Skiing and snowboarding are a lot of fun, but it can be tough to find a place without crowded slopes and long chairlift lines, especially in Europe. And Switzerland? It's hard to find a more sought after skiing spot. People cross oceans for a chance at those slopes. And yet, you might be able to find a quiet place to do some boarding and skiing...
The Saint Bernard Monastery (yup, it's where those dogs got their names) is located at a crossing place in the Swiss Alps, 12,000 feet in elevation. Though once an important destination (such historical figures as Charlemagne, Napoleon, and Hemingway have all stayed there), the Saint Bernard Tunnel now diverts traffic across the Alps, and the monastery isn't in the hub bub of things. The Augustine monks still man it, however, and you can still stay there.
In the summer, you can drive right up, but the roads are closed due to snow in the winter, which is what serves to make this a remote vacation destination. If you're hearty enough and brave enough, you can trudge up to the monastery for some great crowd-free skiing (most of the monks themselves are expert skiers, so you might even be able to snag a lesson).
Comments