Lloyd and Katie went off to get boots fixed and ski at Meribel so Steph, Sue and
I headed back to Le Planay, this time to ski the slopes (especially as the skies
were clear and a sunny day was promised. This would be Sue's first and only day
on the slopes this year.
The initial problem was getting into the van we had to clear last night's snow
off everywhere - even cleared an amount of snow off the roof - we will see about
the rest we could not reach another day.... the main issue was that the sliding
door and the rear door were frozen shut ... I managed to open the sliding door
after having the internal heater going for around 30 mins, however the rear door
would not budge. When we arrived at the parking Steph and I had to wrangle
Sue's skis out from under the back seat around the front ones and out - one at a
time having extracted then from the travelling bag and ties!
We booted up and while I went to get some tickets (the machine in Beaufort was
not working) Sue had a practice on the slopes by the chair lift. It was cold
down in the valley but the sun was out on the hills.
We took the chair up to the middle station where we discovered the only viable
route without going higher, was back down the blue to the bottom. We needed a
few moments to warm up after a chilly ride up, with views over towards Mont
Blanc.
Down the Papillon piste - mainly in the shade, although I did manage a few
diversions into the powder at the side in places where I knew from yesterday.
Next trip up we took the same route dropping down to the top chair lift and rode
it up to the sunshine. The ride was freezing all the way to the top before we
went in the sun though.
A pause at the top to warm up and look at the view over towards the Areches
ski area and Grand Mont (hiding around the corner) - we needed it as there was
a cold well before the final rise to the ridge on the chair!
Down the blue from the top and back into the shade, curving around to the top of
the (not working) poma lift before continuing on to the restaurant tantalisingly
placed above the bottom lift, where we stopped for a real warm up (hot drinks
and chips).
View from the terrace looking iover to Mont Blanc and surrounding areas -
playing spot the ski areas!
Leaving Sue in the sun on the terrace Steph and I repeated the trip up to the
top, but this time taking the red & black runs - pas des vaches & refuge
(unpisted) powder hunting back down to the bottom. We passed a sign badly
translated, but definitely making sense, and through waist deep powder which was
still fluffy even though it was quite chopped up after yesterday's passages.
Only issue was when I popped a binding turning uphill in deep powder ... big
face plant. Riding gullies in powder needs more attention!. Then speedily down
to the bottom and back up, this time riding both chair lifts as we had to get to
the restaurant.
Sue was getting a little cold waiting and the ride down suffered a bit as a
consequence, as we slowly descended following the first run of the day always
chasing the retreating sun. Perhaps we should have all skied down after lunch
then Steph and I gone back up to play - this would also have meant one less ride
through the cold well.
Back at the van and still the back door was stuck, so a visit to the
supermarket and fill up with fuel before returning to the apartment for tea and
cake.
