being surrounded by people for a week it was nice to have the company. Now I'm back at the hotel as I have to leave for the airport at 3:45 am. Luckily we have the time change tonight which buys me the extra hour. Good night everybody. I look forward to seeing you all soon! Signing off from Switzerland :(

Zermatt - Friday, October 26

Today was my last day of skiing here. :( Hardly anyone showed up so I got a private lesson with JF, the instructor I had the first day. Can't beat those ratios! We ended the day early as it was snowing hard ice pellets. I don't mind as it will give me time to go to the town's Matterhorn Museum and get organized for the next phase of my journey.

I have been moved into a private room for the night as almost all of the rest of the group is leaving tonight around 11:30. We have a big final dinner tonight before they go. I am going to leave here early tomorrow morning via train to Geneva. Apparently my hotel in Geneva is right across from the train station so I will check my luggage in there before exploring the old city. I leave at 6:00 am on Sunday and courtesy of the time difference will be back in Toronto that afternoon.

Zermatt - Thursday, Oct 25

Powder! A foot of the white stuff awaited us this morning. Sweet! I am now seeing all the feedback come together. I had a major break-through today with opening my hip joint. Marc may be the only one reading this who understands what that means - but it's good. :)

I just came back from a walk through town. I took a few more photos. I have some awesome ones to show you all on my return. Zach: there is a climber's graveyard I went to see today. All people who while died climbing the area's peaks.

We didn't end up going to the disco last night after all. A bunch of us did hang out in the hotel bar until 12:30. Today the people on course get their exam results so it will be interesting to see if there is any celebrating or drowning of sorrows later.

Last day of skiing is tomorrow. I can't believe how quickly it all went by!

Zermatt - Wednesday, Oct 24

Today's group was a "Venus" (ie all female) group. We had two Level 4 instructors - Meredith and Annie and two athletes - Esta and me. Then we lost Annie and picked up another woman. We had so much fun we are repeating the same group tomorrow.

The day started out sunny and warm but fog rolled in after lunch. There was vitually no visibility. We still managed a couple runs. Thank goodness the bottom of the ski out cleared where you had to take speed to make it.

There are a group of us going out tonight. I hope to make it in earlier than last time. :)

Zermatt - Tuesday, Oct 23

Day 3 and we were in the moguls - the same ones the World Cup teams are here training on. I did alright actually, especially considering my lack of sleep.

Last night a bunch of us went out to a nightclub after dinner. Happy hour went until 1:00 am and with two for one drinks everyone sure was happy. I met the coaches of the Canadian national disabled ski team as well as a member of Canada's World Cup freestyle team (moguls). Other people in our group tell me that he has actually won some World Cup races.

The bar was itself was in a cave which was pretty very cool. It was packed on a Monday night. It was a late night (early morning) which made this morning pretty tough. Luckily we had fantasic weather - still sunny but much warmer. I have a wicked ski tan already!

Tonight is going to be a quiet night as the three members of Canada's Interski team that traveled to Korea are going to show a DVD of their experience. Pretty cool that there is only 10 people that make the team every 4 years and I have had lessons from two of them this week and am rooming with the third.

I better go finish getting ready for dinner. TTYS.

Zermatt - Monday, Oct 22

Left hotel at 8 am this morning as I was to meet the instructor at the top of the glacier at 9:45. After just missing a series of trams, I didn't get there until after 10 am. Only I can run into commuting problems on a glacier in Switzerland! Luckily everyone else was late too.

We had a couple of additions to our class today. I'm still in a class with all men like usual. The two new additions both have their Level 3 teaching and are working on their skiing. Marc: you will know one - Paul from Mansfield. He was on course with you when you got your 3.

Our instructor Josh, head of ski school at Big White, was really good. We'll be reviewing video of the day at 6:30. He even diagnosed me while riding the T-bar together. He noticed that my boots aren't canted properly - that I'm actually stemming (snow plowing) when going up the t-bar instead of my skis running flat. I've already taken my boots into the shop to have the canting adjusted so we will see how it goes tomorrow. I've also left my skis in the shop. The firm conditions have been rough on them. I was surprised by how few (none?) of the Level 4's tune their own equipment. They've all been taking them in.

Weather is still cold (-23C at the top this am) but as long as the trams are running and I can ski I don't care. I am getting a wicked tan from all the sun on the glacier.

I do have to get the name of a massage therapist from Sandy to see if I can get in this week. The sooner the better!

Zermatt - Sunday, Oct 21 (Part 2)

I thought of a few things I forgot to mention in my last posting.

1. Weather - cold in the am (-17C) but I was dressed well so hardly noticed.

2. Lifts - 3 trams to get to the top. Can ski out under one tram so only 2 trams on the way back. T-bars are not as nasty as I would have expected.

3. Terrain - Blue-Black, nothing too insane.

4. Conditions - firm. Really firm. Glazed where the glacier showed through. Good tune on my skis Marc! If it stays like this I am going to get the edges sharpened twice while I am here.

5. Falls - one but not while skiing. ;) Walking down the ice from our lunch spot.

6. Lunch in Italy - fantastic! Included in our package is a pasta lunch accompanied with homemade bread every day. Delicio!

Zermatt - Sunday, Oct 21

I am posting from my sunny balcony overlooking the Matterhorn (see view above). :) I actually need to go get sunglasses...

Okay I'm back. My roomie just got in too. We were discussing the best place to go for apres-ski. Seems I have a few hours as they do it a little later here. So let me continue...

Day 1 was fabulous! Only three of us in my group. The other two are training for the Level 4 so it's referred to as the Level 4 prep group. Funny as I have yet to go on the Level 3! Glad I am with this group rather than the other people training for the 3. It is not only a fraction of the size (7-8 people in other groups) but I also get to ski with stronger skiers. AND I've been holding my own! While I am the slowest in the group, I am already on Day 1 skiing as well as I was by the end of last year! It felt like I had not taken a break at all. This is definitely my year!

Today's instructor was JF, who heads up the Ski School at Mont Ste. Anne. He is an incredible skier and a fantastic instructor. He broke everything down very simply and related everything to how it felt (physically not emotionally!) I totally got everything he was saying and was able to make big changes instantly. I'm going to write notes after this posting to try to capture what I learned today. Then it's time to explore the town before apres. Have a great Sunday and I'll check in with you again soon!

Zermatt - Arrival Oct 20/07

Just wanted to let everyone know that two planes and two trains later I have arrived safe and sound in Zermatt. The train ride from Geneva was breathtaking - spectacular lake and mountain vistas. The train ride up above high gorges was not for the faint of heart. We passed the remnants of an unbelievably large rock slide that buried an entire village in 1992.

Zermatt is a typical Alpen village - super clean and tidy and brimming with character. You can only get here from train although a tiny electric car and wagon did carry our luggage to the hotel for us leaving us free to walk unencumboured.

The hotel is nice - very similar to the hotels where we have stayed in Austria. I am sharing a room with Sunny Verault. Marc will know her as she is one of the top Level 4 women in Canada and is featured in some of the CSIA videos. She is from Chicoutimi so I can practice my French...especially good because the language in Zermatt is German. Of course I left my German phrase book at home because I was convinced they spoke French here! I also took out Euros to find they use Swiss Francs here! 0/2 so far.

I actually had a funny incident checking into my room. When I got to the room Sandy told me I was sharing with Sunny I knocked on the door only to have it answered by a middle-aged male Brit wearing nothing but a towel! We had a laugh over the fact that he was expecting his new roommate too. I asked Sandy what kind of services he was offering on this trip?!?

Just had a really good dinner. There would have been no leftovers for Marc at this one! Meals are included and I got to choose an appetizer, main, and desert. I'll have to ski hard to work it off tomorrow!

There is actually talk that the trams may be shut down tomorrow due to high winds. If the day does go it is going to be cold. I really hope we can ski as I'm dying to get out there.

The people on the trip are great. Have already met people from England, Victoria, Thunder Bay, and Montreal. Have also recruited a new Voyageur - a new Level 1 my age from Toronto who I sat next to on the flight from Zurich to Geneva and then sat with on the trains.

The one thing I haven't done is slept - not a wink since Thursday. I'm calling it a night now as I can't stay awake for another minute.