17 February 2013

Areches, France

Totally new area for us ... Beafortain

The host (owner of the apartment) gave us some tips the night before and we chose to go to the "local" ski area - Areches

a very short drive up the valley from the apartment.
First stop some ski boots for Dominique, as we pulled into the town looking for the parking ... not a lot, and even what there was for the lift was limited. Anyway after getting the boots (whilst I drove around) we found a dubious spot in the school play ground ... time to try out the winter tyres.

A short walk to the lifts and we were heading up....  beautiful blueskies.

The area is laid out along a ridge line, so the two initial chairs just take you to the main point.  First run gave us some excellent opportunities under the lift ... light powder from the week before and warm sun soon got the legs working.

Next excursion went to the top of the area ...  two more Poma lifts required. the first very violent (Sue had a couple of issues, but recovered). the top one was an elastic one so much more refined.  from the top there was an unpisted red to the left through some ravines I had seen leading back to the middle of the pomas.  so much fun we repeated it.

Sue went back from here as we tried out a trip up the remaining Poma and some between piste bowls, before a final blast down the first run of the day.

Sue went down on the chair, as I raced down on the piste .. both Steph (just) and I made the bottom before the chair.   but the legs were tired!! and this was only a half day!