Sunny one so true...

It was reported to your host that there have only been 21 days of sunshine this season. This seems like a dubious number, but as the lift operator was sure of this as he was of his Seasonal Affected Disorder we shall let the number slide without too much scrutiny. The weather is the major determining factors in planning a day's activity.

And when it isn't good...

From the average week two days stand out as solidly good days. Wednesdays and Saturdays. Truly the mountain gods must smile benevolently upon us as the blue skies appear from even the murkiest Tuesdays. This host takes the regular Wednesday appearance of the sun as a sign that we, and not reps, are the lucky ones. Reps taking their day off on Thursday, a far inferior day all round. Perhaps this is typical of seasons in general, more likely the continued run of good weather Wednesdays is a quirk of 2012/13. Either way, our days off have been good for skiing hard and skiing long.

Typical Wednesday sunshine

For your host Saturday is the deep breath before the plunge that is transfer day. For many though, Saturday is transfer day, this fact combined with, the now standard good weather, combine to make some of the best conditions. Empty pistes and empty skies.

Spring brings new conditions and new challenges, and a renewed impetus to get out when the weather allows. Despite the milder temperatures the snow still falls and so it becomes a race to ski the fresh stuff before the heat melts it into crud. In these conditions, fresh snow can last for less than a day, as the warmth melts the top layer. Skiing becomes slower as the snow becomes heavier and stickier. Once night descends, the heavy half melted snow refreezes and all that is left is a crusty, compacted half ice half snow chimera. Which from a distance can like a fresh layer of powder but rides like, well its just crap.

That used to be all white. No, not like that.

And for all this, the season draws to an end, only one more evening left as a host to guests. There is a strange anticipation to the complete breakdown of a now normal routine. To not have to greet new guests or make new beds or even cook the same food again is somehow a massive relief. To look forward to the destruction of the ingrained structure of the week is in a way an odd thing. This structure has made the work manageable to the point of monotony, it keeps most on the straight and narrow, creating patterns and habits where chaos and entropy could so easily creep in. Your host is not sure whether we will be breaking the shackles or losing the path. Though either way, a lie in would be welcome.