McNab Snowboarding Day 4

Feb 6th 2008 - McNab Snowboarding Day 4

It was clear at breakfast that the big thaw had begun as it was raining out and the trees were no longer white. So no big hike and tour today.
Instead we headed to Le Tour and in zero visibility and snowing hard and blowing a hooley we tried descending just off the piste a little. In the first run down I stayed at the back and watched the carnage as every one crashed and I slalomed around them as they pointed out the contours for me that were invisble in that light.

After a couple of runs we had a chocolat chaud then traversed over to the Swiss side where vis was better lower down. We had a couple of great off piste runs under the chair in great snow and I was riding well but on our way back up Jim suddenly shouted "I've lost my f**ing board" from the chairlift. None of us could believe it til we turned and saw him swinging two free feet on the chair.
We dropped him at the top and headed down again but this time on the steep red piste where you have to keep speed to get up the other side I caught an edge at full tilt and went flying hitting the hard pack and wrenching my shoulder and triceps- it was a seering pain. I walked back to the group trying not to cry and strapped on and headed off piste holding my arm across my chest and trying to turn so carefully.
The board could not be found and it turned out 2 kids had nicked it. Ralph raced all the way down to Vallorcine to get it while we headed back to Les Autannes at Le Tour. Gingerly picking our way down the red piste with skiers following us to find the way, we could not see 10 feet, but the boys stuck together and took it slow to make sure we all got down safe!

I called it a day and headed for the Ibuprofen, an ice pack and some tiger balm. My left tricep is swollen but starting to heal I think. I want to ride tomorrow whatever pain I'm in.

Tonight Neil gave a talk on avalanches.