champery, Switzerland

Val Gardena, ITALY

2010

Champery - First Week

March 6 - 13, 2010

First Week - 12 People in this enormous ski area which boasts 2 countries.  Morzine was a great trek from Champery.  

Chalet Bernard - 12 People went on this trip...

This was a great start to a wonderful experience.  12 of us took the train from Zurich to Champery via Aigle.  Once we got to Aigle, we boarded a local train which stopped in Monthey.  Once in Monthey, we took a 1/2 hour cog train to Champery Village.  We did have a little bit of trouble finding the Chalet but once we found a fine gentlemen who offered to load his van up with our stuff, we finally got settled in.  Chalet Barnard in Champery was wonderful and very large with a 12 beds and 6 bedrooms, a great entertainment room, huge kitchen with all the amenities and dining for all 12 of us.  It had a great Jacuzzi as well but didn't get as hot as we would have liked. 

The sun was out all week and the skiing was packed powder.  The Portes du Soleil is a vast ski area and offered everything we wanted.  The first day was not without drama as Muzi got a little lost in France but made his way back to catch the last lift to Champery.  The skiing was fabulous as the interconnected lift system took us to any new adventures.   We will definitely go back to the Portes du Soleil one day and probably stay in Morzine as it looks like a wonderful ski town.  Morzine is large but would offer many options that anyone would appreciate.  Plus it is in France and the food is great.  Champery offered some nice shops and eating establishments for a small village...

We took a day off (Tuesday) to go to Geneva and the International Car Show - One word - Wow ... Had a great time and before we went to the show, I found the poster shop that I have been wanting to go to for years...

Val Gardena, ITALY - Second Week

March 13=20th, 2010

There were 6 of us who proceded to go to Val Gardena, Italy... I booked a taxi from Zurich to Val Gardena both ways for the six of us and it was much more convenient than trying to go by train and bus.  The cost for the taxi was about $150. per person each way but it was worth it.   We (JS, Tracy, BC, Pablo, Kevin and Muzi) arrived in Val Gardena at about 5 pm and the apartment was wonderful... Muzi had a hotel room as he booked late with me but I found him a spot next to our apartment and slopeside.  Wolkenstein in Val Gardena was wonderful as it is the central spot for the most vast ski area we have ever experienced.  Even more vast than Portes du Soleil in Switzerland.  The weather again was good and mostly sunny for the week.  We ate good Italian food and the apres skiing was good too.  The best spot I found was on the mountain and usually had apre entertainment.  There were many options in Wolkenstein for eating, entertainment, fun and shops.   

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