April 30, 2009, Cervinia (Italy)

After three days of storm through all the Alps, with some areas above 10000' receiving more than three feet of fresh snow, the weather cleared and we found some great powder skiing inside the ski area below the Matterhorn.  Wind had accompanied the snow in the previous days so the avalanche hazard was 4 on a 5 point scale.  Slab slides had occurred inside the area so most of the lifts were closed before lunchtime.  Nontheless Eric and Lisa made it up to the ridgecrest border between Italy and Switzerland for a view into Zermatt while they sipped an Italian cappucino in the Testa Grigia hut and watched racers train for the Mezzalama, with its nearly 10000' of uphill skiing.