Temp: -6 degrees C
Slight sleep in this morning. No frying pan so making scrambled eggs in a jug in the microwave did the trick. Headed on up to the ski slopes a bit earlier than needed. Not happy, discovered camera battery charger not working. Hopefully spare battery will last until Toronto where I hope to find a replacement. After waiting at the 'Snow School' sign for quite a while, by the alloted hour with no-one turning up we were concerned. Headed towards the Ski hire place and found a group of instructors assembling their proteges. We managed to secure Peter as our unfortunate tutor. Two others joined us; Summer and Jenny, for a group of six. At the collection point Peter took us through the basics. Walking up hills, sideways and V climbing. We also slid on one ski, then two before finally skiing down and thewn up to the beginners slope. Probably not so much skiing but sliding and eventually walking with the skis under arm. Went up the magic carpet to the top level. The bottom slope was held by the snow boarders while we took the upper slope. I have to admit I took to the skiing pretty quickly. It might have been a while but all that time cross country skiing 30+ years ago must have helped out. Peter took me through some turning moves and parallel turns. After a number of turns shredding the beginners slope it was time for lunch. The Pizzeria downstairs serves a mean pizza so thats what we had.
Getting back up to the slopes it was decided to tackle the mountain. There was a very easy slope - apparently. Up the ski lift we went. It is actually pretty high up, and there was a brief nervous pause at one point. Anyway we get off and head left to the easiest slope - La Passe. The first part was a little icy and quite quick. A bit quicker than first timers should attempt. At one point the slope is far too steep (Nansen Haut) so we walked down on an instructors advice. After that the slope levels out a bit more (Nansen Bas) and the final run is pretty easy. This run takes us around some tight corners, across a bridge and through a small tunnel before ending up at the beginners slope. All told, that was the end of skiing for the day and the general concensus was tomorrow to return to the beginners slope.
Father Christmas is about to arrive so we head on down to the bottom end of the village. By sky lift this time. You stand in a pod that literally shoots down to the bottom, skimming the top of the Marriott hotel along the way.
The crowd at the bottom were waiting earnestly for Santa Claus' arrival. His little helpers and Mrs Claus turned up in golf buggies, followed closely by horses. Father Christmas was missing. Looking up at the Mont Tremblant Bell tower there he was getting attached to belay equipment. I have to say it was the funniest decent I have ever seen, Not exactly the most poetic entrance, but at least a safe decent - eventually. A good laugh had by all.
This done it was time to head off to the 1700 hr sleigh ride. A short stroll of 3 km through road slush, iced walkways and compressed snow eventually took us to the sleigh ride start. Two horses pulled us and 10 or so others past a lake, through pine forests and over undulating mounds of snow in the increasing dark. Entertained on the Mont Tremblant legend, music and singing we stopped at the half way point for a welcomed Chocolate Chaud (Hot Chocolate). If we don't look after the air, water and forest the mountain will become a trembling mountain. Although in snow gear and well rugged up it was becoming cold. Upon returning we began the slow trek home. Thankfully a taxi looking for a ride turned up. Not an english speaker we did manage to eventually direct him to our destination. As it was the taxi ride was just cheaper than the bus if we chose to wait for that - if that was running at this time.
After a short tour of the Place St Bernard restaurants we decided dinner was to be at the Fat Mardis. Nice dinner of Pistachio encrusted chicken for me with blackened chicken, ribs and steak for others. Previous tennants left some logs in the fire place so I tried the get the fire started. Hardwood and no kindling so not so successful. Need some petrol.
After laughing at American TV ads (especially the one describing all the bad after effects found in trials of a certain medication they were trying to sell - initially we thought it was a joke...) it was time for retirement.
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