Ski Report - Europe - Dec. 18, 2010

[Zorro]

"Oh the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful," and since
we'd like to go ski, "let it snow, let it snow, let it snow." Yesss! Snow comin'
down all over out there. I'll bet you that on Tuesday on top of old Feldberg
(up out of Freiburg down the Rhine a bit) there will be new snow with sunshine
to go with it. (all 14 lifts there are operating). And Garmisch has 7 lifts open
and a 20" packed powder base at lower altitude and 75" base at the higher
altitude, awaiting some new snow.

In Austria there are 25 resorts reporting new snow, including my little Schladming
with 4" new snow and 20 lifts operating. Including also Bad Kleinkirchheim
with 25 (of its 25) lifts open. Hey, Kitzbühel has 50 lifts operating, and St. Anton
am Arlberg (which, by the way, has the world's highest gourmet restaurant, the
two star, "Verwallstube" at the top stage of the Grallzigbahn - with a spectacular
view - call 43-5446-235-2501 to book a table) has 74 lifts operating.

In Switzerland there are 18 resorts reporting new snow, including: Chateau
d'Oex, Crans Montana, Verbier, Villars, Wengen and Sass Fee (St. Moritz has
already 52 lifts operating and is awaiting the new snow.)

In France, Chamonix has 6 lifts operating (of its 42) and awaits the new snow.
Val d'Isere does report 2" of new snow (with 18" lower and 43" higher packed
powder base), and 17 (of its 48) lifts operating.

Neither Italy nor Spain have reported any new snow as of yet.

In the Alps, I'd say Megève, with its 171 lifts, is the king of the hill. But right now
anyway Austria is on top with 25 resorts reporting new snow already.

Locally, Jammelshoffen is still closed, no reporting from Lahr yet, and in the
Vosges Gerardmer, with 11 trails open (but no lifts operating) is about it
(Bussang is still closed for example).

For those of you otherwise inclined (that means you Native), the daily high
temperature in Moorea lately has been 82° F.