Have you skied in the dark?

Inspired/reminded by another thread i was just wondering if any of you guys had done the old skiing in the dark trips that are always available in resort?

Whenever we go away there are always evenings advertised where you can get a late lift up to a mountain restaurant, take a meal and ski back down in the dark (possible headlamp) and i have been tempted.
It's never happened for me because my gang are less that able in full daylight but i would like to try. Although i imagine it to be slightly weird and very cold.

You tried it?

Ah ha! The other thread!

I have done it. Not very responsible I know and Ian/Tony will not approve

When I went to St Anton I used to regularly go to the Moose or Kangaru. These both close about 8pm. At 8pm it is always dark. The key is ski down in the dark and head for the red light at the bottom near the lift. Add to this being sligtly tipsy and it makes it very difficult :roll:

However, I imagine this type of dark skiing is not what you are referring to :roll:

I've night skied under floodlights in Norway but didn't enjoy it very much. Struggled a bit picking up the lumps and bumps on the pistes...and knackered anyway from skiing all day!

We have night skied it Italy under proper floodlights and it was brilliant. We have also skied in the gloom out of the Nederhutte in Obergurgl.
The only actual 'in the dark' skiing we came across was in Italy after a typical meal on the mountain. My sister-in-law and I rode home on a skidoo - holding on for dear life to a rather tubby driver dressed in what appeared to be a dead rabbit! Our other halves were rattling along behind in a sort of pram towed by the skidoo and two other men in our group - beginners - decided to ski back. They clearly didn't realise they were supposed to ski using the light from the skidoo headlights and disappeared into some trees at top speed, only to reappear in one piece - to our amazement - down at the bottom of the slope!

I have skied in the dark in Courchevel but as part of a proper event with mulled wine and floodlights etc. during the fireworks evening. I thought it was absolutely brilliant fun, as you could go much faster than normal down what I think was a green run.

Ally

I quite fancy it but i know how disorientating a white out can be, i am wondering if they compare.
I would like to be high up, in the dark and see the stars. The stars are stunning somewhere really dark.

I've been really fortunate to spend time high up star gazing - it is amazing.

And I've done some skiing in the dark.
One of these which was memorable was from said star gazing trip on the Saulire (Courchevel/Meribel boundary) when 4 of us skied down to Mottaret by moonlight rather than taking the bubble back as we were supposed to - naughty but nice.

I've also done a good number of torchlight descents - don't really count these as skiing in the dark though. Done these as a punter and in charge. I used to enjoy them - even with the screaming of many tipsy guests in tow.

The only problems we ever had was when someone went straight into a bar in resort rather than checking in to have their name ticked off the list to check everyone was down safely - soon cottoned onto that and checked the bars before calling out a search party.

Tis something I've always wanted to take a crack at. I wonder if the angle of the lighting could make lumps easier to see than daylight? Certainly cycling fast at night used to bring out a big grin!

Owen.