Due to technical difficulties (read 'laziness and ineptitude') we've not been able to get the pictures from the ES Adaptive fund-raising up here, but now you can enjoy them in all their glory.
Thanks to Rob H-S for the pics...
Oh. and by the way - snow-forecast are predicting snow for tomorrow, so, on the evidence of past predictions (and not being too cynical) I for one will be putting on suncream...
Easter has turned out to be a bit of a changeable affair - one minute you're freezing in a white-out and regretting getting out of bed that day, the next you're baking, turning crimson and wishing you'd put on suncream.
And so it continues - the snow is brilliant, especially up high, and we had yet another fall last night so the snow that was melted on the trees has been replaced, making everything look laaaaarvely.
And when the clouds clear it's decidedly above average.
Apart from that, we're all still feeling pretty chuffed that the school raised 26,000 CHF for disabled skiing last week, and we've also all been sitting around in the t-bar debating whether or not snow-forecast.com are over-predicting snowfalls on purpose just to mess with our heads, or if they just get it wrong a lot.
Yup, after a worrying trend towards flip-flops, sunshine and Sandy in shorts, the weather in Verbier has swung back towards winter, and it snowed solidly for over 24 hours, resulting in quite a lt of snow on the hill.
But even better than the snow, is the amount of money raised for disabled skiing equipment after our fund-raising week - people contributed a staggering 26,000 CHF. So thanks to everyone who got involved, helped out and donated, it was an unbeleivable success and we'll get some pictures of the various evenings up here asap.
Meanwhile, here's what loads of snow looks like...
OK, maybe last season the blog was more about the shenanigans that the general populous of the resort were up to, and a brief word on how the weather was going.
Well, I like to think that - in a John Ketttly stylie - we've kept you well abreast of snow and stuff this season, but perhaps neglected the news about Kato's dance moves, and Gussy's team-building with some of the ladies in resort.
So, heres some less-weather-driven stuff:
The big news in resort is that so far the charity week to raise money for equipment disabled skiers is going brilliantly.
We had a fairly enormous night on Tuesday in Coco (who kindly donated all proceeds on the door to the cause), and we gave away loads of kit and prizes in the raffle.
Last night The Lodge broomball team robbed the mighty ES squad of a place in the final on penalties, and then went on to win. All the teams paid to play, and the money went into the big pot for Disability Snowsport UK.
And tonight it's the big auction at T-Bar (music from 5pm, auction at 6pm), with loads of brilliant lots up for grabs, plus we're auctioning off slaves.
So could even pay to spend time with Gussy. If you like that kind of thing.
We'll pop up some pics tomorrow, and for the weather junkies out there, check out this...
It rather looks like we're about to get dumped on.
Yup, we had snow last night (and some rain then snow in resort) and now we're getting pretty impressive flurries of snow in town, plus its been snowing on and off all day up the hill. Nice.
And they're promising more is on the way. That said, they do say things like that an awful lot and then change their minds.
Still, sitting outside The Pub and drinking Guinness in the snow isn't a bad thing.
A great day up there today - sunny, blue skies, great snow (ok, it got a wee bit slushy in places once the sun got on it) and on the whole a rather pleasant way to pass the day.
And, according to the boffins, it should snow at the weekend...
So, once again, cross everything, and think snowy thoughts.
(PS get well soon Jase)
Yup, the clouds gone, the rain's a distant memory, and the sun's going to be out all day.
Could be worse...
Billy Connolly is a wise man indeed, and would fit in here quite well today.
You see, the snow line yesterday was below resort, but it's drifted higher over night, so this morning it was only snowing at the top of the tree-line.
But when you think about it, most of the skiing in Verbier is above the tree-line. So not a brilliant view in resort through the spitting rain, but no real drama.
But get to Ruinettes and it's snowing pretty hard - La Chaux was getting a real pasting when we got up there.
And the level's dropping - I've just skied down and whilst there's drizzle in resort, it's snowing just above Chez Dany.
But the big news is that it's the ES Adaptive fund raising week next week, raising money to buy disabled ski equipment for charity. So more soon...
Yes, we've had a precipitation cornucopia today.
The overnight snow (about 6 inches in places on the piste) gave way to rain in the afternoon (and we don't mind rain, as long as it stops just above resort), then the nice people at snow-forecast.com told us - in fact, as good as promised - that we'd get snow at the weekend.
Well, maybe not in resort, but at mid-station.
So, don't hold your breath. But do cross your fingers.
OK, I've questioned the snow forcasting community a few times, and perhaps been guilty of the odd libel regarding the accuracy of their predictions, but they are very confidently predicting snow right now, and I'm inclined to hope they're right this time...
Er, it's one of these:
It's that thing when the cloud sits over the whole place then you get to the top of the lift and you can see all the other high up bits above the clouds. And we had one today. For a full explanation you need to ask a grown up (like Roy), but it looks nice though, doesn't it?
Rubbish if it's cheese. Rubbish if it's in a ski resort.
But the good news is that snow-forecast say there is loads of snow on the way, although it could be yet another over-exaggeration of almost Oli D-esque proportions...
http://www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/Verbier/6day/bot
A simple formula but it works. You can even improve on it:
cold x (snow + sunshine) - wind = genius.
Which is what we got today.
And if you ever wondered if all those noisy, messy snow cannons worked, have a look at this (underneath the ice and snow it's the old disused chair lift from the Medran car park, and it got in the way of a snow cannon on overnight):
Well, Oli 'Pinocchio' D might not be wading to the boozer through his predicted two feet of snow, but we've had a few inches of snow over the last couple of days, and it's been cold.
And not just cold, but VERY COLD.
And windy, too.
So the fast-melting pistes have solidified (read 'turned a bit icey') and you can ski to resort on something other than soupy snow. Which is nice.
And the dirty rumour is that more could be on it's way (more cold, more snow and more wind).
But if you want me to put a figure on it, you'll be waiting a very long time. However, buy Oli a beer and he'll tell you whatever you want to hear.
DO NOT TRUST HIM...
Yup - it's not the "definite two feet" that certain members of resort staff swore blind would be here. But it's a start.
And the most important thing is that it's going to be loads colder. If you believe snow-forecast.com - and you'd be very sensible in deed if you were a little skeptical - we're in for temperatures down to minus 12 degrees C this afternoon (about minus 19 with the wind chill).
And you don't need to be Ian McCaskill to realise that those kind of temperatures stop the snow from melting away to nothing.
The temperature was a bit lower today, and the clouds were gathering in a menacing way, but the rumours of snow remain rumours.
Still, the forecast promises that it's going to get very cold, very windy (tomorrow night) and pretty snowy tomorrow.
Honestly...
Yesterday was a bit of a mix really.
We started off on the Mayentzet chair and it was raining. Rubbish.
But by the time we reached the top we were in the snow. No wind either. Improving.
So we headed up La Combe and whilst you could see the snow ok below us, it looked a bit foggy up top, then the wind started to pick up. Worrying.
So by the time we got up the Atalas (James Blunt) chair, it was blowing an absolute gale and visability was down to about 20 feet. If you were lucky. But it really was very, very, VERY windy.
And then? Naturally the sun came out. Bizarre.
A funny day really, and although there's more wind forecast over the coming week, the Oli D prediction of snow is still looking likely.
Meanwhile, the sun's out again this morning. Which is nice.