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Ski Himalaya!
I’m still not sure what “4-in-1 softy” means.
Number “57″ is spray-painted on the backs of their rented ski bibs.
George Luc in front of one of many shacks by the slope.
The “nutcrusher” day pass.
George on the nutcrusher ski lift.
At the top, ready for my first run.
George’s first time skiing.
The view from the top of the slope.
Snacks, chai and the ever-present plastic chairs at the foot of the slope.
Watching a crazy Indian para-gliding overhead.
Before heading to the desert state of Rajasthan for Jai’s wedding, George Luc and I got a ride north to Solang Valley for some skiing.
We arrived in Delhi 2am on Thursday, drove through the night and all the next day, arriving at our hotel in Manali late Friday night. (See this post for stops along the way.) After a breakfast of chapatis, curd and chai, we drove through downtown Manali and up to Solang Valley.
On the way to the ski “resort,” we passed 100 shacks. Each shack was conspicuously numbered, and was renting ski bibs and fur coats. The newlyweds posing below with George, so cute in their ski bibs, had giant 67s hastily spray-painted on their backs - indicating the shack where they rented the gear.
There was a Mexican standoff between a Yak and a snowplow, so we walked the last half mile. The walk afforded a closeup look at the homes of the “hospitality workers”. It was very smoky,
Once we arrived on site, our “fixer” got us set up with some very sketchy equipment - rusty bindings, repaired with duct tape, mis-matched skies. Amazingly the boots were a good fit. Time to hit the slopes!
After a couple of hours painfully riding to the top on the nutcrusher, only to slide our way down in horrible ski conditions (all slush), we sat down for some chai. The bottom of the hill was bedlam - people everywhere, a line of food stalls and chai stands, people para-gliding, ski mobiling, tubing and skiing. Everyone was having a blast. Despite the conditions I wouldn’t trade that experience for the world. I’ve skied the Himalayas!
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