Les Contamines, France

After yesterday's rest day (for some) we wanted to get out and make the most of our time.

The weather was not promising, but the clouds were high, so we headed up to the top station to see what we could do.

The clouds were down, and we struggled to see anything. However there were some trees on the way down to the mid station, so this was a better choice than the open motorways up to the ridge.

We stumbled our way down to the mid station before going up and repeating it (now we knew the way!).

Next I chose to go down to the gulley and up the other side then down to the bottom drag (difficult navigating in the mist and open slopes) and continue down the track I had come part of the way up yesterday. This was a better descent route than the "standard" from the mid station, but it did involve keeping out of the walkers way.

As we started down the track it began snowing, whoch made it difficult to see, especially on the part where you have to walk "up" and lots of heat is generated.

Stopping at the gite/ pension for a rest and a warm drink, gave us a chance to take stock.

With the weather not improving, we continued down (not that there is much choice, but there was not takers to go back up)

We took the opportunity to get onto the fresh powder, and skip through the fields avoiding the zigzags by cutting the corners off.

Fun though this was, Sue did catch a ski and twist her knee, which would impact her tomorrow.

All told a good day, with some excitement at the end, and a lot of blind navigation.

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

Les Contamines, France

The sun was out so I was dispatched to get day tickets, as soon as the initial queue died down. This enabled us to walk over and get straight on the gondola once we were all dressed up.

The ride up was in the shade, but once we had disembarked at the top the sun was shining down and warming every thing up.

To get started we skied down to the intermediate station, under the lift, where the snow was hard but not too icy.

From the intermediate station we went back up again, then down tot he left of the station, into an area I had not been to before. This was a little used section, and we almost had it to ourselves. There was definitely no queue at the chair lift.

We went up to the ridge and then cut down the motorway pistes to the gulley before riding back to the station and lunch.

After lunch we dropped back down to the gulley, and up the other side before riding the new quad lift up towards the aig. Croche. 

Riding the motorways we returned to the gulley and up to the station, before dropping down to the middle station and riding the lift back to the apartment. We avoided the track down to the bottom as previously we had found this to be an icy racetrack.

A great first day.

Les Contamines, France

Nothing was dragging us out today ... the clouds were down and there was drizzle in the air.

So we spent the morning sorting out our stuff, and in the afternoon walked into the village to have a look around.

Once we got back the girls went off to do some sledging down the bank opposite the apartment.

2008 Ski Trip, France

Another year, and this year Chris and M-J would not be joining us, Chris was on call and did not want to risk the trip.

We had booked an apartment at Les Contamines,in a  block, without really knowing where it was. I was expecting to be a concrete block, but it turned out to be a pleasant large chalet style block.

We were on the ground floor right hand end as you look down on it from the lift. The window looked out onto the lift station, which allowed us to monitor the queues and pick a good time to rush over.

The apartment had a small room with bunks in it, and a curtained off area next to the day room. But plenty of room for the four of us.

The main issue I thought was going to be around parking ...the parking allocated to the apartment was in an area with a barrier and we did not have the code. but we would have been hard pressed to get the van in never mind park. however on the road, out side the apartment was a little lay-by, used for parking and we always managed to get a slot there when we moved (which was not often).

Trip Time Line

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	|	Arrive Les Contamines
Les Contamines	|
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Mountain Walk	|
	|	Les Contamines
Les Contamines	|
	|	Go Home

Weobley Castle, the Gower

Woebley Castle ... stuck out on the Gower peninsular .. did not know it was here all the times we visited . a great outlook over the salt marshes.
We were going to meet Andy again .. finally caught up with him and Lizzy in a cafe by the coast.