or is it la Grassonah? Anyways they’ve just sent me this video and they do a lot of eating, a lot! But if you stick with it they do some skiing as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_iUTxCGYOA

Now I know it is in Italy somewhere but I will have to look on the map to find out where. The refuge looks fantastic, better than some of the hovels we stay in in the Belledonne.

Rifugio Gabiet, Gressoney La Trinité €42 pppn ...

http://www.rifugiogabiet.it/index.htm

The Monte Rosa just has so many good bargain refuges, check out also the one I’ve been harping on about

http://www.rifugioguglielmina.com/

and less luxurious but cheap is Rifugio Citta di Vigevano

http://www.monterosa4000.it/rifugio9.htm

“Australians can make Americans look wordly”

Damn, Damn and Damn again.  I do wish people would stop discovering Gressoney and Alagna. We locals much prefer it to ourselves. I’d add the the Grande Halte Refugio too. The new top lift saves a bit of trek time to classics like the Malfetta and Balme.  Good book for Freeriders is “Polvero Rosso” which you can buy in the resorts and is full of easy to read off-piste directions, with English translation.

http://www.grandehalte.it/it