Verbier Roadtrip

As the snow continues to fall in resort Kate and I pack the car and drive across France to the Swiss ski mecca that is Verbier. The Physioval phone has been left with Pilly and Becs. We make good time but decide to drive over 2 mountain passes rather than via Geneva on the peage. The Jeep comes into its own as we cross the Col des Montets and then Forclaz. Deep snow on the roads and no other cars around. At 3pm it is as dark as night in the dangerous conditions and Kate comments on "The Shining" like silence. Turn the ipod up...Guns n Roses......and keep concentrating!! It is forever before we are waving passports at the moustachioed Swiss Border Guard and descend through the old vineyards into Martigny.

The Shining silence over Col des Montets Lucy Black kindly lets us use her apartment. She is  resort manager for a posh chalet group. We dine with Bert Louveaux at Rouge, a very grown up restaurant at the bottom of Rouge piste and after escorting him back to his hotel to check up on T a very tired couple crash out in the most 1970's decor I have seen. Austin Powers would say "well hello...."

Update on Tuesday, December 22, 2009 at 11:35AM by Mark Bender

I wake early, Lucy has left the croissants and bread at the door. Rapidly I am out the door, buy a daypass and meet Bert Louveaux,his son T ,Nigel from Barcelona and his son Daniel. I miss Big Boy Bert Bender deeply today. We ski lovely snow and it's great catching up with Mr Louveaux, who has news of the world and a guides knowledge of the tree runs on the lower parts of the resort. At night we dine with Lucy Black, Mark and Sarah in a cosy mountain restaurant before sledging home. Thrills and spills. Head on with a pistebasher!!