GIN skiers to PdS, February 9, 2023

The sense of danger must not disappear:
The way is certainly both short and steep,
However gradual it looks from here;
Look if you like, but you will have to leap.

Armed with these inspiring words from WH Auden, six intrepid GIN downhill skiers came together in Champéry on 9 February to attack the domaine of the Portes de Soleil.

Part-time Champérolain Nicolas and Mervyn were on hand to greet Steven as he motored up from his Morgins hideout; Peter, Mark TT and David braved the autoroute to join the expedition.

The team promptly proceeded to the Mosette lift in order to test their skills (?) on the more rigourous French Alps: zipping down Abricotine and then taking the chair to a snow packed road above Avoriaz. At this point there was some dissension in the ranks with Steven propounding a change in programme to ski in the ever white Dranse/Chatel domaine. The rebel faction won out and we were soon to find ourselves regrouping before the handsome chapel on the Plaine de Dranse (no GIN members were recorded going into the chapel to confess their sin and error, although several candidates came to mind).

This lead to a rather extensive morning ski exploration of the Chatel ski area, largely led by local boy Steve, who proved very knowledgeable as to all lifts and connections (including at least one that was entirely new to your humble scribe.). The team was consequently quite ready to sit for lunch by the 13h00 reservation.

Déjeuner à six was held at the Refuge de l’Abricotine, an establishment well known to Nicolas; alas the plat du jour of a brochette de viande was a bit tough and Steven was a bit disappointed in his croute de fromage. Nevertheless a convivial time was had by all, possibly aided by a pitcher of Côtes du Rhône and the suds that preceded it.

The afternoon was a bit less dynamic as the team took on one more French slope and then the long télesiège back to CH, where we proceed down to Crozet by the serene if unchallenging secret route. A prudent group headed directly back to Champéry by the benne—Steve and Mervyn were made of sterner stuff and skied down to Grand Paradis.

It had been prior announced that those who distinguished (or at least did not totally embarrass) themselves on the slopes would be invited for a libation at Nicolas’ Champéry chalet, with eligibility to be determined by secret council. As it happened the determination was made by a sole distinguished jurist and all participants made the cut. Surprisingly for a GIN Group most were quite abstemious, preferring tea to other beverages (with Steve opting for an Irish coffee). Indeed the group was happy but restrained, possibly recovering from their earlier exertions, or perhaps already gaining strength for their next sortie.