Month: May 2019

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Our Route des Grandes Alpes to cross from France into Italy

A stop for lunch at Notre Dame de Bellecombe. Our Route des Grandes Alpes to cross from France into Italy.

Our Route des Grandes Alpes to cross from France into Italy

This past summer we went to have a holiday in the mountains. From Chamonix we were off onto Courmayeur. But it was a Saturday – what is considered here in the mountains as a Samedi Noir or Sabato Nero, meaning very long queues to cross the Mont Blanc Tunnel.

This past summer was ridiculously hot – even in the mountains – with the temperature being 31 C in Chamonix in the morning – imagine staying a couple of hours in line to cross the Mont Blanc Tunnel did not seem too much fun at the time.

How adventures start - with a good map. The IGN Route des Grandes Alpes. Our Route des Grandes Alpes to cross from France into Italy.
How adventures start – with a good map. The IGN Route des Grandes Alpes. Our Route des Grandes Alpes to cross from France into Italy.

I’ve asked the evening before some friends I have in Chamonix on how other way we could go – and how about taking the Petit St Bernard Pass. Arnaud Jamson, the deputy director of the Chamonix Tourism Office suggested me to go all around and stop in Megève for lunch, then go to the Lac du Roselend and from there go up to La Rosière to cross into La Thuile through the Petit St Bernard. This is a typical road for motorcyclists and bikers alike – many of these roads have been used by the Tour de France!

As I have a memory of a mosquito, I’ve asked at the hotel’s reception where I could get a good map, and I was told to go into the main street in Chamonix. There is a wonderful books and magazine store – that I could stayed for hours just looking around, where I bought the IGN Map of Route des Grandes Alpes. I love maps and this one was a great addition to my collection.

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Crested Butte’s Teocalli Lift Replacement Approved by U.S. Forest Service

Teocalli lift - Photo: Peter Landsmen- KBUT radio. Crested Butte’s Teocalli Lift Replacement Approved by U.S. Forest Service.

​Crested Butte’s Teocalli Lift Replacement Approved by U.S. Forest Service

The U.S. Forest Service has approved the replacement of the Teocalli Lift at Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR). Beginning in early-May 2019, CBMR will begin removing the existing Teocalli Lift to replace and realign the lift for an improved on-mountain guest experience. The upgraded lift will debut in the 2019-20 winter season.

The old Teocalli lift base- photo: Coloradoskihistory.com - Crested Butte’s Teocalli Lift Replacement Approved by U.S. Forest Service.
The old Teocalli lift base- photo: Coloradoskihistory.com – Crested Butte’s Teocalli Lift Replacement Approved by U.S. Forest Service.

CBMR will replace the Teocalli Lift – a 1979 Riblet fixed-grip double chairlift – with an upgraded fixed-grip quad chairlift. By increasing the operating speed and subsequent spacing between the chairs – to accommodate the increased operating speed – the new Teocalli Lift will increase uphill capacity by more than 50 percent. The upper terminal of the Teocalli Lift will be shifted closer to the top of the Red Lady Express, while the lower terminal will remain in the existing location at the intersection of the Bushwacker, Gunsight Pass and Upper Conundrum trails.

After the existing Teocalli Lift is removed, site preparation and foundation work is expected to begin in July with the new Teocalli Lift being installed in August, weather and conditions depending.

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A Hike for your Bucket List: The Via Alpina crosses 14 of the most beautiful Alpine Passes in Switzerland.

Via Alpina. A Hike for your Bucket List: The Via Alpina crosses 14 of the most beautiful Alpine Passes in Switzerland.

A Hike for your Bucket List: The Via Alpina crosses 14 of the most beautiful Alpine Passes in Switzerland.

The passes of the Via Alpina

The Via Alpina crosses 14 of the most beautiful Alpine passes and six cantons of Switzerland, with a great variety of cultures, geology and topography. Broad roads give way to exposed ridge paths. The variety of flora and fauna along the route is among the most diverse in the world.

The Via Alpina goes from Vaduz to Montreux in 20 stages, staying north of the Swiss Alps. Over 390 km, hikers enjoy the many highlights that Switzerland has to offer.

Vertical drops from the Via Alpina trek. A Hike for your Bucket List: The Via Alpina crosses 14 of the most beautiful Alpine Passes in Switzerland.
Vertical drops from the Via Alpina trek. A Hike for your Bucket List: The Via Alpina crosses 14 of the most beautiful Alpine Passes in Switzerland.

While the sections initially pass through relatively flat terrain in St. Gallen, the altitude being climbed increases quite steadily in the Glarnerland. When it comes to that Alpine feeling, the highlight of the route can be found in the Bernese Alps.

Day by day, hikers work their way through majestic mountain landscapes, with each pass crossed opening up a new world. This trail covers a total of 14 passes in six cantons and involves 23’600 m of ascent and 24’800 m of descent.

A Hike for your Bucket List: The Via Alpina crosses 14 of the most beautiful Alpine Passes in Switzerland.
A Hike for your Bucket List: The Via Alpina crosses 14 of the most beautiful Alpine Passes in Switzerland.

The route takes hikers to the secluded Surenen Pass, the famous Grindelwald, the Kleine Scheidegg pass with views of the Eiger, Mönch und Jungfrau mountains, the well-visited Blüemlisalp hut, perhaps one of Switzerland’s most beautiful lakes in Lake Oeschinen, the enchanting Bunderchrinde Pass and the sleepy Rochers de Naye mountains with unique views of Lake Geneva, to name but a few highlights.

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Our family hike in Pila during the past summer holiday

On the way to Lago Chamolé with the family. Our family hike in Pila during the past summer holiday.

Our family hike in Pila during the past summer holiday

Last season we’ve had a holiday in the mountains, staying in Courmayeur. We tend to go to the Aosta Valley every winter, and we’ve passed by Aosta coming back from Lake Como a couple of times, but we never went up the mountain up from Aosta. My kids are very keen of Pila, as it is the very first resort where my youngest learnt how to ski, and the first European resort where my oldest skied. Pila is just on top of the city of Aosta, the capital of the Aosta Valley, in the border of Italy with France to the West and Switzerland to the North.

On top of the gondola from Aosta parking lot to the base area of Pila. Our family hike in Pila during the past summer holiday.
On top of the gondola from Aosta parking lot to the base area of Pila. Our family hike in Pila during the past summer holiday.

This week we have chosen to stay in Courmayeur was a bit unsettled, you had nice weather in the morning and torrential rain in the afternoon, so we needed to choose the gap when to go up in order not to get soaked!

We went in the morning, Pila is 30’ through the motorway from Courmayeur, and 40-45’ if coming through the scenic national route. We went through the nice route and left the car in the parking lot of Pila by the train station in Aosta.

On top of the Chamolé chairlift. Our family hike in Pila during the past summer holiday.
On top of the Chamolé chairlift. Our family hike in Pila during the past summer holiday.

My kids were really excited, and so were my husband and myself, to get into the 18’ Leitner gondola ride up the mountain. It is weird to see all the mountain without snow, and weirder to see the landing of the gondola full of grass and nicely piquet fencing to direct the ‘pietons’ up or down the mountain.

We’ve started by going down to the start of the Chamolé chairlift. Walking down it seemed much shorter than going on skis – which I find weird, but I guess that not having to pass by all those ‘Interskiers’- (as we call the kids that come with Interski to Pila in the winter) who barricade the exit of the gondola, makes it a smoother walk down.

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The Southern French Alps are the Best Part of the French Alps for Summer Activities

Canyoning in the Alps - Photo: Undiscovered Mountains. The Southern French Alps are the Best Part of the French Alps for Summer Activities.

The Southern French Alps are the Best Part of the French Alps for Summer Activities.

As summer arrives in the Alps, the snow melts away revealing a spectacularly lush and colourful landscape with green pastures carpeted with alpine flowers teaming with butterflies, set against a backdrop of gnarly cliffs and glaciers with raging rivers and waterfalls cascading down to the valleys.

For outdoor lovers, the mountains also transform into a veritable adventure playground with everything from paragliding to rafting on offer!

Road Cycling in the Alps. Photo: Undiscovered Alps. The Southern French Alps are the Best Part of the French Alps for Summer Activities.
Road Cycling in the Alps. Photo: Undiscovered Alps. The Southern French Alps are the Best Part of the French Alps for Summer Activities.

Adrenalin junkies will love sliding down the natural toboggans, abseiling down waterfalls and jumping into clear alpine pools canyoning ,  testing out their head for heights on a via ferrata or even going underground caving or to do a via souterrata (underground via ferrata).

Nature lovers will adore walking in the mountains and staying in one of the many high mountain refuges amongst the chamois and marmots with the howls of wolves now a relatively common experience, especially in the Southern French Alps.

Families will have fun rafting together on the roller coaster rapids, rock climbing and swimming in the beautiful Alpine lakes.

Canyoning in the French Alps. Photo: Undiscovered Mountains. The Southern French Alps are the Best Part of the French Alps for Summer Activities.
Canyoning in the French Alps. Photo: Undiscovered Mountains. The Southern French Alps are the Best Part of the French Alps for Summer Activities.

Bikers will appreciate the summer lift access to well designed single track descents and roadies will get high on endorphins from summiting a Tour de France mountain pass!

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Vail Resorts Announces Pending Sale of Park City Mountain Base Area Site for Mixed-Use Project Development

Park City Town. Vail Resorts Announces Pending Sale of Park City Mountain Base Area Site for Mixed-Use Project Development.

Vail Resorts Announces Pending Sale of Park City Mountain Base Area Site for Mixed-Use Project Development

Vail Resorts today announced that it has entered into an agreement with PEG Companies, a Utah-based commercial real estate development and investment group, to sell and develop parcels of land currently used as surface parking lots at the base of Park City Mountain.

Park City skiing - photo: Scott Markewitz. Vail Resorts. Park City Town. Vail Resorts Announces Pending Sale of Park City Mountain Base Area Site for Mixed-Use Project Development.
Park City skiing – photo: Scott Markewitz. Vail Resorts. Park City Town. Vail Resorts Announces Pending Sale of Park City Mountain Base Area Site for Mixed-Use Project Development.

Subject to community input and an approval process by Park City Municipal Corp., the 10-acre site will feature a mixed-use project, including a full-service hotel and spa, residential units, commercial space for dining and retail, skier services, parking garages and community priorities such as improved access to public parking, traffic and transit improvements and on-site workforce housing.

“We are very excited to have found a development team that will work closely with the City and the community to carry out a vision for a vibrant base area,” said Bill Rock, senior vice president and chief operating officer of Park City Mountain. “We look forward to a collaborative partnership that will provide both our guests and Park City residents with an elevated experience at the base of Park City Mountain.”

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Work is underway to open the Petit St Bernard Pass – up to 7 meters of snow.

Work is underway to open the Petit St Bernard Pass – up to 7 meters of snow. Ski Map of La Rosière and La Thuile.

Work is underway to open the Petit St Bernard Pass – up to 7 meters of snow.

From AostaSera.it

LA THUILE – The abundant snowfall on the Piccolo San Bernardo hill, at 2,200 meters above sea level, has led to the formation of a thick layer of snow along the highway that leads to the border crossing with the territory of Savoy, in France. In some sections the snow accumulations reach 7 meters in height. The reopening of the pass is scheduled for the end of May.

Work is underway to open the Petit St Bernard Pass – up to 7 meters of snow. Photo: AostaSera
Work is underway to open the Petit St Bernard Pass – up to 7 meters of snow. Photo: AostaSera

ANAS is at work at the Colle del piccolo San Bernardo (Petit St Bernard’s pass) for its reopening. The abundant rainfall on the Piccolo San Bernardo hill, at 2,200 meters, has led to the formation of a thick layer of snow along the highway that leads to the border crossing with the territory of Savoy, in France. In some sections the accumulations reach 7 meters in height.

“The activities are carried out with turbine blades able to cut the compact front, collecting and channelling the snow which is then ejected at a distance of several meters from the roadway using the ejector pipes”.

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Saalbach to Host 21st World Games of Mountain Biking

World Games of Mountain Biking Marathon in Saalbach - Saalbach to Host 21st World Games of Mountain Biking.

Saalbach to Host 21st World Games of Mountain Biking

Saalbach’s World Games of Mountain Biking will be held on 05th – 08th September 2019.

New for this event: The Cross-Country category celebrates its comeback!

Over 1,000 athletes from over 20 nations will battle it out for the title of the World Games Champion between 05th and 08th September at Saalbach. Five marathon distances between 21 km and 80 km demand every effort from the athletes while pushing them to their limits.

World Games of Mountain Biking Marathon in Saalbach - Saalbach to Host 21st World Games of Mountain Biking.
World Games of Mountain Biking Marathon in Saalbach – Saalbach to Host 21st World Games of Mountain Biking.

A choice of five distances is offered again this year at the World Games of Mountain Biking. Marathon newcomers can try out the Marathon 21 with 891 metres altitude difference, while experienced marathon riders can pedal between 1,160 and 2,920 metres of altitude difference on distances 31, 42 and 58 over the grass mountains of Saalbach Hinterglemm. If you have underestimated your energy levels and would spontaneously like to attempt a longer distance, you have the option to do this at each junction during the race.

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Record May snowfall in some parts of Switzerland

Photo: Adrian. Unsplash. Record May snowfall in some parts of Switzerland

Record May snowfall in some parts of Switzerland.

From Swissinfo.ch

Areas of Switzerland saw record snowfall for the month of May overnight from Saturday into Sunday. Most snow fell in the central and eastern alpine regions, but the most dramatic records were observed in lower-lying Bern and St Gallen.

The Swiss capital of Bern woke up to four centimetres of fresh snow on Sunday morning. The previous record for the month was one centimetre in 1945.

The eastern city of St Gallen saw 19 centimetres of snow, up from the 12 centimetres recorded on May 7, 1957, according to the Swiss meteorological service MeteoSwiss.

Record May snowfall in some parts of Switzerland
Record May snowfall in some parts of Switzerland

People have been advised not to take walks in wooded areas, especially in deciduous regions, as wet snow caught in trees could cause branches to fall off.

Weather forecasters have warned of further problems likely to be caused by the unseasonal cold snap next early week. MeteoSwiss forecasts sharp groundfrost in the lowlands on Monday and Tuesday.

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Ischgl rocked with Lenny Kravitz for their season finale.

Lenny Kravitz closes the ski season at Ischgl. Photo: TVB Paznaun Ischgl. Ischgl rocked with Lenny Kravitz for their season finale.

Ischgl rocked with Lenny Kravitz for their season finale.

With the ’Top of the Mountain Closing Concert’ in Ischgl, Lenny Kravitz concluded a snowy skiing season at 2,320 m above sea level on 30 April 2019. 18,000 winter sports fans got to see the superstar with his band before a spectacular mountain backdrop in the ski area and an unforgettable air-show.

Optimal piste conditions, an aerial stunt show of the highest order and an animated Lenny Kravitz – at the Ischgl season finale on 30 April, nothing was left to be desired for the 18,000 attending fans and winter sports enthusiasts.

Silvretta bahn. Photo: TVB Paznaun-Ischgl. Ischgl rocked with Lenny Kravitz for their season finale.
Silvretta bahn. Photo: TVB Paznaun-Ischgl. Ischgl rocked with Lenny Kravitz for their season finale.

At 13:00, a beaming Lenny Kravitz took to the stage and immediately set an exuberant mood at 2,320 m altitude at the ’Top of the Mountain Closing Concert’ on the legendary Idalp-stage with his strong voice power and a sensational, two hours open-air performance.

The hits performed by Lenny Kravitz and his seven-member band included classics such as ’Are You Gonna Go My Way’, ’It Ain’t Over Til It’s Over’ and ’Fly Away’. But the superstar also played tracks from his latest and eleventh album ’Raise Vibration’.

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