Snow, Rain, and Ski

Greg and I went to Villars (in Vaud) for our first skiing experience, which led me to decide that I hadn’t found a vocation as a skier. He loved it so much, however, that we went to Morzine (in the Haute Savoie) a couple of days later, him to ski, me ostensibly to take photos. However, the cold driving rain kept me inside most of the day (although, as you’ll see, I risked my equipment going out on a few occasions), but Greg continued regardless, paying no heed to the wetness of his exterior.

The train that thought it was a tram • The BVB rack-and-pinion railway operates between Bex (Vaud) and Villars, and then connects to a line which runs from Villars up the side of the Col de Bretaye. It runs on the road, through the streets of Bex (pop. 6,000) and then up the hills through the woods to Villars.

Greg and I took it from Bex to Villars, where we hired boots and skis, and then crammed on to the branch-line train going up to Col de Bretaye. The weather was reasonably good, and the train was packed with other skiers.
Train Tram rhjf 20080310 0061
The place that a town forgot • Greg and I got to the Gare des Eaux-Vives to find a building deserted, a ticket machine that didn’t work, graffiti on the walls (including on the sign describing the station as an unmanned customs post), no handle on the door to the platform (it had been ripped off: we had to prise the door open with the tips of our fingers), and an old car seat sitting on the other side of the track.

The station is run by the French national railway, the SNCF.
Chair Friends Graffiti Grass Portrait Posed Railway Station Shed Winter rhjf 20080312 0159 version featured
Heading into the rain • A group of skiers pay no heed to the driving rain which drenched all and sundry when Greg and I were in Morzine.
Mountain People Rain Skiing Snow Winter rhjf 20080312 0167
Empty ski-lifts • The ski-lifts at Morzine were empty for an extended period of the day we were there—I was impressed at how many people there seemed to be in spite of the poor weather. I came to realize that they were determined to make the best of their skiing holidays, which had presumably been arranged months in advance.
Mountain Rain Skilift Skiing Snow Winter rhjf 20080312 0170
Starting young • A group of children in a skiing lesson. The poor weather doesn’t seem to have affected their enjoyment of the thing. What I personally find funny about this photo is that each child seems to be in his own little world! So, we have the girl who is clinging onto her skis for dear life, and the boy (or perhaps girl) who is balancing on one leg. There’s something very ‘Être et Avoir’ about the scene!
Children Mountain People Skiing Snow Winter rhjf 20080312 0176 featured
Staying out of the wind • A pair of snowboarders brace themselves against the strong cold wind as they take the ski-lift back to the summit of Mt Pleney.
Mountain People Skilift Skiing Winter rhjf 20080312 0198
Glowering skies • Eventually the rain stopped, but the cold wind coming from the top of the mountain only got stronger. The sun came out occasionally, but the wind was blowing the clouds at such a great speed that the periods of sunshine could be measured in seconds.
Mountain People Skiing Skis Snow Winter rhjf 20080312 0200 featured
Morzine • The town of Morzine as seen from Mt Pleney.
City Views Mountain Skilift Skiing Snow Trees Winter rhjf 20080312 0214
Going skiing with Daddy • I couldn't help but think that this girl looked impossibly small for going skiing, but her parents obviously thought otherwise.

The snow on the pistes was being topped-up (not to say provided) by ski-generators, which is why you can see grass beyond the ski-run itself.
Children Mountain People Skiing Snow Winter rhjf 20080312 0219
Shuddering halt • Poor Greg suddenly realized that it was I standing at the bottom of the hill taking photos, and lost his nerve. Notice the fact that his left foot is ski-less…

(Yes, yes, people in glass houses, I know…)
Mountain People Skiing Snow Winter rhjf 20080312 0229
Snow monster • Greg comes thundering towards me, seemingly hell-bent on revenge for having taken (and now published) the previous photo.
Mountain People Skiing Snow Winter rhjf 20080312 0235

Powered by SmugMug