The Black Horse Ski Club

For the first time in many a year, I am going on a BHSC trip without the discomfort of crashing out overnight in a noisy and extremely unwelcoming airport lounge. This is all thanks to my Mother's 85th birthday party and an extremely accommodating offer from my cousin Christine of b&b at Epping on Saturday night, with a lift to Heathrow in the morning.

Sunday 29th

An impressive total of 23 Black Horse skiers had gathered at the new Terminal 5 on Sunday morning. There were a few female hearts fluttering whilst we were queuing to go through security, as we were pushed aside to allow Rod Stewart to be fast-tracked. New members, Steve & Demelza Todd flew out on the early flight, whilst the remainder of us were on the 10.50. Well it was supposed to be 10.50! Any number of excuses and a lot of phaffing about later would lead to a 2 hour delay. There was worse to come. Upon our arrival at Geneva Airport, we learnt that Liz's suitcase had been left at Heathrow with the promise that they would be on the next flight. John & Tracy stayed with Liz to try to solve the problem of no luggage, while the rest of us caught the train to Zermatt. John and his small party followed half an hour later on the inter city express.

As usual, there was a warm welcome from Pasquale and Suzannah at the Hotel Derby. After a quick check-in it was up to the room to dump my bag and skis. A shower and change in record time, and I'm heading down to the bar for a well deserved beer. Forget the poor the exchange rate is, there is always a generous allowance for beer in the budget. A splendid 5 course dinner arrives not a minute too late. By the time dinner was finished it was quite late, and I like most were really tired and headed upstairs to bed. El Presidente and a few others ventured out to have a beer or two in the Hotel Post bar, and as I understand, returned home about midnight.

Monday 30th

A very special day for El Presidente as it is his last day in the employment of Lloyds TSB, and where better to spend it. The second piece of good news for the day is that with the help of a new found friend, we have been able to purchase lift tickets with a very generous group discount. In fact we have all saved over 100 francs. The not so good news is that it is blowing a blizzard outside and added to the heavy overnight snow there is only one run open at Gornergrat. It always takes time to get the passes, skis, & boots sorted on the first day.

The hardcore 'A' team, of which I am privileged to be a member, head for the Gornegrat railway and the only open piste. It is still snowing and only just possible to see your hand in front of your face, so it is not a shock to see a number of falls. Mike C confesses to being the first to crash just 30 seconds into his first run of the day. Stephanie and Tim C soon follow suit, ending up in a somewhat ungainly fashion in deep powder. After 3 runs it is time for lunch and a chance to escape the weather. Meanwhile, the 'B' team having spent most of the morning in the sports shop, new boots for Leslie B, have skied at least 50 metres from the train to the restaurant to join us for lunch.

The afternoon provides even less comfort than the morning; the weather is still crappy, the piste is churning up, and I lose my sunglasses whilst on the chair lift. There are a number of falls, and yes that includes me, but the star of the show is Leslie W with an acrobatic face plant. Steve T from the 'B' team also confessed to a crash into the powder.

Tuesday 1st

Following a hearty breakfast we are hit by the bad news that there are no lifts running. It is still snowing, but the visibility appears to be slightly better than yesterday. However, the 'A' team gather up skis and boots to wander up the road towards the funicular railway at Sunnegga. No skiing yet, but we can take the train, leaving our skis behind, and head to the restaurant for a warming hot chocolate. We can all hear the explosions as the pisteurs are obviously trying to eliminate potential avalanche dangers. By 10.30 the pistes are being opened, so it is a quick up and down on the train to collect the skis. By this time, Trockener Stegg is also opening up, and this is where the 'B' team head for after another visit to the ski shop. As the weather gradually improves, so the tempo in the 'A' team increases and it's great fun bombing up & down from Blauherd to Findeln. There are a few crashes, but only in the powder and thankfully no injuries. For Dave W crashing in powder was to become a regular event over the next few days. Peter D even demonstrated his prowess at telemark skiing after receiving a fair bit of flak on Monday for not telemarking. The 'B' Team also reported a good, albeit, a short day on the glacier and at Gornergrat. The highlight of the day, which sadly most of us missed, was Alison displaying her acrobatic skills in one of the cable cars.

Wednesday 2nd

Hurrah, the skies are blue, the sun is shining and for the 'A' Team an early visit to the observation platform at the top of the Klein Matterhorn. You could not get a better day for a photo shoot. Cervinia is calling, and it is time to hit the long cruising runs. All is well with the world and El Presidente has got his video camera out as we swoop downhill. Halfway down we take a left turn down a pathway which should take us all the way down to the bottom of Cervinia. Bad move, as this narrow path winds down for nearly 2kms, very tedious and very very tiring. El Presidente is obviously feeling the strain as he crashes on the path, but unfortunately, for the rest of us, just out of camera range. Back up at the top, we meet up with Hon Sec and his team for a pit stop and a warming drink. It is now obvious that there is only one run open on the Cervinia side and plans are made to ski the afternoon back on the glacier. It goes without saying that Dave W has dipped his toe in the off piste powder and has crashed again.

Thursday 3rd

Once again the sun is shining as we get up for breakfast, and I am really hoping that the Cervinia side is fully open. With high hopes the 'A' team once again rode the cable cars up Klein Matterhorn and over to the Italian side, but it took little time to realise that the same single run down to Cime Bianche is the only open piste. The team decision is to head over to Gornergrat and for some speed skiing, as we would now be able to see the slope that we skied on in Monday's atrocious weather. There may be only one decent run at Gornergrat, but with good conditions and not many people around, it is great for hitting the accelerator pedal and bombing downhill full pelt. Sure gets the heart beating fast. By the afternoon we met up with the other groups (now 'B' and 'E' teams) who have spent the morning around Sunnegga and have crossed over to Gornergrat via Gant. If I said that Mike H had overtaken Liz on skis, then it probably would not create any ripples, except on this occasion both were on their backs with skis waving in the air. Would have made such a lovely photo!

The venues for the after dinner drinks tend to be one of two bars. For the younger set there is the Retard Bar in the old town which is a little bit cheaper, but smokier and a landlord with a charm rating of zero, or for the more genteel set there is the warm and welcoming ambiance, but more expensive, of the Hotel Alex. Yours truly decides to cover both venues, only to find that there is a very noisy party of media/publishing people in the Alex destroying well known classics on guitar & harmonica. It's time to head back to the Derby for coffee & brandy!

Friday 4th

Following the forecast overnight snow, the conditions are akin to that of Monday and initially do not look pleasant. Mary and Tim W decide not to ski the last day, while the 'B' & 'E' teams head back to the Derby soon after lunchtime. The 'A' team intend to ski for the whole day and ascend the mountain on the Sunnegga Funicular. Fortune favours the brave, and after a cloudy/misty run down from Blauherd, we take the gondola and then cable car right to the top of Rothorn where we are now above the dodgy weather. As well as some great skiing, there is also time for more celebrity watching, as we are joined in the Rothorn cable car by Eddie Jordan, of motor racing fame. After lunch, we ski down to the Gant cable car so that we can take the icy path down and across to Gornergrat and a final blast to finish of the week in good style.

Back at the Derby, just time for a quick packing session and down to the bar for a well earned beer and dinner. I plump for the Alex for my final beer of the week and luckily those noisy media types have yet to show. A final coffee and brandy back at the Derby is the best way to finish this excellent week.

Saturday 5th

By the time I get down for breakfast Iain & Leslie B have all ready departed on an earlier train as they have an earlier flight to catch. With the final packing sorted, I am left with about an hour for a wander around town for that final shopping opportunity (or not) and to take a final few photographs. The 10.39 train arrives well on time and gives us plenty of time to get all the luggage safely stowed ready for the long journey. At Geneva, we say goodbye to El Presidente as he is now heading to Val D'Isere for a ski instructing course. It is only a short hop from Geneva to Heathrow and in no time at all its back home to a wet Heathrow. Fingers crossed that all of our luggage has travelled with us on this occasion. After all the goodbyes and thank yous, we all head off in our own directions for home thinking what a great week it has been and looking forward to the next trip.