Why I Ski in All Weather

Some people like to ski when the snow is fresh, it isn't too cold or windy, and the sun is out. I like to ski then, too, but also when it is cloudy, foggy, windy, and snowy. I love the magic of the constantly changing conditions, but I have to admit that a little of the reason this time was that the mountain was much bigger than our accommodations.

Don't get me wrong: Alexandra did a great job finding a place to stay with a fantastic location. I did not drive an inch from the time we arrived to the time we departed, and everyone could come and go when they wanted without my having to get off the mountain. However, it was a stretch for the hotel to describe these as "apartments".

Here is James in the kitchen, which doubles as the hallway if you close the doors that hide the stove, refrigerator (under the counter), sink, and cabinets. That hallway is maybe a meter wide, so you can imagine that it is a little hard to pass anyone using the kitchen.




Just beyond James is the dining area. It is just big enough for the four folding chairs as long as you don't need to get into the cabinets along the side...




...or pass between the table and the couch to the right. There was a gap of about 18 inches between the corner of the table and that couch.







Those two couches were the two twin beds. Alexandra and I shared the luxury of the queen-sized bed in the separate bedroom just to the right as you enter the apartment.




Yes, that is the whole bedroom. This view lets you see that it wasn't any more spacious at the foot of the bed, at least not when you closed the two sliding doors that cover the opening.




Did I say the bedroom was separate? Maybe I overstated the case. Those loose sliding doors certainly gave no privacy, and the partition wall stopped a foot from the ceiling. Ore House, anyone?

If you are wondering how we fit seven people in this apartment, we didn't. The girls were down the hall in another spacious apartment sized for three.

Oh, one other thing that shows the difference in cultural norms. Despite the tiny size, they squeezed a bidet in the bathroom. They also put granite slab floors and wall panels in the bathroom and kitchen.

Michael