An alien concept

Got back to the UK last night after a few days skiing with my son in the Portes du Soleil ski area of the French Alps.

A brief post today while I gather my wits and sort myself out.

Two words sum up the experience: Fantastic. Brutal.

Fantastic because the sun shone each day, there were blue skies, variable cloud and superb views from up high. And the ski terrain was vast and superb.

Brutal because the temperatures were sub sub-zero. On the last day I don’t think I have ever skied in such a cold temperature. Fingers tips were numb, and one’s face became painfully numb skiing down from the high ridges: the consequence of close to -20C to which one added the wind chill of skiing. As the saying goes: ‘No gain without pain’.

But to some the concept of submitting oneself to an outdoor sport in -20C must seem daft or mad if not an alien concept.

The Alien – click to enlarge

Hence the image today of a dramatic and appropriate item of modern art outside Morzine Tourist Office that grabbed my attention.

View the following two posts for more ski images from this area

The Portes du Soleil ski area

The Architecture of Avoriaz