Wengen in Spring

More pictures from today.

Snow in Spring

We woke up this morning to this!

Skied at the Schilthorn yesterday. The pistes were fabulous, perfectly groomed, just softening snow, delicious. But fog and rain. It was only open to Riggli due to avalanche danger. The advantage....we were  alone. Looking forward to getting up there again this weekend for powder. Although at the moment even Riggli is closed probably because of all the snow.

Schilthorn only!

Skied the Schilthorn this morning.
It hadn't quite frozen over night so the snow was already slightly soft, especially lower down.
The pistes were beautifully groomed.
From the Kannonrohr down it was a smooth, soft carpet, perfect, dreamy, but closed!
And as we turned the first corner, having gone under the barrier, we could see why. At 10.15 there was already avalanche debris on the track.
Keeping a close eye on the snow still to slide, a decent distance between us, and an eye on each other through the danger area, we thoroughly enjoyed the ride to Murren.
An hour later we skied down that way again. It was just as before, debris wise. This time we turned left after the Kannonrohr to follow the Inferno route to Winteregg, which includes a short walk uphill. But meant being able to catch the train and therefore get home quicker.

Kleine Scheidegg Closes

This weekend marked the last of this season for Kleine Scheidegg.
Saturday we woke to fresh snow, about 10cm. We managed to find a few, nice, off piste powder runs to enjoy. The pistes were all beautifully prepared right down to the village. Open, were Lauberhorn, Arven, Eigernordwand, and Wixi. Which gave us quite a range of skiing possibilities.
Unfortunately, I've no photos for you as my camera carrying bag is broken. But the good news is that even four years on it is still under guarantee. Well done 'Lowe pro' and Photo Fritz. The quality of service here in Wengen is brilliant, friendly and helpful.
So now we are skiing at the Schilthorn til the end of the week. It has started to warm up now, so it'll be early starts with early finishes. Spring is here.

Fantastic Easter Skiing

I've just got to tell you how fantastic the skiing still is. Not a brown patch in sight. No cow pat hopping needed to get back to the village, either Wengen or Grund.
Mind you we always seem to have our best snow around Easter, whether it is early or late, and of course this year was very early. Next year is very late. Mark my words for then!
Despite the beautiful, perfect conditions the area is closing down slowly. First is already closed. Bumps and Fallboden also. This weekend is the last for Maennlichen. Then we'll have Kleine Scheidegg til 14th and the Schilthorn area til 21st.
The Jungfrau Region always closes in stages, not necessarily because of lack of snow, although sometimes it is. But more due to the fact that there is no one here. It is only us season pass holders who are using the lifts. Boy do we enjoy ourselves at this time. Empty pistes, beautiful snow all just for us and our friends. Don't you even think of it, we guard this time jealously!

In Search of Warm Feet

This last week has been on the cold side. Minus 17 officially, not counting the wind chill factor. We have a lot of lovely new chair lifts with hoods that really help to keep body and hands at a nice temperature. The feet are left in the cold though.

I've seen neoprene covers on boots. I've tried battery heated soles in the past, worked nicely for one season. Broke in the second season, and despite factory replacements never worked again. Although I know a ski instructor who has been able to transfer her heated soles from old boots to new, without problem. Maybe I should try again.

My last boots had a molded thermal inners. I don't remember painful cold feet with them, or was it just not so cold back then?

Last Thursday my feet were like blocks of ice. Numb, uncontrollable and painful on rewarming. What do we call that pain? The only way I know to reduce it, is to put the offending limb above the heart. Not quite a polite thing to do in the restaurant if it is a foot, and not the done thing for a ski instructor. Or is that an unjust judgement on myself?

So Friday, similar temperatures expected, I tried insertable, one use only, eco-unfriendly toe warmers. These were kindly handed to me by a departing guest in January. She was concerned about my constant cold feet, and had success herself with these warmers. Thank you Jane, you saved the day, the whole weekend actually.

I was sceptical. There was no room in my boots for extra padding. They wouldn't do the job. They'd wrinkle up and annoy me. Wrong. They kept my feet comfortable for the five hours they said they would. That was the five franc model. On Saturday the Coop brand, two franc seventy model only worked for two hours. You get what you pay for.

Now the weather is warming up slightly, we have sunshine and perfect snow conditions. What a wonderful winter it is.

Another webcam!

Thought you'd be interested in another all round webcam.
This one is positioned on top of the Gondelbahn station with views to the Felix ski school and restaurant too.
Enjoy!


http://panocam.skiline.cc/maennlichen