The power of curiosity (Part One)

Can we learn well without curiosity and what is a life without this important trait? Also can curiosity be developed along a lifetime and how can we learn how to develop a healthy dose of that trait? 

All these questions have always been part of my quest for improving my way of life and I would go even further: curiosity is not just an aid to learning; it might be the most potent of all engines of learning. A person can certainly acquire knowledge without much curiosity—through discipline, schooling, obligation, repetition, or necessity—but the quality and depth of that learning are usually different. 

Curiosity changes the way we learn. There is an important difference between: “I have to learn this.” and “I wonder why this is so?” We can say that if the first produces competence, the second can bring understanding. It’s a fact that curiosity makes us ask the questions that take us beyond the obvious: 

• Why does this happen? 
• Is that really true? 
• What would happen if…? 
• How did we come to believe this? 
• What am I missing? 
• Could there be another explanation? 
• What would convince me that I am wrong? 

That last question is particularly valuable. Healthy curiosity includes wondering about our own assumptions. Without it, learning can become largely a process in which we collect facts, opinions and experiences without continually reorganizing them into a deeper understanding. This leaves us with a pretty logical question as to what life can be without curiosity? It certainly doesn’t need to be an unhappy life. 

Some people can live a perfectly comfortable, loving and meaningful life while being relatively uncurious, but in that case something big is lost. Curiosity gives life a kind of mental freshness. It allows familiar things to become interesting again. A tree isn't simply "a tree"; it becomes a question: Why does it grow this way? Why are its leaves shaped like that? How old might it be? What is happening underground? 

Same thing with people. Instead of thinking “I know what he is like,” curiosity says: “I wonder what I don't know about him.” Even most importantly, curiosity keeps the future open. It says: “There might still be something wonderful that I haven't discovered.” That’s a particularly powerful attitude as we grow older. Aging inevitably reduces some possibilities, but curiosity continually creates new ones. 

In the next blog we’ll see how we can cultivate or re-awaken our own curiosity, so please, stay with me...

Is Alterra feeling the heat yet?

After years of unbridled growth and blind optimism in spite of a warming planet, Alterra Mountain Company is now facing mounting corporate, legal, and operational headwinds that reflect longer-running structural challenges in the ski industry, culminating in recent executive departures and workforce layoffs. Denver based Alterra is another ski resort conglomerate that followed the model of Vail Resorts and that now owns and operates nearly 20 mountain destinations (such as Steamboat, Deer Valley, and Mammoth Mountain) and manages the multi-destination Ikon Pass.

It’s notable to mention that Park City is the only ski town where both companies operate. In contrast, Vail owns and operates roughly 42 mountains globally, leaning into a massive, highly standardized network. Alterra’s collection about half the size of Vail Resorts is supplemented heavily by Ikon Pass external partners.

Likewise, Vail optimizes a broad network access and regional feeder loops via its Epic Pass while applying a centralized, corporate-standardized guest and digital model across its network, while Alterra tends to preserve more independent, place-specific character and autonomy at its individual flagship resorts, but less efficiently. Jared Smith stepped down as CEO after a three-and-a-half-year run, leaving the executive committee—including former CEO Rusty Gregory and major stakeholders like KSL Capital Partners—to steer the company. 

Alterra just implemented corporate layoffs affecting year-round, full-time staff across Denver headquarters, remote roles, and various destinations, driven by an unaligned cost structure and slowed post-pandemic growth. In addition, the company alongside competitor Vail Resorts, Boyne, Powdr, and industry research firm RRC Associates, was hit with a federal class-action antitrust lawsuit in August 2026 alleging an overarching conspiracy to inflate season pass and lift ticket prices by coordinating and sharing confidential pricing metrics via dynamic-pricing platforms. 

This follows another federal antitrust complaint filed earlier in 2026 targeting anticompetitive bundling practices that forced skiers into high-cost multi-mountain bundles like the Ikon Pass by artificially hiking single-day window rates. Heavy reliance on mega-passes has frequently outstripped the physical carrying capacity of popular resort regions. These strains were worsened by historically poor western snowfall cycles during recent winter seasons, raising questions over the return on massive terrain expansions at flagship locations like Deer Valley, here in Park City. 

I’m not even mentioning the Elephant in the Room. It's simply global warming, a looming threat to Alterra and Vail Resorts business model. I suspect their management and shareholders are fast becoming spooked by this impending developing problem...

Warmer climate and American politics

Will this record-breaking warm summer influence politics in the USA? The unusually hot summer of 2026 could have a political effect in the US, although probably not in the simple sense of “hot weather will get more Democratic votes.” The interesting part is that the political consequences may come through people's electricity bills, health, insurance, water, agriculture, wildfires and everyday inconvenience, rather than through climate ideology. 

July 2026 was the hottest month ever recorded for the contiguous United States, with every one of the lower 48 states at least 1°F above its 20th-century average. And the current August heat wave is affecting roughly 97 million Americans. The biggest effect may be psychological as there’s an important difference between “Scientists say the climate is getting warmer.” and “I can't sleep because my bedroom is 85°F, my electricity bill is $300, and my children can't play outside.” The second experience is politically much more powerful.

An AP-NORC survey conducted in late July found that 90% of Americans said extreme heat had affected their lives at least somewhat. About 80% said it affected their electricity bills, while roughly 70% said it disrupted outdoor family activities. That turns climate change from an abstract environmental question into a cost-of-living question. Let's make America more resilient.” 

Republicans face a particularly interesting political problem, as Trump has moved aggressively to roll back federal climate policies. Pew's March survey found that 87% of Democrats thought the federal government was doing too little on climate change, compared with only 31% of Republicans, but extreme heat creates a problem for Republicans if their voters are personally experiencing its consequences. Imagine a Republican voter in Arizona, Texas, Utah or Florida who says: “I don't want Washington telling me how to live. But I do want affordable electricity, reliable water, protection from wildfires and somebody to do something about these 110-degree days.” 

That voter doesn't necessarily need to become a climate-change voter, but could become an adaptation-and-cost voter. If politicians respond to heat primarily with higher energy prices, restrictions on gasoline cars, restrictions on natural gas, expensive regulations, taxes and bans, then voters may react negatively—even if they accept that the climate is warming. This is why I think energy affordability may be the key political variable. The most interesting possibility, in my view, is not a Democratic electoral landslide. It is the emergence of a new bipartisan politics of climate adaptation. 

And that could be more consequential in the long run than simply increasing the number of people who say they are worried about global warming. In other words: 2026 may be the summer when climate change becomes less a question of “Do you believe in it?” and more a question of “What are you going to do about what is happening to us?” That is a much more politically dangerous question for both parties.

How long will my Tesla last? (Part Two)

While as we’ve seen yesterday that the core motor and battery pack hold up well, specific secondary components exhibit recurring wear patterns as Teslas age. Due to the heavy weight of high-voltage battery packs, Tesla suspension bushings, control arms, and ball joints experience accelerated wear compared to lighter gas cars. 

On Model S and X, the upper and lower control arms, as well as front half-shafts tend to develop squeaks or shuddering under hard acceleration and often require replacement every 60,000 to 100,000 miles. On Model 3 and Y: Front upper control arm ball joints (housed in composite/metal arms) are known to dry out and creak over time, often needing replacement or regreasing around 50,000–80,000 miles. 

Legacy Model S, X, 3, and Y models used conventional lead-acid 12V starter batteries to power cabin electronics, door locks, and computers. These lead-acid batteries typically failed quite soon due to constant cycling from the high-voltage pack. In recent production years, Tesla transitioned across all models to a 16V Lithium-ion auxiliary battery, effectively eliminating short-life 12V battery failures.

For air conditioning and heating, modern Model 3 and Model Y vehicles use a complex heat pump and fluid manifold system that manages cabin climate and battery cooling simultaneously. While highly efficient in cold weather, thermal heat pump valves, coolant pumps, and sensors represent a common failure point as vehicles exceed 100,000 miles. 

Because regenerative braking handles up to 90% of daily deceleration, standard brake pads and rotors wear at an exceptionally slow rate (often lasting 100,000+ miles). However, in regions with heavy winter road salt, rust and slide-pin seizure can occur due to lack of use if the brakes are not periodically cleaned and lubricated. As you can see, if battery, motor and transmission work surprisingly well, the rest of the car is merely average—or occasionally worse than average. 

Many uses have found problems involving things such as, body hardware, windows and doors, electronics, suspension and steering, charging systems, trim and problem with fit or finish and noises or leaks. Now you know everything, but we should give it another 10 years to grab the full picture!

How long will my Tesla last? (Part One)

That’s a pretty fair question! With the Tesla model S out since 2012 or so, I sometime wonder what kind of reliable history has been compiled on the millions of Tesla sold in the world. The good news is that over more than a decade of deployment—starting with the Model S in 2012 and followed by the Models 3, X, and Y—much of real-world reliability, component aging, and longevity data has been compiled by automotive research firms, consumer advocacy groups, and fleet telemetry studies. 

I found a comprehensive breakdown of what long-term studies, reliability tracking, and real-world owner data reveal about Tesla's reliability, durability, and primary aging trends. When evaluating Tesla reliability, industry analysts draw a sharp line between build quality/electronics fitment and powertrain durability. In terms of fit and finish, consumer agencies frequently score Tesla lower in initial quality due to non-mechanical issues—such as panel gaps, paint defects, weather stripping leaks, trim rattling, and infotainment glitches. 

However, mechanically, the core EV propulsion system performs far more consistently over high mileage than traditional internal combustion engines (ICE). It’s simply because an EV lacks complex transmissions, spark plugs, timing belts, fuel injectors, exhaust systems, and turbos. This means routine maintenance costs over 100,000+ miles average 40% to 50% lower than comparable luxury ICE vehicles. Battery health is the most closely studied aspect of long-term EV durability. 

Battery capacity loss is non-linear. The average Tesla battery experiences its fastest degradation during the first 20,000 to 30,000 miles (losing roughly 3% to 5% of original capacity). After this initial drop, the degradation curve flattens significantly, settling into a slow loss of about 1% capacity per 15,000–20,000 miles. Tesla’s aggregated fleet data indicates that after 200,000 miles (approx. 320,000 km) of driving, 

Model S and Model X packs retain an average of 88% to 90% of their original capacity. First-generation Model S vehicles suffered higher-than-average failure rates in their drive units, Most were replaced under Tesla's 8-year/unlimited-mile warranty. In Model 3, Y, and modern S/X) with permanent magnet reluctance motors have proven exceptionally durable. Tesla engineers designed these drive units with a target lifespan of 1,000,000 miles, and real-world high-mileage teardowns show minimal gear teeth wear or rotor degradation well past 200,000 miles. 

Tomorrow, we’ll see how the rest of the car survives over the years…

False alert!

Last Sunday, around 4pm a loud buzz from my phone got my full attention. The large message said: “Your residence has been placed in a GO Status. EVACUATE NOW!” As anyone should, we took that very seriously and switched into a panic mode, but there was no fire in view, no sirens and nothing, so we went out of our house, looked around, saw our next door neighbor on his e-bike going around to see where the fire was.

Then we talked to more neighbors and came to the conclusion that no matter how ominous the message was, this was a false alert, an option we unanimously preferred! Plenty of strong emotions to wrap up the weekend. That “Go” evacuation notice sent to cell phones across Park City and the South Summit Fire District was issued in error according to Skyler Talbot with the Summit County Sheriff’s office. 

The alert applies only to residents on West Henefer Road and East Canyon Road, some 28 miles (50 km) distant from Park City, as the crow flies. Obviously no one bother to dismiss it in the same manner. “There are no pre-evacuation or evacuation notices for South Summit Fire District,” the South Summit Fire District said, noting Summit County sent the alert by mistake. Park City residents also received the erroneous notification. 

Now we know how an evacuation notice feels like, but we still have to develop a pragmatic household plan for it!

Are Infantino days at Fifa counted?

I’m not into professional football and as a result don’t know much about that big-money sport. Yet, from the time Gianni Infantino concocted a FIFA Peace Prize for Trump, considered and acted on Trump’s request, during this summer’s World Cup, to utilized Article 27 of its disciplinary code and put the automatic one-match suspension on hold, placing Balogun, that US player that got a red card, on a one-year probation instead and making him immediately eligible to face Belgium. 

Then, there was the controversial, now-shelved proposal to sell a 20% commercial stake in the World Cup to private investors, including Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kuschner. All this series of unprofessional moves make me think that Infantino's days as FIFA president could be considered "numbered" (or counted) due to a severe political and governance crisis triggered by less than transparent moves. 

There’s no question that Infantion job is a cushy one as is total annual compensation package amount to approximately $6 million! 

Infantino’s position is now in jeopardy mostly because of the $20 billion plan called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) that aimed to create a commercial subsidiary backed by private investors (including Joshua Kushner’s fund). 

This audacious move was reinforced by a 53-day ultimatum he had given FIFA’s 211 member associations to sign up for the plan under a financial incentive structure, which critics and confederations labeled as coercive and a "sell-off" of the game. 

Europe's UEFA and its 55 member nations unanimously rejected the plan, threatening a total boycott of all FIFA tournaments—including the World Cups—if he proceeded. CONCACAF and the AFC also formally opposed the scheme. Key allies of Infantino and senior staff have distanced themselves or resigned, and UEFA lawyers have demanded the preservation of documents while weighing legal action and regulatory complaints. 

Additional damaging reports regarding past governance (such as historic departure payments from his time at UEFA) have compounded the pressure, leading prominent figures and confederations to openly call for an independent review and his resignation ahead of the March 2027 presidential election. I guess time will tell...

Innovative phone dial pad

Another recent dream that I wanted to share today was also the most bizarre. Of course, it also woke me up. 

I was attempting to dial up using an old rotary phone. As I dialed one number and the wheel returned to its original position, I couldn’t remember which number was next (again, it was just a dream), so after some frustrating attempts I was presented with another phone, not the touch-tone phone device we all know, but a bizarre contraption that only had three keys.

Perhaps, I just couldn’t remember what a touch-tone dial looked like, which might say a lot about the quality of my old memory… As a result I seemed to have no choice but to create a new one with only three keys to make things simple. 

This said, during my dream I still couldn’t comprehend how it worked, but suffice to say that it looked like the rendition pictured here. Now, go figure (if you can)!

Dreams: Riding bikes in reverse

When it comes to my dreams, my ability to remember them varies a whole lot. The ones that wake me up brutally and for good, I vividly remember them. The others that I kind of recall in a figment of consciousness, if I live them almost consciously when they occur, I can guarantee you that, the next morning, I still remember having had some dreams, but I’m woefully unable to tell what they were about! 

This is pretty much the essence of dream memory, and these are the few conclusions I’ve drawn about them: 

• Abrupt awakenings preserve dreams, 
• Smooth transitions erase them, 
• Awareness doesn’t guarantee recall, 
• REM is vivid but poorly stored. 

So just to illustrate my above stream of consciousness, here is a recent dream of mine. I believe it was inspired by what I see all along the winter season on the slopes with skiers going backwards.

I just saw in my dream three cyclists deciding to ride backwards, against traffic on a steep road, something I would never attempt in my wildest dream (I guess I’m wrong on that account!) I thought to myself “This is crazy, this practice should be forbidden!” I just hope you won’t disagree with me, as it will largely compensate me for waking up…

Update Portillo

 

After being closed for 25 days, as of Sunday, August 9, 2026, the Chilean side of the road to Portillo has been cleared. Authorities have established controlled traffic specifically for people with reservations at the Portillo ski resort for the weekend. 

The Paso Los Libertadores and the international Route 60-CH to Mendoza, Argentina, is still officially closed. While the Chilean side has been cleared, the Argentine side remains the bottleneck, with snow-clearing work still underway. Today’s report says that the international crossing could open during the coming week, but there is still no official reopening date.

The resort hotel had planned its 2026 winter season from June 27 through September 27, but had to delay its partial opening to July 4. If we add to it more than 3 weeks of forced closure, the operators have lost a tremendous portion of its earning potential. This sadly illustrates too well the challenges of the ski business. 

On Saturday, I pieced together the video that’s available below, from Portillo’s outstanding network of webcams, to give a good sense of what’s happening on the slopes. The video is best viewed on a tablet or a computer screen as visible skiers are tiny creatures! 

Preparing for the big 8.0.! (Part Two)

Most 80‑year‑olds I have observed or spoken to describe reaching that milestone as a mixed physical and psychological transition — not a sudden cliff, but a shift in identity, priorities, and bodily realities. And yes, there is solid research on how people typically think and feel at 80. What follows is a clear, structured summary of what I found, grounded in my observations and in studies from gerontology, psychology, and aging research. 

Turning 80 tends to sharpen awareness of physical limits, deepen emotional resilience, and shift priorities toward meaning, relationships, and simplicity. Research consistently shows that many 80‑year‑olds are mentally stronger than stereotypes suggest, even as physical decline becomes more noticeable. 

Typically, what 80‑year‑olds commonly think and feel are thoughts like “My body is changing faster now” and they mention slower mobility, reduced strength, sometimes more fatigue and more time spent on making and keeping medical appointments. There’s also the fear of falls, the subtle awareness of cognitive slowing (but not necessarily dementia) that’s not usually framed as panic, but more as acceptance mixed with frustration. 

Other will say: “I’m still me — just older”, that psychologists call identity continuity. Even with some physical decline, many 80‑year‑olds feel mentally intact, stable, and emotionally mature. When it comes to time, “It feels more precious” as the octogenarians shift their focus toward the present‑moment, appreciating small pleasures with less interest in long-term planning but more focus on legacy, family, and meaning. 

The good news is that older people “Don’t worry about the same things anymore” as there’s less anxiety, less social comparison, more emotional stability, gratitude and far less tolerance for superficial relationships. It’s also true that most 80‑year‑olds think about death more often, but their fear decreases as their acceptance increases and what really counts becomes dignity, autonomy, and relationships. 

In fact, many octogenarians experience a psychological renaissance with less pressure, more authenticity, more emotional stability, and a clearer sense of what matters. This is perhaps one of the most consistent findings in aging research — and it contradicts cultural stereotypes, so please, keep smiling!

Preparing for the big 8.0.! (Part One)

In a little over one year, god willing, I’ll be reaching the ripe old age of 80 and like many people my age, I see this as a significant milestone in my life. 

Finally getting there brings mixed thoughts about our own physical decline, mental reflection, and daily limits. From what I’ve been able to see from folks I know, I am liable to experience accelerated change in my physical body, mental outlook, and social ties. Maybe small things initially when everything else is fine like feeling slower, having less energy, and dealing with joint pain or weak muscles. 

Then there will be all the unavoidable health care developments with simple things like managing more daily medicines and frequent doctor visits to stay reassured, safe and healthy. Mobility issues might also rear their not-so-kind heads, like having to use much more prudence when walking on snow or slippery ground, or down the road resorting to the use of canes or walkers, and worrying about falling down. 

On the mental and emotional side of the valley of being 80 something, there will be plenty of opportunities to review a lifetime of past choices, including career high points and struggles, as well as family milestones with hopefully deep pride and satisfaction. At the same time, acceptance will become a welcome quantity when we’re forced to find peace with aging while facing the loss of close friends or family members. 

The key is to value each present day and moment while focusing more on peaceful views and good news than over future worries. Tomorrow we’ll explore ways to support a soon to be 80-year-old’s mental health with plenty of tips for safe physical activity and keeping an optimistic outlook past that monumental milestone!

A smoother path to eternity…

As the regular readers of this blog know, the Park City cemetery is an important section that we cross everyday during our morning walk. 

For years, the asphalted pathway have been showing its age, being summarily but poorly repaired, and it’s only last week that a new, thick and smooth coat of asphalt was finally laid down to rest, yes, to make our crossing much more enjoyable. 

Not only has the walking sensation greatly enhanced as it’s become like walking on carpet, but it’s also far less noisy for the residents that can now enjoy a hushed silence when someone (human or wildlife) ambles around. 

In many ways it now look like a pathway to eternity and offers a much more encouraging perspective to anyone whether planning a very long stay or just stroll...

A rare full month of vacation!

Fifty years ago, I was still working for Look ski bindings in France and for the second and last time in my working life, I would enjoy my second and last full month of annual vacation I would earn during my professional life. This is a perk French people find quite normal and cherish so much. 

I also remember that time because of that summer’s severe heatwave, particularly in August. I remember working in July at Look, with the our US distributor visiting staff on a technical manual for ski mechanics in a sweltering heat. Just like me, both Peter Juen and Ted Travis were sweating bullets and couldn’t not quite understand why there was no air conditioning in the brand new facility just built by Look’s owners. 

Still the 1976 heat wave couldn’t even come close to this summer’s. Even though it’s not quite over yet, the 2026 heatwave has been significantly more intense, hotter, more widespread, and more exceptional than the 1976 event—even though the latter remains memorable in the public consciousness due to its extreme drought and socioeconomic impact.

In terms of thermal intensity, 2026 holds a massive lead with a national peak intensity of 30°C against 25.5°C in 1976 (24-hour thermal index). In terms of geographic coverage, 1976 intense heat was primarily in the North, West, and Center of France while the South was less affected. In contrast 2026: extreme heat was felt across more than 40% of the country, with all-time records exceeding 40°C in many regions (Strasbourg 40.4°C, Noirmoutier 40.1°C). 

The nights are much hotter than in 1976, while 2026 has commonly seen nights above 20°C across 75% of the territory; up to 10 consecutive warm nights in Paris. These tropical nights significantly exacerbated the health of my countrymen. 

Finally, the 1976 drought was exceptional with dried-up rivers, a rainfall deficit of 50–70% and a major agricultural crisis that amplified tensions between President Valéry Giscard d’Estaing and his Prime Minister, Jacques Chirac. The handling of the 1976 crisis exacerbated disagreements over economic policy, on how to manage the agricultural crisis plus growing personal and political rivalry. The heatwave was not the sole cause, but it brought a latent conflict to a head that materialized into Chirac’s resignation. 

We don’t know yet the 2026’s political aftermath, but expect something to hear it in the coming months. There was some drought still present this summer but perhaps less extreme, the dominant factor being heat, not water scarcity even though the Dranse creek in my hometown has been running dry in some sections, something never seen before. 

In conclusion, the 1976 heatwave was a major event, primarily due to its drought conditions and political impact. The good news was that 1976 was generally considered a banner year for French wines, depending on the region—despite (or thanks to) the extreme summer drought. 

However, the 2026 heatwave is clearly more severe in terms of temperature, featuring all-time records, unprecedented tropical nights, and an intensity unmatched by 20th-century episodes, not to mention a record breaking and violent wildfire season.

Fighting climate change (Part Two)

Yesterday, we open our toolbox and looked at the tool we could use to “significantly“ more the needle and see which methods are most effective. Today, we’ll try to rank them by their long-term impact. So let’s get started. 

1. Education and scientific literacy, even though their impact is in the long-term, are a necessary step that must become the backdrop to our effort to rein in climate change. 
2. Economic incentives that reward cleaner choices, like tax credit, rebates for renewable energies or devices using them. Technological innovation that can range from cold fusion, thermal energies all the way to turning dangerous materials into new sources of energy. 
3. Government policies and international cooperation. This is super important as individual countries’ action are meaningless and ineffective when the entire world must play from the same sheet of music. Short of a unanimous movement, nothing will ever work. 
4. Leading by example works very well for families and it should also work at the planetary level. Shaming bad actors should be part of the toolkit too. 
5. Consumer pressure and boycotts can work if they are well explained, fully understood and well followed. Continued peaceful public activism instead of violent revolt, that has little evidence of producing durable environmental progress and often causes additional social harm. 

Climate change presents a classic collective-action problem. Every nation benefits if everyone acts, but each has either a temptation or an incentive to let others bear more of the cost. Overcoming that dilemma requires making climate action not merely a moral obligation but also an economic and political advantage. 

History suggests that societies change most rapidly when environmental responsibility aligns with prosperity, security, and technological progress rather than relying on moral persuasion alone. Ultimately this issue is about human nature as much as climate science: How do we persuade billions of people and hundreds of governments to cooperate for the common good? 

There is no single answer, but the evidence suggests that the greatest progress occurs when education, innovation, sound economic policy, and effective leadership reinforce one another rather than acting in isolation.

Fighting climate change (Part One)

There is only one planet, yet more than 200 nations share responsibility for its future. Although nearly all governments acknowledge the importance of protecting the environment, they differ greatly in their willingness and ability to act. Some place economic growth, national security, or political considerations ahead of climate policies, while others simply lack the financial resources to make the necessary transition. 

The challenge is therefore not only scientific but also political, economic, and moral. So the question is, what actually can move the needle? History tells us that no single approach is sufficient. Progress usually comes from a combination of forces.

On paper, education is probably the most powerful long-term tool. It changes how future generations think, vote, consume, and innovate, unfortunately, it works very slowly. Leading by example can be surprisingly influential. When one country, city, or company demonstrates that reducing emissions can coincide with economic prosperity, others are more likely to follow. 

The dramatic fall in the cost of solar panels and wind power is partly the result of countries investing early and proving these new technologies can surprisingly work well at scale. This said, economic incentives are often more effective than moral appeals. Businesses and consumers respond to prices. Carbon taxes, emissions trading systems, tax credits for clean technologies, and subsidies for renewable energy have generally produced measurable changes because they align environmental goals with financial interests. 

It’s true that consumer pressure and boycotts can influence corporate behavior, especially when large numbers of people participate. Companies often react faster to changing customer preferences than governments do. However, boycotts are usually effective only when they are sustained and widely supported which need to be well explained and perfectly understood. 

In theory, international agreements like the Paris Agreement help establish common goals and encourage transparency, but they rely largely on voluntary commitments and peer pressure rather than enforcement. One big hope, held as a “Hail Mary”, is technological innovation that should ultimately be one of the strongest drivers. New technologies become attractive when they are cleaner and cheaper. 

The rapid adoption of electric vehicles, improved batteries, and renewable energy illustrates how innovation can change markets without requiring everyone to make sacrifices. Finally to end that list of tools, there’s always public protest and civil disobedience have historically drawn attention to important issues and sometimes accelerated policy changes. 

Their effectiveness depends on maintaining public support. Peaceful movements tend to have a stronger long-term record than violent revolts, which often polarize societies and distract from the underlying issue. 

Tomorrow, we’ll try to see, which of tools seem the most potent...

Altitude and temperature

Being both a mountain dweller and a skier, I’ve always thought that the rule for temperature change in relation to altitude was 3° Fahrenheit per 1,000 feet (or 6°C per 1,000 meters), but I wasn’t too sure and decided to dig a little deeper into a subject that’s becoming more important as we get into full global warming. 

Here’s what I’ve found, starting with what causes that change. Temperatures drop as we gain elevation simply simply because atmospheric pressure decreases and the air expands and cools. Now, let’s talk numbers for what’s called the Standard Lapse Rate.

In Fahrenheit, temperature drops approximately 3.5°F per 1,000 feet of elevation gain (or roughly 5°F per 1,000 meters). In Celsius, temperature drops approximately 6.5°C per 1,000 meters of elevation gain (or roughly 2°C per 1,000 feet). For example, if we climb a mountain 2,000 feet higher up, we can generally expect the temperature to be around 7°F cooler at the top than at the base.) Of course, while 3.5°F per 1,000 feet is the standard average, real-world conditions frequently break this rule. 

Let’s start with humidity and moisture. If the air is dry, it cools faster as it rises, at a rate that’s about 5.4°F per 1,000 feet (9.8°C per 1,000 meters). If, on the other hand, the air cools to its dew point and moisture condenses into clouds or fog, latent heat is released into the surrounding air. This slows the cooling rate down to roughly 3.0°F per 1,000 feet (5°C per 1,000 meters). 

Then we’ve got the temperature inversions, in which if temperature always decreases with height, during an inversion, the opposite happens as warmer air sits over a pool of cold air. This is very common in mountain valleys (Salt Lake City) during winter or clear, windless nights, where cold heavy air sinks into the valley floor while Park City’s higher elevation stays significantly warmer. 

Finally the terrain topography and wind also influence the system. Dark rock faces and exposed alpine terrain can heat up significantly under direct sunlight, creating warm microclimates high up that defy the surrounding free-air lapse rate. Conversely, strong alpine winds can pull down cold air masses (these are called katabatic winds) or enhance wind chill, making it feel far colder than the ambient lapse rate suggests. 

Now you know all the details about the whole altitude and temperature relationship!

Mistakes are the bricks that build wisdom

A friend recently reminded me of this when I shared a cartoon about getting older and wiser. He said, “I still make lots of mistakes,” and it struck me that wisdom isn’t what happens after mistakes — it’s what happens through them. 

Without mistakes, wisdom has nothing to grow from. Every misstep gives us another piece of insight, another angle on ourselves, another chance to understand the world a little better. 

Wisdom isn’t a fixed quantity or a final destination; it’s a structure we’re always building, one imperfect brick at a time. So rather than fearing mistakes, we can welcome them as part of the ongoing work of becoming wiser. 

Not because mistakes are fun, but because they’re fertile. They keep us learning, adjusting, and alive to the world. In that sense, wisdom is never finished — and that’s exactly what makes life interesting.

The hardest fear to overcome?

We all fear different things. What frightens one person may hardly concern another because each of us has a different tolerance for uncertainty and risk. Some people—even professional risk-takers—become so accustomed to danger that what once seemed intimidating eventually feels routine. 

As we grow older, experience often teaches us to accept that many events lie beyond our control. Yet logic alone does not erase fear, and many anxieties remain with us throughout life. Among these fears, one stands out as particularly powerful. It’s not the fear of dying, but the fear of being wrong.

Admitting that we have made a mistake, exercised poor judgment, or held a false belief can be extraordinarily difficult because doing so challenges our pride, our self-image, and sometimes even our identity. Perhaps this is one of the greatest psychological hurdles we face. 

While some people learn to acknowledge their mistakes with humility, many spend a lifetime defending opinions they know, deep down, may no longer be true. 

Ironically, the willingness to admit we are wrong is not a sign of weakness but one of the clearest marks of wisdom and personal growth.

Thank you Exxon-Mobil!

We are currently experiencing a hot weather spell in Park City, and while the temperatures are far from excruciating compared to those experienced in the Salt Lake Valley and many other places, we’ve been blessed, so far, without much smoke in the air except for 2 or 3 days in June. 

But when one look at the climatic devastation around the world, from the gigantic forest fires in Europe to the flooding in many places, global warming remains more than ever the humongous elephant in the room. 

Of course, no one is talking about what currently ails the planet and is going to be humanity downfall as the eyes are turned towards wars everywhere and politician’s eccentricities but chickens always come home to roost, which clearly means that meaning that past actions, particularly humanity’s wanton plundering of our planet will eventually catch up with all of us and what we experience is just a sampling. 

This is in spite of the fact that for decades, many members of the fossil fuel industry have tried to convince us that a causative link between fossil fuel use and climate warming couldn’t be made because the models used to project warming were too uncertain.

Recently, it’s been showed that one of these fossil fuel companies, ExxonMobil, had their own internal models that projected warming trajectories consistent with those forecast by the independent academic and government models. What they understood about climate models thus contradicted what they led all of us to believe. 

This is why I’ve decided to say every time I greet someone during our morning walk, if they happen to answer “It’s gonna be another hot one” I always use my follow up answer “Thanks to Exxon-Mobil!” 

Neighbor relations...

My neighbor seems like a nice guy, but like many people likes to have things “His way”. The other day he had visiting guests at his home. The weather was warm and they had dinner on their outdoor deck that is less than 30 feet from our bedroom. 

All the diners were loud and when we went to bed at 9pm we could hear them pretty clearly. We were hoping that at 10pm everyone would all retire inside the house, but they kept their loud encounter going until about 11:30pm. I was so mad that I couldn’t sleep. 

The following night the same thing happened and fearing a repeat of the previous evening, right after 10:30pm, I texted my dear neighbor asking him to “please tell your guests to tone it down, thanks” A few minutes later they all quieted down but my neighbor never answered my text, as he probably felt too embarrassed to respond. 

I felt good about the way I handled the incident. Would you have responded differently and if so, how?

The Wooden Nickel, Jackson Hole

In July of 1984, as I was working with Lange and wasn’t quite happy with my stage in life and career, my interest had been perked up by a tiny ad I found in the “Business Opportunities” section of the serious Wall Street Journal. 

In it, a fashion clothing store was adverised for sale in the mountain resort town of Jackson Hole in Wyoming. I called the ad, talked to the store owner and found out that the asking price for the business (not including the building, of course) was around $120,000 (just under $400,000 in today’s dollars). 

The name of the business was the “Wooden Nickel” which, right in Jackson Hole, stood for western heritage, unique goods, honest value and rustic charm, a playful nod to frontier culture. So around that time, while on a business trip passing through Denver, I flew to Jackson to see the place. 

I had never been there and I loved it! The seller picked me up at the airport and showed me his business. I kind of liked it, but wasn’t too sure about that venture, so I said, I’ll think about it and I’ll talk about it to my wife. 

Work and daily life then flew by and later that year I began developing plans that would lead to my move to Utah in 1985. My western dream was getting on tracks and would become the game-changer it has been!

Weather predictions for next winter…

The latest outlook from the NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center just came out and covers pretty much the upcoming snow season including January, February and March 2027. 

It shows a recognizable El Niño pattern beginning to emerge with wetter conditions across much of the southern United States, drier weather across portions of the northern Rockies and increased odds of above-normal temperatures across large sections of the country.

These maps do not predict exact snowfall totals or individual winter storms. However, they provide what should be a good early indication of where the storm track may favor wetter, drier, warmer or cooler conditions during the 2026–2027 winter. 

As far as Park City is concerned you can see it for yourself: Temperatures trending higher and precipitation the same as normal. We’ll see, as always time will tell, and come early April, we’ll compare predictions against realities to see if any came close to what NOAA predicted….

Too much of a good thing

Portillo, the Chilean ski resort was supposed to open for skiing on June 27. It couldn’t as snow was not there on time. It did the weekend later with snow making on its Plateau ski runs, but on July 14 the access road was closed as a massive snowstorm began on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.

Over 5 meters (16+ feet) of total snow has piled up across the resort area since the system hit. Ski Portillo has remained closed and isolated due to the high volume of snow and safety precautions. 

Unofficial local forecasts and resort communications suggest that the closure could realistically impact travel until the first few days of August 2026. The Chilean Highway Department and Guardia Vieja local authorities manage Route 60 (the highway to Portillo). 

Clearing the road will require an immense amount of time to dig through the deep snowpack, clear stranded freight trucks, and complete extensive avalanche mitigation work. 

Ski Portillo's management said that once a safe weather window finally opens, they will first attempt to transport stranded guests to and from the resort via helicopter before the highway is fully cleared for public vehicles. 

While some central Chilean resorts like Valle Nevado have managed restricted 4x4-only openings for residents and staff with bookings, the severe high-mountain corridor leading to Portillo remains strictly impassable. 

Be careful of what you wish for!

The difference between mentors and catalysts

When I take the time to think about it, I don’t think I was ever fortunate to have a mentor, spotting me, guiding me, imparting their knowledge and watching me grow. At the very least, what I’ve often thought were “mentors”, were just encounters that deflected on my trajectory and made it somehow think. To borrow into the present fad, “influencers” might be a better word for what these people did to me. 

I could also say catalysts, which might be a more appropriate term. In fact, what I’m describing is more common than the classic “mentor–mentee” narrative we’re all taught to expect. Perhaps, the distinction I’m making between mentors and catalysts is something most of us never articulate, but many end up experiencing. 

Again, if a mentor is someone who walks alongside us, a catalyst is someone who bumps into us and changes our direction. In reality, most people have far more catalysts than mentors — but we often mislabel them as mentors because “mentor” is the socially approved story.

True mentors have three characteristics: They are there for the duration, they actively invest in our growth and they offer guidance, not just influence. They’re relational, present and committed. They’re the people who say, “I see where you’re going — let me help you get there.” 

Most people have very few of these, sometimes none. On the other hand, catalysts are very different: They appear briefly enough to disrupt our thinking, shift our trajectory and don’t stay around to watch what happens next. Catalysts are not mentors, they’re just inflection points. For instance, they’re the professor who said one sentence that stuck, the colleague who challenged our assumptions, the stranger whose comment re-framed our worldview or sometimes the book that jolted us awake. 

Catalysts don’t guide us — they ignite us. We generally confuse the two because our cultural narrative around growth is built around mentorship and we’re told that successful people have mentors. We’re also told that guidance is the noble path and this wisdom can only be passed down through relationships. 

Many of us never have a true mentor not because they’re unlucky, but because mentorship requires relationships, resources, time, alignment, mutual commitment and a shared sense of purpose. Catalysts, however, can be everywhere as life is full of collisions, not apprenticeships. 

Finally, if some people thrive under mentorship, others, like me perhaps who tend to be independent thinkers, self-directed learners, and people who value autonomy — grow more through catalytic encounters. Maybe I could say for people like me, catalysts often are the real mentors — just in a different form.

Forgot to do what I preach?

The other day, I was on the phone with a friend of mine who recently moved to France with her husband and explained that she was overwhelmed with a large make-over in the older house she just moved into. 

I suggested that she attempt to parcel out the tasks in trying to break up the work and then I realized I should tell her what my approach is when I’m faced with projects or challenges much larger than what I can handle. 

I told her to look at that undertaking with all of our competitive might and see in it a challenge that she had deliberately chosen to measure herself to the sea of average, mediocre human beings. She thought it was a cool idea… 

Then a few days later, as I’m now struggling to tackle a big project that doesn’t appeal to me at all, I suddenly remembered what I admonished that young lady to do and realized that the cobbler had no shoes and I better should tell myself the same set of admonitions. 

I did, and suddenly that ugly task of mine became sexy again and appealing to me. Amazing how our brain loves to forget or overlook what’s good for its own survival, health and pleasure! 

Should we stay with Prime?

If you are not familiar with Amazon Prime. it’s the company’s paid subscription service that offers members fast, free shipping, video streaming, and exclusive discounts. It offers cost-free two-day, one-day, or same-day delivery on millions of eligible items. No minimum order is required. 

Likewise, it also gives access to free delivery on qualifying orders from Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods stores. In addition there’s free access to stream movies, TV shows, and live sports which we’ve never used much. There’s also a selection of music and podcasts which we’ve never accessed either. Cost for the service is $139 per year or $14.99 per month plus taxes. 

However, non-Prime members qualify for free standard shipping on orders of $35 or more on Amazon. Today, since I’m no friend with Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, we’re reevaluating if Amazon Prime is worth it based on how often we shop and the fixed cost involved. After doing my own survey, it seems that if I place less than 20 or 30 orders per year, Prime is probably not worth it, especially if we often buy items that already have free shipping without Prime or batch many items together to get to $35. 

We might only go above these numbers yearly if we purchased lots of small, inexpensive items. We should also consider the following hidden factors people forget as Prime influences us to buy more frequently, buy smaller items, choose Amazon even when alternatives are cheaper and value convenience over price comparison 

Without Prime I need to meet the order minimum of over $35 of eligible items (those "fulfilled by Amazon") or any items marked "FREE Shipping" on the product page. If I want to reduce my Amazon addiction, canceling Prime is one of my strongest levers. Since my renewal is up soon, I’ll try this: Cancel and for the foreseeable future and keep track of the shipping fees actually paid, any inconvenience from waiting and any purchases I postpone to reach the free-shipping minimum. 

This way, I'll have real data instead of guessing. This way I shouldn’t have to renew, unless I’m ordering from Amazon very frequently or I know for sure that I’ll save more than $139 a year in shipping. People who place few orders find they can avoid most shipping charges by combining purchases or meeting Amazon's free-shipping minimum. I’ll let you know how that goes!

Soccer World Cup post-mortem

It’s with increasing pleasure and excitement that we have watched the 2026 Soccer World Cup. Without adding to what all of you have seen, read or thought, I just wanted to share my impression that might shine some new light or show a different view on the whole series of events. 

First, it took us some time to get in the mood and catch a certain rhythm as we are notoriously poor team sport spectators. We hardly see any, whether it’s NFL football, basketball, hockey or baseball. We’d rather do the sport than watch it! 

Next, we were shocked at the players’ rough behavior on the field. It seemed to us that it was perceived by players as worth taking a chance the referee wouldn’t see the fault, which confirmed itself as a fair probability. As spectators, we can see fault very easily and quite clearly because of the 3-D view the camera affords us, while the referee is far from enjoying the same visual luxury! 

Of course, we rooted both for the US and France, and while the former was a victim of Trump’s trickery, the latter disappointed us as the going got tough and the opponents harder to beat. 

As a French exiled from my home country since 1977, I had a tough time squaring up with a national team composed in its vast majority of players of African origin. Both England and Spain had teams that looked more representative of their respective population. 

Maybe it’s a sign that I’m overdue to return to France for a visit… Finally, we were delighted that Spain won. "¡Viva España!"

Learning a language with IA (Part Two)

In the previous blog, we’ve seen that when the topic is meaningful, my brain is more likely to remember. So today we’ll see how variations can tremendously amplify my learning if I incorporate them in my conversations. 

To achieve that, I plan to take a given topic and redo it once in simple Spanish, once in a more complex version, once using only the past tense, then the future and maybe – only maybe - using subjunctive triggers (“aunque”, “cuando”, “si”, “ojalá”). All this to build flexibility, not just vocabulary. It’s also my plan to prioritize listening as much as speaking by asking TalkPal to speak at native speed, slightly slower and with regional accents (Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Chile).

Based on my experience I know that listening is the bottleneck, so if I can understand fast Spanish, speaking becomes much easier. Along with speed, I’m also planning to ask for corrections in a selective manner. If TalkPal were to corrects everything, I would lose flow, but if it fails to correct me I’ll fossilize mistakes. 

I’ll ask: “Solo corrige errores importantes que cambian el significado.” or “Déjame hablar libremente y corrige al final.” Hopefully, this will keep the conversation natural. When I get good at conversing, I plan to push into emotional and philosophical topics, areas I enjoy talking about. Things like aging, dreams, fear, meaning, mountains life, lessons learned throughout my life and reflection on time that goes far too fast. If I can succeed with all this, I’ll be able to track my progress in comfort, not perfection. 

For this I’ll make my own measurements by asking: 

• Am I hesitating less? 
• Am I thinking more in Spanish? 
• Am I recovering from mistakes faster? 
• Am I enjoying the conversation more? 

All these elements are the real markers of fluency. But again, when the real hurdle to learning languages is the fear of being judged and looking stupid. I only need to keep in mind at all time that I’m interacting with a robot that sounds and talk to me just like a human, but this might be a tall call… 

Wish me good luck!

Learning a language with IA (Part One)

After learning Spanish with Duolingo two years ago, I felt that I had accumulated enough knowledge to tackle conversation, something the popular language learning method” seemed ill-equipped to provide. I'm now moving on with the halo of AI and the TalkPal app. I now need to practice my conversation and I suspect that I’ll have to retool my approach to make the best out of that new technology.

After learning more than three extra languages, I know that I’m entering the most important phase of language learning — conversation — and after quite a bit a research, I turn to TalkPal because I found it to be the best bridge between structured learning (Duolingo) and real‑world fluency. The key for me now is to use the tool in a way that forces my brain to operate in Spanish rather than “translate into Spanish.” 

Obviously, TalkPal shouldn’t be treated just like a quiz, but like a teacher (albeit a robotic one!) This is no time either to ask it for vocabulary lists or grammar explanations, as I’m already supposed to know those from Duolingo. Instead, the new tool should be used a conversation partner.

I should tell it stories, describe my day, argue a point, ask for opinions, express emotions make mistakes and keep going, the goal being flow, not correctness. Of course, I’ve learned a long time ago, that when learning a language I must immerse myself into it, so there’s no English (or French) unless it’s absolutely necessary. 

Based on that premise, if I don’t know a word, I use several to express what it means and describe it in Spanish: 

“Es como…” 

“Es una cosa que…” 

“Sirve para…” 

“Parece…” 

This is one of the most powerful fluency skills and I make it mine! When I learned English, adult beverages helped me a lot as I was shy and afraid to look like a fool. In using TalkPal to simulate real situations by creating scenarios that matter to me, like booking a hotel in Madrid, asking for help on a hike in Patagonia, discussing architecture or mountain climate, reminiscing about Park City glorious winters or just planning a trip with my wife. 

I could also use it for explaining my philosophy about aging and dreams (in Spanish!) In the next blog, we’ll see how I can fine tune my learning to my advantage...

Aging: running out of time and dreams (Part Two)

To pursue on that subject of ambition vs. curiosity, let me add that dreams may shrink in size but they grow in intensity. Curiosity is the antidote to the fear of limited time because it doesn’t require a future — only a present. At that point, it’s time to stop asking dreams to justify themselves. 

As we age, we demand that dreams be practical, meaningful, efficient, worth the time and the energy, but dreams don’t survive interrogation, they just survive permission. True, dreams don’t need guarantees; they need oxygen. And oxygen comes from allowing ourselves to explore without demanding a return on investment.

We must also use mortality as a focusing lens, not a threat. This is perhaps counterintuitive but extremely powerful. When time feels infinite, dreams scatter, but when time feels finite, dreams sharpen. To this, we could add that the awareness of limited time can either suffocate dreams or distill them. The trick is to let mortality clarify what truly matters instead of letting it intimidate us. 

Let’s also not forget that the biggest barrier to dreaming later in life is the belief that dreams must be large. This said the mind blooms when the dream is actionable, immediate, sized to fit our time-frame and emotionally resonant. A dream that begins today is a dream that survives. There’s no question that getting older is tricky because time suddenly feels like a narrow corridor instead of a wide, open plain. 

When we sense that the future is limited or uncertain, dreams become timid — they hesitate, they hide, or they never germinate at all. Still, dreams don’t disappear because we age; they disappear because we start demanding guarantees. We ask them to justify themselves, to prove they’re worth the time, the energy, the risk. And under that pressure, they retreat. 

So let’s remember that the way forward is to make dreaming lighter again. To shift from lifelong ambitions to seasonal ones. To replace ambition with curiosity. To let mortality sharpen our focus instead of dulling our imagination. Dreams bloom when they’re small enough to begin today, gentle enough not to intimidate us, and meaningful enough to stir something inside us. 

Time may be limited, but imagination isn’t — and the mind remains fertile as long as we give it permission to wander, explore, and play.

Aging: running out of time and dreams (Part One)

Getting older isn't for the faint at heart as we are under a pretty strong impression that the time ahead of us is more than limited and uncertain. So it’s pretty obvious that when we feel boxed-in in such a way, whatever dream we might generate gets scared, runs away in a hurry or doesn't even bother to germinate into our minds... 

The interrogation we’re left with is how can they pop-up into our mind and bloom no matter the time constraints we’re imposing on them? This is one of those questions that sits right at the intersection of psychology, philosophy, and the essence of aging.

When time feels finite, our mind becomes conservative. Dreams don’t die because we’re older; they die because the mind becomes like a risk‑averse accountant, constantly calculating “Is it worth it?” instead of "Let's try it" or “What if?” For instance, “Should I even buy a ski season pass this year? There's no absolute guarantee that I will make it through the winter, right?” The thought captures the emotional truth of that shift.

What we can add — and what will make our reflection more powerful, is a clearer articulation of how dreams still can emerge and thrive even under the pressure of limited time. What I’m convinced of, is about the psychological contraction of aging: that boxed‑in feeling is real. Then there’s the fragility of dreams under time pressure and the existential tension of still wanting to bloom while fearing the clock. One solution to that quandary is to shift from “lifelong dreams” to “seasonal dreams”. 

When we’re young, dreams are grand arcs, but as we grow older, dreams need to become seasonal in order to fit into our timeframe and thrive. They turn into smaller, sharper and more immediate inspirations. All dreams don’t need 20 years. They can be a 6‑month project, a 3‑week exploration or just a 1‑day experiment. Our minds need a proper scale in order to bloom!  

There’s another way to improve that situation by replacing ambition with curiosity. Ambition is heavy, curiosity is much lighter. If ambition asks, “Will this succeed?” curiosity asks, “What happens if I try?” We’ll continue that discussion tomorrow and explore that subtle change from ambition to curiosity, so if you're curious, please return!

A simple passive solar detail

Ever since I came to live in Park City, I’ve placed enormous importance on choosing a home site with true southern exposure. 

After spending a quarter century in a shaded location, back in the Alps, where my parents’ home received only a few hours of winter sun, I learned firsthand how profoundly mountain sunlight affects both comfort and morale. Of course, site orientation is only half the equation — architecture must do the rest. 

At 7,000 feet, our sun is stronger, our winters are colder, and our skies are clearer, which makes solar geometry one of the most powerful and overlooked design tools. I’ve always been surprised by how little attention many local architects give to passive‑solar principles. 

When we built our home in 2013, I insisted on deep south‑facing eaves — in our case, 7 feet — to block the high summer sun while welcoming the low winter sun. At this latitude, the sun’s altitude swings nearly 47° between seasons, so a well‑designed overhang can dramatically reduce summer heat gain while providing free warmth in winter. 

The photo below was taken on July 7, shortly after the summer solstice at 11 a.m. MDST, and it shows exactly how the eaves perform: full shade in summer, full sun in winter.

Passive solar isn’t complicated — it’s simply good mountain architecture.

Roland Collombin, 1951-2026

Roland Collombin was a legendary Swiss World Cup alpine ski racer, two-time World Cup downhill champion, and Olympic silver medalist. He passed away on July 10, 2026, at the age of 75 following a two-year battle with cancer. 

A ski daredevil, Collombin dominated downhill racing in the 1973/1974 ski season before sustaining some devastating spinal injuries that cut his career short at 24. He captured back-to-back Downhill Crystal Globes in 1973 and 1974. 

Taming the notorious Streif, he won the dangerous Hahnenkamm downhill race in Kitzbühel twice, in 1973 and 1974, setting a course record during his second victory. Collombin’s high-risk, high-reward racing style led to a tragic relationship with the Oreiller-Killy piste in Val d'Isère. In December 1974, he suffered a severe spine injury during a training crash that sidelined him for the entire season. 

In December 1975, as he attempted a comeback, he crashed violently at the exact same spot, fracturing two vertebrae and was temporarily paralyzed. That jump became known as "La Bosse à Collombin" (the Collombin Bump). In these days, I was ski instructing at Avoriaz and working as a volunteer on January 12, 1974 on the Jean Vuarnet downhill course there, and Collombin’s passing brought back some key memories. 

The night before the race, I got together at “Chez Caroline”, a Morzine bar-nightclub, with my friend Jean-Pierre Chatellard, then coach of the French team and Scott Henderson, coach of the Canadian downhillers that would soon become the “Crazy Canucks”. 

These days, even though I loved ski instructing, I was desperately looking for a year-round job, instead of this seasonal job, I also had no real desire to set up a souvenir shop or run a restaurant in Les Lindarets for the rest of my life. 

Just the three of us downed a bottle of whiskey among other beverages. While reminiscing and conversing, Chatellard whom I had not seen since 1972 in Australia, gave me a few serious leads for jobs in the ski industry that I followed to the letter and finally got me into me inside that area of the ski biz. 

The next day as we were side-slipping a frozen race-run, I was experiencing the worst hangover of my entire life, but I survived and Roland Collombin won that race! 

Living cruising the seas (Part Two)

So what pushes so many to spend almost as much time (if not more) on a cruise ship than at home? Many retirees mention the same advantages, no cooking, cleaning, change of scenery without packing or unpacking, safety and convenience plus excellent opportunities to socialize. 

As you can see, a touch of laziness goes a long way! For our neighbors, visiting dozens of destinations doesn’t seem to make any difference and repeatedly packing and unpacking is not even a factor. For couples, it can be an especially relaxing lifestyle because neither person has to plan every day's activities, like “What’s for dinner” or cleaning up the roof gutters. 

Of course, there are a few downsides to that sea life. Even on a huge ship, internet access can be slow or expensive (although it has improved greatly with satellite services). Medical emergencies could end up being costly and in some cases might require expensive evacuation. Cabins are relatively small, buffet food never changes, so it quickly becomes tiring, and entertainment never fails to become repetitive on a long stay away.

For those who are more curious than our neighbors, ports only provide a brief glimpse of a destination. Then, long cruises can become surprisingly expensive unless one is very disciplined about onboard purchases as everything is engineered to separate passengers from their money. This said, the economics of this lifestyle may surprise many. 

For retirees who have sold their house or rent a modest apartment, cruising isn't always as extravagant as it sounds. For instance, the cheapest ocean cruises start around $50 to $80 per person, per night (before taxes and port fees) for interior cabins. The lowest per-person, per-day rates are found on shorter 3- to 4-night sailings, repositioning cruises, and older ships from mainstream fleets like Carnival Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, and Royal Caribbean. 

So if we conservatively said $100 per person and per day, we’d get to a $36,500 cost year round which would include lodging, all meals, utilities, housekeeping, transportation between ports, entertainment, fitness facilities and many activities. This would be hard to beat for a single person renting an apartment anywhere in the US and while $73,000 for a couple might be over the actual cost, it still might be justifiable on account of the affordable services and entertainment received. 

If we compare this with maintaining a home, paying property taxes, insurance, utilities, groceries, dining out, and taking occasional vacations, the difference may be smaller than many people expect. Pretty amazing, isn’t it? Now is this lifestyle a growing trend? It would seem that way as the population of healthy retirees has grown, and cruise lines now actively cater to repeat customers with loyalty programs, extended voyages, and even "world cruises" lasting three to six months. 

Some newer itineraries are designed specifically for people who want to treat the ship as a temporary home rather than simply a vacation. This would never work for us as life on a boat feels claustrophobic, but many people who love to do nothing, and never imagined spending months at sea, discover that the combination of comfort, variety, and social interaction suits their retirement remarkably well. 

What about you?