1 post tagged “verbier”

What's the most extreme weather you've been in? A memorable storm? Heat wave? Or something else?

Verbier, the Alps.  January 1984.  There is a freak cold spell throughout Europe.  It snowed in Greece.  Old people are dying.

I'm on winter break - first year at the International School.  The great thing about schools you pay for is that they give your more vacation.  The Swiss public school kids have gone home.  I'm not one of them anymore.  I'm finally part of the cool kids and I'm feeling it.  Cold?  Who cares - a deserted mountain awaits.

So 3 Levinson sisters and 1 Hunt girl go right up to the glacier.  In those days, you can only ski down from the glacier.  There's no riding back down.   The temperature gage reads -35C (-31 Farenheit).  Cool - let's attack this mountain... .... .... ... 

It's so cold I have no idea how I'll make it all the way down.  We stop at every shack, restaurant, refuge along the way.  This is not fun.  I'm sure I cried, if it's possible to cry at those temperatures.  When we finally get back down and to the chalet, my father takes one look at us and sticks snow on our faces.  No, this is not fun at all.

My eldest sister gets a little frost bite on her chin.  It eventually goes brown and scabs.  Just like she took a fall.  (Stop staring, there are no lasting scars).

My nose is just midely frozen.  No turning brown.  But ever since then, when I'm in the cold, the tip of my nose goes completely lilly white.