Yesterday was Ashley’s birthday. And if you don’t know Ashley, she’s of American extraction.

So what better possible way to celebrate her birthday than eating loads of barbecued food (thanks to Chef Ratty), and then setting fire to things in the woods?

Fitting. Inspired perhaps.

But as always with fire, the boys got carried away and after Tim and Antoine had searched out every fallen branch and tree within a 200 meter radius and chucked it on, we began to realise two things – they needed professional help to treat their pyromania, and also that fires that burn at the temperature of the sun incinerate your marshmallows.

And on top of that, Gareth also discovered if you get the fore hot enough you can melt beer bottles – you see, we are nothing if not scientific…

But anyway, if you like photos of fire then this is the blog post you’ve been waiting for.

So the La Chaux Express is running – minus the chairs sadly – and I decided it was fine time I went up  to sit around drinking coffee in the sunshine. At Dahu to be precise.

And as usual it was completely stunning up there, and after a chat with Danielle (the lovely lift who normally works on the magic carpet at Les Essertes) it seems that they’re putting the chairs back on the lift next weekend-ish. I only mention that because going up on chair lifts without skis is most disconcerting and therefore more fun. In my book at least.

Anyway, the guys at Dahu also said there’s the inauguration of the restaurant next Saturday from midday. I have absolutely no idea what it will involve, but I have a sneaking suspicion there will be drinks. So I’ll be there on the dot.

 

Last summer Toby found a brilliant new toy on the internet. A remote control helicopter. Well “quadrocopter”. And you control it from your iPhone. Which is a pretty cool way to fly anything really.

So naturally we saw this as a valuable addition to the ski school and got one. Sadly as it’s been a busy winter Toby hasn’t had the time to practice flying it much, so after he and Caroline organised an epic barbecue Tobes decided to show off his skills. They were slightly lacking.

…the more they stay the same. Theoretically the lifts open in seven weeks but it seems absolute madness on a day like today as it’s sunny and hot and frankly amazing.

Meanwhile the Swiss Franc is still dropping against the Pound. Which means that by the time the snow starts to fall and Verbier rumbles into action (new lifts and all) the exchange rate should be decidedly more pleasant. In fact, closer to last year’s rates. So good news all round.

Yes, as anticipated it’s boiling here today. So nipped down to see Kent and check out the new Berglund pad in Le Chable.

And on the way down grabbed a few snaps of the Trois Roc at Medran. From one angle it looks like an impressive development nearing completion. From another angle it still looks like a big hole in the ground…

Er, yes. It’s been snowing again just above Ruinettes. So I went up and had a wander around – it’s rather nice, if chilly. And the higher you go the more snow there is, until you get to Col des Gentianes where there are a good few inches.

But whilst it’s a bit of a weird concept to get snow in the summer, it’s not that odd here. Although not exactly welcome.

Oh, and they’re clearly busy blowing things up on the track from Cabane Mont Fort to LA Chaux, as there are lots of warning signs as well as diagrams of what explosions look like (for walkers with poor imaginations I suppose…).