Hautleuce, France

Just Katie, Chris and I today ..  and a trip to Hautleuce to see how it was coping with the lack of snow.

Arriving at the valley station, it was very empty, half a dozen cars, but the lift was running.

There was a deep frost and the temperature was low and the sun had not been here for a long time.

There were strange looks as we walked around the lift and put on the skis ...  they knew something we would find out ...
The snow making was going on and at the bottom a thin ribbon existed...  however around the corner in the woods where the piste got steeper, the ribbon ran out...

Skis off and walk up steep slippery rocks. after about 100m we could put them back on again - but only for a short section as we hit the next bend, and where the sun had reached, it ran out again. We continued (carefully) on the skins across the grass and light gravel, until we reached sheet ice ... luckily the gutter had foliage in it and we could walk up that as an escape route.

Above this tricky section there was a really nice slope with thick man made snow ...  the sun coming out warmed up the day and things looked good.

As we came out of the trees the snow ran out again ...  continuing again carefully we kept going until we found some odd patches as the track flattened out and contoured to the mid station.
Here we cut across the rough slopes (grass, heather and snow) picking our way from snow patch to snow patch.

Hot drink and chips later, the day was warming up, except for the wind which was bitter when it got up.

We set off to walk down the top section ... cutting the corner off  to the track, with an awkward drop down to the track.

Then the top of the "nice" section to put skis on

Unfortunately we were not the first down, but there was plenty of fresh snow left for us..

The top icy section we walked down (discretion being the better part of valor here) .. then we were in the snow making territory .. as you approached all seemed good , then the wet snow would blind you at the same time the skis started dragging, trying to make you fall over. Recovering and half blind you escape the clutches of the monster and pick up on the fresh snow blown down hill.

One more walking section and several more snow making monsters and we were back at the bottom.

Foregoing a stop in the cafe there - after last year when we were told in no uncertain terms that the kitchens were closed and there was no food, it had lost the appeal for our custom. We set off for the chalet ...  only to find out once there I had left a plastic bag with wallet and bits in the car park. Driving back in controlled rage at myself, only to be really lucky and find it where I had dropped it - only now under the front bumper of a car.
Relieved and chastened I adjusted the coping mechanism to be more OCD. This nearly spoiled what was a good day grabbed from no where.