The Monte Rosa ski area is an area of steep-sided, wooded valleys strewn with boulders large and small. Because of this the ski area, whilst huge, is medium sized in terms of the number of runs - although some of them are very long with drops up to 5,000 feet. The valleys are branch valleys off the huge Aosta Valley which stretches for many miles below the Swiss border. We also had one day at Pila - a big snow bowl high above the Aosta valley. North facing, this bowl had good snow and was less steep than the Monte Rosa area. With fewer rocks it was an "off piste" paradise. We arrived in Gressoney in sunshine, we had a foot of snow on the first night and the following day and then enjoyed 5 days of unbroken sunshine although high winds (to 70 mph) prevented us using the higher lifts on one day. Our hotel, the Jolanda Sport, was the one we stayed in 11 years ago. It is now three times as big but the decor is superb, the food great and the ambiance is Italy at its best and best of all the ski lift is 20 yards from the back door! The landlady claimed to remember us from 11 years ago. She has many cups for skiing and her son has followed in her footsteps but he favours snowboarding - much to her dismay! A great holiday with great company. Many of us have skied together for over 20 years.

said fornside01 2008.02.11 at 12:54:48 PST