Arabba

This is the village in the Dolomites where I and some friends are skiing for a week. (This is why I've been missing for the last few days.)
This picture is taken from a new lift that basically takes you across and above the village, linking the slopes on either side of Arabba. Previously you had to walk through the village carrying your skis.
The weather so far has not been fantastic but always better than forecast, so today it was going to snow all day with low cloud, but we did see the sun and mostly we were skiing under the clouds, rather than in them. The snow came and went.
We were up early for the first lift up the mountain. Then we took the next lift, still one of the first groups up. You can see our reward in the extra, this slope in pristine condition, blank and groomed, just for us! We whooped down and I paused to look back and take this picture.
Sometimes the early bird really does get the prize!