After the usual lazy stat to the first day of a trip, where everyone gets used
to the time zone changes and also the need to re-pack bags and find the ski
clothes. The weather was low cloud with the odd flurry of snow. We checked the
automatic machine in Beaufort, however it would only recharge existing cards,
so with Steph, KT & Myself in the van, with Bryon, Jenny & Toby in the
car we left for the Areches ski area car park.
In the car park (the bottom area was full so we parked the van in the camper van
slots) we got ready and walked over to the kiosk for tickets - opting for a 4
hour ticket as we reasoned it would be a bit cold after 3pm when the sun dropped
over the skyline. As opposed to last year the snow level was below 1000m,
although it was a little thin down to the bottom station and the return run was
closed.
The ride up to the middle station was very cold and I soon realised that I
should have more layers on (and thicker gloves). From the middle station we
dropped down to the second tranche chair to the top station. This was the first
time for us to see KT in action on the snowboard, as well as Toby and Jenny.
From the top station we dropped down the blue run back to the middle one - the
visibility was not great, and the light flat, however taking it steady to allow
everyone time to readjust to the situation and equipment. The run down was
relatively slow as we stayed mainly on the piste, shepherding Katie and
Jenny.
Katie was cold and feeling quite the effects of concentrating hard on boarding,
as well as still trying to get warm from the chair lift rides, so while everyone
else went back up to repeat the run, KT and I slipped into the Panoramique
restaurant. Inside was heaving and we were lucky to grab a four seat table but
indicating we wanted to eat (they were disappointed that we only order chips,
but it got the table).
When the others came back we swapped over and KT spent the time adjusting her
board bindings and they repeated our order inside. Meanwhile I added another layer and took out the "big" gloves.
Once everyone had eaten and warmed up we rode the top chair once more - this time I took Toby and Steph through some of the off-piste - riding the powder that was still available below the lift. We then connected back up for the last slope down to the middle station.
The red run down to Le Plannay was open and we then followed that down. this starts with a very gentle track as it winds around the slope of a tongue reaching out above Le Plannay. Then it changes dramatically as a steep slope down the valley (Les Perches). Steph and I followed KT down as she took care to board it. Only one crash where she cartwheeled, but recovered with only a bruise from her water bottle.
The slope eases up as it comes out to the valley bottom chalets and we followed the now flat track of the piste down to the chair and gondola lift stations in Le Plannay.
Steph, KT and I then wandered over to the bus stop whilst Bryon took the others up the chair for a run on Le Plannay. KT was feeling the effects of the exercise, so that was all we could manage today, knowing that we had a full week yet to come.
The bus was late and the others had just finished their run when the next ne arrives and we all used it to reach the car park at Areches.
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