Val Gardena #6

Just to show how much goes on in 1h15m... the wind, the clouds taking over the mountains, their shadow cast by the full moon, the stars "rotating", the planes (middle left), the cars, people switching lights on and off... Val Gardena, view from the hotel.

Val Gardena #5

Pedro Pimentel, the usual suspect :)

Val Gardena #4

We were looking for slopes like this all the time, but they seemed to be few and far between across the immense Dolomiti Superski domain. Pedro Pimentel making the most of one of them.


A family of four riding on a ski lift near Danterpieces.

Val Gardena #3

A panoramic view of Sella Ronda, in the heart of the Dolomites. The highest peak is 3151m high and the small trees on the bottom right are at 2000m (at most). Yep, this image fails to show the grandeur of the scenery :(
This image is the result of stitching 3 shots.


Selva Gardena's cemetery. In the background, that's right, the Dolomites.

Val Gardena #2

This is Pedro Pimentel eating it (ahhh, sweet revenge).
Pedro often said that were we in La Mongie and places like this would be fully traced before 10am. It's a good thing people at Val Gardena take the "off-piste skiing forbidden" signs seriously :-)

Val Gardena #1

(Warning: the burst above requires a few moments of your time, please wait for all images to load (10MB)).
Although these images were actually taken while coming back from Val Gardena, flying over the Italian/French Alps, I thought they would be suitable for this first post. More to come soon.

Megève's Mont d'Arbois

To be honest, I can't really remember whether I took this photo at Mont D'Arbois plateau or not. Either way, I like its gloomy look. This is a typical "sandwicherie" in Megève... as time goes by, all those euros become pretty easier to digest :)

Ski bus to Megève

Waiting for the ski bus to Megève's nearest lift. This photo reminds me of a still famous Instinct ad, which read: "waiting for waves is ok... most people spend their lives waiting for nothing".

Megève's trademark backgrounds

Whether it's Mont Blanc or the dense pine tree forests, you're sure to find one of these backgrounds while strolling/skiing/boarding/etc in Megève's slopes.

Living really large in Megève

Do I need to explain why?

Living large in Megève

... I'd have to work my all life to afford the tiniest chalet you can imagine in the French Alps. These modest chalets are located in Megève's upper side... oh, well, at least some of us make it :)

Chalets

A couple of photos featuring Haute Savoie's architecture and the breathtaking Mont Blanc... I wouldn't mind staying at the chalet above... as I wouldn't mind lunching with Mont Blanc just in front of my table (instead of having to ask some nice waitress to let me take this photo :)).

Oh no!... back to Megève...

The latest webcam images of Megève (as of today) picture a decent amount of snow... I wish I could go back to the Alps right... now!... (sigh...) I took this photo at the end of a great day, where the lowest ski run meets the village (it's a short 2 minute walk to Megève's center).

Megève #...?

A couple of years ago, I asked my father to bring me a snowboard magazine from France and he ended up buying the official Megève's (glossy) magazine. It is still on my favorite books' shelf, in spite of all the publicity inside, since it contains mesmerizing photos. The kind of photos you remember the exact location of inside the magazine, the kind that pulls you in... The next step should be somewhere in the Alps, it ought to be!


These photos go to show Megève's conifers, although I'm sure there must exist many other domains in the Alps with this type of scenery. But, hey, this is just me trying to reproduce what I once saw on a magazine.

Megève III

In Megéve's Mont D'Arbois plateau, you can see Mont Blanc, Mont Joly and much more... Well, basically, some of the finest landscapes you could ask for. But also some human element: just before clouds had cleared and after snowing for more than 24 hours, no one's able to curb a childish enthusiasm :)


On a short break for lunch (kinf of...), I sat under a lonely tree and this was what I saw. If I'd have to guess, I'd say this was a salt desert detail.

Megève II

I remember reading on a french newspaper that Megève is often dubbed as the most charming alpine village in the french Alps, whilst Courchevel is regarded as the most exclusive one. I took this photo on my first day at Megève, feeling a bit dislocated in the overall upscale atmosphere.


Megève might not be as exclusive as Courchevel... however, this is the local bus terminal...

Megève

October's around the corner. The slightest temperature drop makes me daydream about snowy days. I check the charts and realize that it's too early. Around here, the lows are not deep enough, cold fronts are weak... the air just got a bit crispier and that's about it. However, in the Alps and even in the Pyrenees, snow has already fallen. Is it a sign that global warming is reversing? I wish... Last year was one of the warmest of all time, particularly in the Haute Savoie region (northern french alps). Megève had been having the worst winter to date, with a record low of snow base. Luckily, in my second day there and after one morning of pouring rain, the temperature plummeted and good things started to happen :)