Portes Du Soleil, France
February 26th – March 3rd, 2025
My first solo trip! My first time skiing in the Alps! Only then did I truly grasp the vastness of the mountains. I skied all the way from France into Switzerland, only to find myself unsure how to get back. Surrounded by breathtaking scenery, every peak offered a 360-degree view of endless snow-covered slopes and majestic ridgelines. With over 600km of skiable terrain, nowhere else truly compares. Après-ski added a whole new dimension to the experience — there’s something wildly fun about gliding down a slope just buzzed enough to forget how tired you are. Photos couldn’t do it justice. This is the most beautiful ski destination I’ve ever been to. Whether skiing on the U.S. West Coast or in Japan, nothing comes close. I genuinely feel sorry for those who will never witness this, they’ll never know what it feels like to stand atop a mountain and be humbled by its grandeur.
I somehow encountered the infamous “Swiss Wall,” an incredibly steep run scattered with massive moguls, some as tall as two meters. More people were falling than staying upright, and even the best skiers looked shaky coming down.
On a gondola ride, I met an 84-year-old mother and her son. I was in awe of her and silently hoped I’d be like that one day. Age truly doesn’t define a person. At 20 years old, I know I want to be her when I get old…
A quick caveat — and by “quick,” I mean a full-on rant. I had no idea I’d be skiing in Europe, so naturally, I didn’t pack any of my gear. No big deal, I thought. I paid for one-night express shipping through UPS — three days before my flight to Geneva. Should’ve been smooth, right?
Wrong. My package, full of all my personal ski equipment, got detained in UK customs. And unless I forked over £287 (yes, TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-SEVEN POUNDS), there was no way I’d get it on time. Absolute scam. To top it off, I emailed UPS to file a complaint — and surprise, radio silence. No response, no resolution, just a big corporate shrug.
Do better, UPS. Seriously!
