Gornaya Karusel, with a view of Olympic development in the valley below.
I’m more interested in the steep, fluted walls and sparse beech forest opening up on all sides.
“This is a freeride place,” my new friend (whose name I never get) says.
“When there is more snow.”
Right now it is watched by Special Forces."
Best wait till the Olympics are over to ski on the far side of the valley.
Most of the resort is sun-baked and skied out.
At least they aren’t openly packing firearms, but who knows what’s under those jackets.
Rope lines are everywhere with signs warning skiers to stay on the piste.
It’s exactly not blower, but given the circumstances, it’s pretty righteous.
The snow is still good on shady north-facing slopes.
Russian lines on American Lines.
Lost my gloves on the chairlift, no biggie.
Great glade skiing in the beech forest.
Despite it being a Saturday, in the middle of the Olympics, things are fairly quiet up here.
I tell them “freeride”, and point out the zone that I’ve been skiing.
One tries out some English: “Extreme!”
he says, and thumps his chest to indicate adrenaline.
“Da,” I agree.
Just don’t visit during the Olympics.
