>>Just coming back from a couple of days in switzerland (a dream of pulver snow last week - each day 20 cm of crunching powder added at minus 18 celsius). Nearly noboby on the slopes as it was pre-season and no lines at the lifts.
>>
>>Only thing I bemoan is the attempt to turn every run into a broad, well plastered highway - the stretches with buckles and hills are "too dangerous" this day and age...
>
>Lucky you!!! (I mean that)

Yupp, timing was really great - whole europe struggling with snow and I could enjoy it.

>One day try "The Plunge" in Telluride, CO....

Actually I had looked up some of the resorts in the US - from the pictures it seems the mountains are steeper,
and telluride area really looks interesting. I'm pretty sure it was one of the areas I had wondered about before. The other might have been Jacson Hole. Before I scheduled side trips to mexico for some diving when coming to the states.
But WOW, your ticket prices are hefty... Switzerland is considered high priced in europe, but was way cheaper.
Still, would be a nice counterpoint. Not sure when I will hit the US again, but if it is within the ski season I will pester you for advice on timing: I absolutely hate standing in line - not much british aloofness and cueing behaviour in me. My perfect ski vacation is skiing right up to the lift and recouperating in the lift without any herd behaviour in front of the lift gate. Could take my boots (don't like to think of the dozens of different feet having occupied rented boots before) and only rent ski, as taking them on a flight might be a bit too much if coming for mostly biz reasons ;-)

>I skied Switzerland, Austria, and Germany back in the mid 80s - loved it - the ambiance was so much nicer than the slopes in the U.S., but I actually liked the slopes (for skiing) better in Colorado - it's personal choice I guess.

Have you ever been to Zermatt, Flims/Laax (my latest trip was there again) or my personal favorite, Davos ?

regards

thomas