AtomicSkier

You’ll be happy to know the only questions the CBP officer collecting the receipts asked were about running. Apparently he just signed up for a 50K. What Coronavirus?!

That’s just speculation from @Benm

@toast21602 and I are halfway across the Atlantic as we try to outrun the sunset. It’s been a long day so far and it’s hard to believe that yesterday we were sitting on multiple decks drinking multiple beers getting bronzed up like golden ski gods. We didn’t take the decision to leave lightly. I was in the worst spot, as the other two were already connecting via LHR which was one of the few airports that non-US citizens would be allowed to travel through. There is a real chance of sweeping cancelations for direct flights from other European cities as the only people permitted on those flights would be US citizens returning home. They’d be flying nearly empty planes. While we could have chosen to stay, it would’ve really dampened the mood, it would’ve been on our minds the entire time. It would’ve been hard to have fun wondering what might happen. Gotta know when to cash out 🤷‍♂️

Never let someone else control an outcome you can otherwise control. I’ll choose near certainty over guaranteed uncertainty.

Our phones were blowing up around 2:45am. We’re now at the Geneva airport. Whirlwind couple of hour. Our LHR-EWR flight was half full as of 5am. It is now completely sold out.

For you aviation nerds following along, I’ll check off two firsts on my flight from Geneva to Heathrow. It’s my first time flying Swiss, and my first time on an Airbus A220 (formerly known as the Bombardier C-series). Not even a bronze lining, though.

Sad to leave, especially on these terms, but this place is so beautiful.

This afternoon. We’re all connecting via LHR. The GVA-EWR is too early to make. Trains don’t start running in time.

We're all out of here today via LHR. @toast21602 and I are going to EWR on UA, and @KevinThomas is going to PHL.

Thanks for all the concern everyone. We're working on it.

Wow. What a day. 25cm fell overnight. Some of it was pretty freakin heavy depending on the elevation, but the sun was shining, it was over 0C, and there wasn’t any wind. We skied everything from powder, to wind slap, to insanely sun baked snow. I typed up a long report, but I lost it. You can just enjoy the photos.

I’ll be there Sunday.

We still out here...

Also...today is my 1000th ski day since the start of PASR!

We had an early dinner and some beers...now we’re crushing some stinky ass Brie, some speck, and some rosé.

Another fun day in the mountains here in Verbier. It was snowing much harder than yesterday, but the visibility was also worse. Temps remained pretty warm which was causing some seriously heavy snow down low and mediumish density up high. We skied Bruson today as it has the best forests (trees). After some super smooth groomer pow, we broke trail on a reasonably long traverse out into the forest. Snow was even deeper today compared to yesterday. Two vids that @KevinThomas shot of me deep in the forest.

My Wells Fargo debit card has a picture of me neck deep at Jackson 😂

Luis....He’s from Catalonia, grew up skiing the Pyrenees

This place is unlike anything else I’ve skied.

As for the backpack? Shovel, probe, puffy, water, etc. I have a 22L pack and is perfect for days like today. I also use my pack to carry my skis up boot pack. As for today. Wow. We encountered every conditions and we were everywhere. We met up with our guide at 8:45am. We skied 9am to 3:45pm. We got our guide drunk afterwards and were still in our boots at 6:30pm. We started across the valley in Brunson which has way trees (“forests”). Plenty of deep turns. At about 12:30 we headed up into the alpine in Verbier as the sun was starting to poke out. Our first run was totally socked in so we stopped for a coffee. 15 minutes later it was completely clear so we headed up for some steeps, some pow, and some stuff to jump off of. I don’t think I’ve ever covered as much ground or had as much fun on skis compared to today. Some pictures from today. As soon as Kevin gets off his ass and gets us the GoPro pictures, there will be some awesome shots of @toast21602 and I eating total shit.

Beautiful day in Verbier. Got a quick run in (with a view). Now getting turnt up on wine, meats, and cheeses. Cheese cave is on the agenda for later.

@JFskiDan to answer your travel time question. I left my house at 3:15pm yesterday and I arrive in Verbier in 30 minutes so that’ll put me at 17 hours. I left early for the airport as my dad had a dinner reservation. Probably could’ve been 16 if not for that? Pretty much no real other wasted time. Views on the train to Martigny weren’t bad, either.

Plenty of room up top for my massive ski bag.

After a smooth flight, comfy bedding @mute1080, and an on time arrival, I really appreciate Swiss efficiency. Touchdown to passport control to baggage claim to moving on the train in 30 minutes. I’m enroute to the boys as we speak. I should be there between 1:30 and 2pm. Remember boys and girls we’re only 5 hours ahead of you right now due to DST taking effect in the US.

Some trivia for you aviation nerds: the 757 (narrow body) and the 767 (wide body) share a common type rating allowing pilots to fly either plane. The cockpits and handling characteristics are almost identical. I believe it's the only single/twin aisle combo that shares a type rating. Other aircraft like A319/320 also share a type rating, but they're the same aircraft sans a little stretch.