Mountain Walk, France

The others wanted to have a day away from skiing, so I decided that I would go for a little wander. looking out over the lift, I could see a slope that looked as if I could get somewhere, whilst having the safety of the piste close by if I ran into difficulties.

I never though I could get to the ridge, but the mauve is where I ascended, the pink where I thought I would go, and the purple the route out. the Blue dot is the Shepherds hut and pylon.

Up the track, through the trees and see how high I can get before lunch time ... unlike the map this is what it looked like in reality.

Through some fields to cut off the track zig zags.

Through some summer houses.

Through some fields to cut off the track zig zags

looking upwards .. this is where I would end up ... it is recognisable by the single large tree, which is actually underneath a pylon dead centre of the picture.

Fatally I followed some snow shoe tracks .... they went into the woods and after some faffing about came to this clearer section.... pause for a breather - it is hard working and very taxing going nowhere around trees.

the way ahead .... it always seems that the top of the tree line is only over the next rise.

Over the next rise just got a little tighter as the trees started to squeeze the runnel I was ascending.

Then off into the woods again!







exiting the denser parts and things opened out.

This was a fairly common sight in these woods where the weight of the snow bent the silver birch over. Anyway we were definitely getting some where now and things were thinning out
looking across to the ski area and the middle station. I was glad to be above it ... it meant that i was gaining altitude for my efforts.

looking across to the ski area and the middle station. I was glad to be above it ... it meant that i was gaining altitude for my efforts.

Leaving the tress behind and into the scrub, the pylon sat on a mound and looked a good place for a view, and there looked like a shepherds hut just behind which would give some shelter from the wind that was starting to get up.... just getting there was a problem.

finally! the last 100m of ascent took well over 30 mins. The slope was actually sugar snow on a hard layer underneath, and although stable would not allow any purchase with the skins ... in the end it was skis off and kick steps!

Looking down on the middle station and up the ridge to the top one. This would also be the way down ... over towards the next pylon

Continuing around ... this was where I had wanted to go after getting here, but now a little put off ... descent was the order of the day.

Lunch stop

One last look back

and downwards .... I was not too comfortable going down through the trees, so cut around to a more open slope. Following what seemed to be a footpath on the map.

Some tentative turns later I arrived at the top of this lot .... a call for some defensive skiing. In the end it was not too bad, but my heart was in my mouth for a while. this was not a place to be alone!


Back in the trees ... not worried any more this has to be better than the loose snow on rock cliffs back on the slope.

Popping out the other side of a ravine I came to another shepherds hut, and lots more tracks. I could now believe I was on a footpath.

More tight skiing in the trees, and we finally ended up back on the track .. albeit a kilometre or so further up than where I left it.

Back in the fields below the track

the final slope before rejoining the piste.

So back on the piste, and looking back there is the pylon and the tree ... now for some hot tea and cake!


A good day out