Ski Weekend in San Bernardino

I was going to do a post about our Christmas break, but it's kind of ridiculous... we're halfway through February. It was an amazing trip, though. We were stateside for a little over two weeks, which is a luxury, and allowed us to spend time in New Orleans, Memphis, and Poplar Bluff (with Ryan's grandparents). The trip was especially nice for Ryan, since it had been a whole year since he'd been home. One year is WAY too long.

Moving on... we got to spend a ski weekend in San Bernardino with our friends Sarah and Tom, and it was AMAZING! The major differences I see in the Swiss resorts, as compared to the ones in the US, are as follows:
- T-bars. I don't like them but Switzerland does.
- Wide (we're talking football field wide) runs, all above the tree line, like nothing I've ever seen in the States.
- No real green runs. They have a bunny slope, and then it's straight to blues (which they say are like our greens, but they're more like blues to me).
- Runs are not as clearly marked. Also, no big, orange "slow" zones... you just have to use common sense.
- No employee assisted line management for lifts - every man for himself.

Ryan surprised us on the train with champagne, complete with plastic glasses, to celebrate the end of my exams (how sweet is that?). It was a perfect start to the weekend.


Here we are on the slopes.



The lift picture... a ski trip staple.


Here are some pictures FROM the lift.














Here's an example of those WIDE runs I was talking about.


The weather was PERFECT. Full sun. Blue skies. And yet the snow was powder - no slush, no ice. You couldn't ask for better conditions. And look at this view! This was at the start of a red run. We were blown away - it was beyond beautiful.


The town was really tiny, but very cute.



















We had a little apres-ski, and then went out for fondue, before we all crawled to our rooms, completely exhausted.















All in all we got in two full days of skiing, and headed back after the slopes closed on Sunday. With only two hours of travel time, this was the perfect weekend vacation. I hope we get to go back!