I am not a very advanced skier. I see myself more as an Intermediate skier. I can ski and can get down the usual advanced red slope. In Europe, slopes are categorised into the following:
Green – Beginners
Blue – Beginners/Intermediate
Red – Intermediate/Advanced
Black – Very Advanced/Expert
Off-Piste – Expert (off the slopes skiing/snowboarding)
Nevertheless, I just want to share my latest slope scare. There is one thing for sure though when I ski, and that is I never do a Black slope. Any other colour, I will gladly do it anytime, although I tend to stay away from the Green slopes as well because they can sometimes be tiresome and boring. Green tend to have very little incline to sometimes flat, which can be annoying. I do not really like walking with the skis, I prefer to glide down.
Last Wednesday, Dutchman and I went for the third time to Valmeinier ski area and we went to the top most ski station, the Le Gros Crey and decided to take the red slope to the right called Perce Neige. Lo and behold, I did not realise this slope was the scariest I will ever encounter (well, for now, hehe). Like I said, I do not consider myself an advanced and expert skier, nor even pretend to think I can tackle very intimidating slopes.
Just look at the Perce Niege Red Slope! I mean, this could be a Black Slope???
It is a loooong, very narrow, about 3-metre wide (you can say a tight one-way only 1-car can fit into street) slope. Moreover, it is very steep, with very sharp turns and set on a high cliff range with no side borders. After seeing this picture, I was surpised, well er, more like I could not believe I made it to the bottom in one piece, lol. You can say I was cursing like a mad woman the whole time going down.
When you are up there already, there is really no other way but to go down. I have no time as well to entertain any anxieties. I must muster every ounce of courage and self-confidence to conquer this slope. It is 2,594 metres above sea level at this elevation, so I do not think taking a hike down to the plateau would be easier. Against all odds, I therefore must ski down.
Anyway, Dutchman accidentally shot this picture as we watched a paraskiing instructor and a participant launch the fly from the exact same slope we stood on. This was before we actually skied and snowboard on the said scary red slope. After looking at the pictures at the end of the day, we realised that we have indeed caught the mean red slope in the shoot. Now that is great for my documentation =).
If you are to ask me if I want to do this slope again? Maybe in the near future, but definitely not now! No way!
Travel Period: Janaury 2014
Destination: Valmeinier (Savoie – Rhone-Alpes), France
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Happy Travels! Enjoy Life =)