Davos Daily Details:

• Timetable - 8:20 to 4:05
• Area(s) - Parsenn Jock & Gipfel
  
• Equipment - Nidecker
• Weather - Warm, heavy snow showers
  
• Visibility - Generally good, mainly bluebird
  
• Snow conditions - Fresh powder
  
• Company - DS, Dave, Michelle, Patrick, Harriet, Julie & John
  
• Fun factor - Outstanding
  

DS's birthday and what a day for it!?  I managed to convince DS to get up in time for the 08:11 bus.  What a result, the first hour on the hill was one of the all time greats; blue sky, fresh powder and no punters.  We made fresh tracks on the Rapid, Ski School, Ferka, Tot Alp and round the lake before heading up the Gip for a memorable ride in the lightest powder I can remember since Park City, Utah.

Having reset the stance on the Nidie back one inch last night, the board floated like a dream.  I was really riding my arse off and making phat turns that are only a dream for most of the year.  We picked off some of the best off piste rides between the Gip and the Schifer mid station.

Snax in the Hutta where Dave, Michelle, Julie and John joined in.  The off piste powder hound posse grew again when Patrick and H showed.  The next hour was insane.  Patrick, H and I rode round the lake then off the left of the 'Hillary Clinton', sick!

Rapid lunch at the Jock Panorama, which was necessary even on a powder day.

Back up the Gipfel for more of the same.  It just didn't let us down all day.  However, as the posse started to split DS, Patrick, H and I took one off the left of the Ski School run in well cooked spring snow which made turns ten times more tricky.  We generally made out.  I had one tumble in the soft but the heavy snow held on to the board which resulted in a strained back - arse!  Still, as DS, P & H down-loaded from the Hoenweg, I returned for a few final runs on my own.  Conditions and light started to fade, along with me.  A full on day and one to remember.

Fondu tonight with Tom, P & H.  Possibly followed by a few brewskis...

From left: Harriet, Patrick, Julie, DS, Michelle, John, MDO (Camerman, Dave)

Davos Daily Details:

• Timetable - 9:20 to 2:45
• Area(s) - Parsenn Jock, Jakobshorn
• Equipment - Nidecker
• Weather - Warm, heavy snow showers
  
• Visibility - Rubbish
• Snow conditions - Fresh powder
  
• Company - DS, Andrew and Jude
  
• Fun factor -Limited

The new built-in headphones and there mute button were a major success.  The Nidie was the right choice of board.  Conditions were set to be superb.  Unfortunately, the light was so bad (riding in fog) that it made every run an extra special challenge.

The mountain was slow to open.  We made the best of the conditions around the Jock.  However, the snow was very wet, which made it extremely heavy.  Off piste powder turns were a major challenge.

We left Parsenn with a charge down the village run on some of the stickiest snow I've ridden.  It's like trying to ride with the hand brake on!

I transferred to Jakobshhorn on my own.  The light was better, but conditions were sketchy.  The piste was very choppy and the lifts were closing early.  I had one decent run in the off piste down towards the Clavadeler then bailed out.

Quiet night in is the bid.

Davos Daily Details:

• Timetable - 9:20 to 4:15
• Area(s) - Parsenn Jock, Gipfel & Schiffe
• Equipment - Palmer  (serviced)
• Weather - Mild, sunny spells, occasional light snow
  
• Visibility - Generally good
  
• Snow conditions - Fresh powder
  
• Company - Patrick & Harriet
  
• Fun factor - Top
  

Collected the Palmer from Ettinger, who had produced another of their top services.

Started on my own riding the off piste powder on the 'Hilary Clinton' run in superb conditions.  I was making fresh tracks all over Parsenn when Patrick and H joined me later morning.

We charged round the lake, behind the boarder-X, then all over the place on the way down to Schiffe.  Made some fantastic turns in some of the best conditions I can remember.

Lightning lunch at the Alto Schwendi, then we rode from the top of the Gipfel back to Schiffe taking in as much off piste as possible.

As the day drew to a close the light faded, the snow restarted and we took a big one down to the village at warp speed.

Top day out.  I celebrated with a purchase of the bespoke headphones that fit my new Skycap.

Supper plans with Patrick and H.  It's still snowing.  Time to get the powder gun out of the cellar.  Stay tuned...

FOOTNOTE: supper at Pauliner was super.  We then transferred to the Egg, where I played piano in exchange for booze!  This is becoming a good little gig!

Davos Daily Details:

• Timetable - 8:50 to 3:20
• Area(s) - Parsenn Jock & Grubenalp, Klosters, Wolfgang, Jakobshorn
• Equipment - Palmer
• Weather - Extreme wind
  
• Visibility - generally good
• Snow conditions - Fair
• Company - Patrick
• Fun factor - Pants

Decided to explore more of the Grubenalp area.  Unlucky for me, the wind was so strong it made riding difficult, and not much fun.  New skycap was comfortable though.

Met Patrick on the Hill with ten punters (he was guiding).  I tagged along.  In an attempt to find a sheltered area we cut through the rope just as the Schifer bubble closed because of the weather.  This put us on the slushy route to Klosters as the only way down that didn't involve a walk!

Remounted on the Gotchna and made our way via the Grubenalp to the Parsenn Hutte.  Lucked-out again, the chair to the Jock was closed and the queue for the cable car was massive.  Patrick left most of his punters at the Hutte and we headed down to Wolfgang - my first trip, not bad, best bit of the day.

In a desperate attempt to make something more out of the day we transferred to Jakobshorn, which was every bit as horrid.  I lunched at the Jatz then took just one ride to Bolgun.

Not much of a day, despite all the effort.  Dropped the Palmer off at Etinger's for a service.  Quiet evening of recovery ahead.

FOOTNOTE: made a late appearance at the Egg and was invited to play piano in exchange for wine - we've all made easier decisions than that!

Davos Daily Details:

• Timetable - 8:50 to 4:20
• Area(s) - Parsenn Jock & Hutte,  Jakobshorn
• Equipment - Palmer
• Weather - Sunny spells, mild
• Visibility - generally good
• Snow conditions - Good
• Company - none
• Fun factor - Maxed out

Started the day early.  Greatful for many hours sleep.  Started on the Jock, running the boarder-X before sessioning the runs above the Hutte.  Conditions were great.  The off-piste was heavily tracked, but not cooked, so there was plenty left for me.  Unlike me to sneak off-piste on my own, but this was too tempting, a gentle roll off one slope into a steep shute with a exit through a gully between runs.  I couldn't get enough of it.

Schnitzel brot at the Tot Alp then charged down the village run, which was empty and in the best condition I've experienced so far.

Transfered to Jakobshorn.  Got straight on with the kicker and the halfpipe.  Only took a couple of runs to recapture the form I'd reached last trip.  I was flying, particularly toeside.  I was having such a good time I even paused to run a few loops through the Bolgun pipe - bit slushy but no complaints.  Snow fun in the sun.  Awesome!

Man and snow-machine were in total harmony.  I had the best day.  Celebrated with the purchase of a new skycap in acid yellow!! (DoD: that's a R.E.D. Hi-Fi crash hat.)

Board off, brewskis on.  Pizza with the posse tonight...

Footnote: I got to play piano in the Egg bar.

Davos Daily Details:

• Timetable - 9:15 to 4:00
• Area(s) - Parsenn Jock, Bunda
• Equipment - Palmer
• Weather - Cold, low cloud, light snow
• Visability - Poor, flat light
• Snow conditions - Fair
• Company - DS (couple of runs) 
• Fun factor - Limited

Started the day on Parsenn.  Very poor viz, which meant everything was more effort.  Stayed on the slopes from the Jock, to tricky to try anything more adventourous. The hill was also puntered to hell.  Busiest I've seen it this year.  Still, I'm riding, so this is only a limited complaint.  One edgy run down the village run!

DS joined me at midday - not impressed with the white-out.  We lunched; saved by the schnitzel brot.

We bailed out around 2:00, but I decided to head over to the Bunda, which being low and tree lined was good viz and fair conditions, including limited punters.  Made a number of better runs, mainly switch with sundry 180s and nose-presses.  I then noticed a home-made kicker, which could be reached from the lift!  Good run in, decent run out (so nothing like a George & Michael kicker).  Hit that a few times, which was an unexpected bonus.

Bailed at 4:00, shattered.  Quiet night in...

 

Journey worked.  My kit arrived in the same place as me, at the same time.  Odd how this is the minimum expectation and yet somehow I feel lucky!

All local admin taken care of.  Supper and brewskis with DS, Partick and H in prospect.  Conditions look spot on.  And there's a world cup big air comp this evening for entertainment: perfect.

Footnote: the big air was sick!  The skiers were throwing ridiculous tricks (triple back flip with quadruple twist - mental).  Very entertaining, including the Russian who somewhat exploded on landing (Pistures scooped him up and he seemed to be up and about later).

We're on for next month.  Flights in the bag.  The excitement mounts.  Planning to have Tom give me a lesson in the half-pipe.  Only question at this time is whether it will snow!?

Stay tuned...