Newsletter November 2018

We are almost there, the autumn colours faded and first snows appeared this week in Champoluc, presently a foot of snow at 2000m. The main gondola lift out of the village has been renewed this summer and mid station upgraded to enable speedy access to the Ostafa at 2420m and beyond into Gressoney and Alagne.

This season we have four types of skiing experiences which suit different levels of skier and aspirations. More information can be found in the Holiday section of our new website.

Off Piste ‘Further’ – off piste skiing for a whole week, pistes are out of bounds.

Monterosa Tour ‘Explorer’ – taking in the three valleys and all the Cols, piste and off the side.

Ski Touring ‘Journeys’ – for those not fussy about ski lifts and relish back country descents.

Mindful Skiing ‘Awareness’ – here we think less and feel more, leave analysing to others.

I was thinking the other day that I am very fortunate to have skied in many ski resorts in Europe during my skiing career. Being introduced to skiing at Pontypool Ski Centre in South Wales by my sports teacher, Max Horton, skiing found me. I am also very grateful for the guidance of my first coach at Pontypool, Colin Whiteside, who watched over a group of us with kindness and wisdom. I then left South Wales for the Alps and only now do I appreciate how privileged I have been to move freely throughout Europe practicing my craft in the Alps.

Presently I have a base in Champoluc, located in the north west of Italy at the foot of the awesome Monterosa mountain range, whose 18 peaks rise above 4000 metres. This is truly a magnificent region of the Alps and a skier’s paradise. It is here I guide and coach skiers into the mountains, savouring regular off piste descents of 1000 metres and beyond sight of any up lift. For piste skiers there are over 100 kms of varied slopes and many beautiful mountain restaurants. I get much enjoyment when my guests realise and appreciate they’re in a very special place and I see them unwind from their daily schedules. It does give me a sense of purpose creating ways people can experience the Monterosa mountains.

This September we organised our first Spiritual Retreat, it was a wonderful week with a group of 20 gentle folk sharing meditation, teachings and hiking in the mountains. It was perfect and we plan to organise more Retreats next September. We also have hiking, biking and yoga weeks planned for June and July 2019. In the December Newsletter I will have details ready to share with you.

Whichever way our paths meet and I hope they do, either as a guest or a friendly skier on the slopes, I look forward to welcoming you to the Monterosa.

Best wishes.

John Arnold.
Mindful Mountains Ltd.