I know – I was a little surprised, but I was sitting in my flat watching the snow fall and I heard cow bells. And I thought “Guy, why are there cows still coming off the mountain – they were supposed to come down two weeks ago.”

And I couldn’t really answer so had a look and there was a police car escorting a herd of cows down the road with a few farmers who clearly never read the weather reports. I mean the farmers hadn’t read the weather reports – not the cows. (Anyway, feel free to comment below if you have any views on this questionable piece of animal husbandry.)

But it is snowing in Verbier. There was about 15cm on the cars up at Les Essertes this morning. It’s brilliant isn’t it? I am going to celebrate by going to the Comptoir in Martigny.

 

 

A quick look at the webcams this morning and we can see that the filthy rain and thunder that rolled through last night has left snow up top. Admittedly none in town. Yet. But good news indeed and we’re all a little excited.

 

Well, confession time. Olly emailed me a load of photos of snow in New Zealand in July and somehow I failed to bring you and his artistic efforts together.

So sorry Olly.

But not too sorry for failing to share photos of you and your new passion – crown green bowls. Not exactly Rock and Roll.

The good news in Verbier is that the weather looks set to turn and we should be getting snow on (depending on who you listen to) Thursday night, Friday or Saturday.

Needless to say we’ll keep you posted… You can follow us here on the blog, on twitter, or click ‘like’ on our facebook page and follow it all there….

Yes, the Autumn equinox came and went and in true Swiss style we celebrated through the medium of cheese. As we did last year. And the year before…

It could be because the people of the Bagnes traditionally celebrate the return of the cows from the high pastures at this time of year. It could be because Raclette was invented here in this very valley (I firmly believe between 1972 and 1974, but the evidence on this theory is lacking). But we think it’s more likely that everyone will eat cheese and drink Fendant at the drop of  hat.

The pictures never do it justice – there’s a real buzz in the air. So we videoed it. Toby’s video I think captures it well. Mine makes it sound like the whole thing took place on a helicopter.

 

 

 

  

Well, on the advice of Mike, Tobes an I nipped up to Ruinettes to see exactly what Mike, Televerbier and the massive double prop helicopter that’s been hovering over Verbier were up to.

Well, a lot. And very quickly. Because since 7.30 this morning they’ve put up absolutely loads of pylons, and all the running gear. The top station is looking like all it needs is a cable, some lifts and a bit of snow.

The pylons look ready to plonk that cable and some seats on and start rolling.

The bottom? Not so much…

Yeah, there’s some work to do down at the start, but it’s the big bit where they’ve been pouring concrete and building a pretty heavy duty installation. But that’s enough typing, because we have pictures of helicopters and that’s why you came here.

Plus a video. And if it sounds ‘a bit windy’ that’s because it is. Very. Try 100kph coming off those rotors…

Didn’t seem to bother the livestock though.

Mike called me yesterday – for those of you who don’t know, Mike works for Televerbier in the summer fixing the lifts. Anyway, he told me that he and the Televerbier team who’ve been making up the lift parts in Sembrancher were meeting the helicopter pilot at Ruinettes at 7.30 this morning to organise flying in the new pylons.

Well, I’ve told a few people and they all say “they haven’t even put the pylons up yet?”. But actually (Mike says) tha the real work is building the top and bottom installations, and the pylons simply get built elsewhere, flown in and bolted down. Easy…

So today we should hear a whopping helicopter hovering up by Au Mayen and see the new lift really take shape. Should be up and running some time in early December…