We woke up to snowing... very wet but better than rain - the last few
days had dropped a fair amount of snow at height so the avalanche forecast was
high. The cloud was down at our level as well, so we had the option for a tour
on the edge of the ski areas - the Le Planay one would be zero cost, or take a
ski day. After the multiple days skinning it was chosen to take a ski day.
The chair lift in Areches was down for maintenance so we had to catch a bus to
Le Planay and then go from there - not too much of a bind as Steph and I had not
been on that area this trip. It was properly snowing at the slightly higher
altitude and the cloud was causing very flat light.
We bought a 4 hour ticket as we did not anticipate a full day, and as it turned
out that was being optimistic as well. Up on the Piapolay chair to the first
station - very damp and snowy seats added to the "thrill", and once up it was
definitely goggles time, and to do up every zip to its fullest.
Down the Blue - Papillon, changing to the blue - Echarte at the Combettes chair
to return to the bottom ... these were quite icy where the fresh snow had
been scrapped off and with the low visibility added tot he challenges. I am not
sure if the visibility was worse through the goggles - they caused my eyes to
focus on the lenses and lots of floaters - or without where the onrushing snow
caused the eyes to shut and was also very cold. I persisted with the goggles.
Next up the same chair - Piapolay, down the red - Roc Blanc to the Combettes
chair this time, then up the chair to the top of the ski area (Col des
Combettes). We descended the blue - Grand Combe until we could change to the red
- Legette to return tot he bottom of the Combettes chair. The reds were
definitely better than the blues with some snow left on them, however they did
undulate more and needed care to avoid falling on sudden drops or flatter
places.
At this point I had had enough, and decided it was time to go down for a warm up
in the Telemark bar. Steph and I then followed the red - Piapolay and Platte to
the bottom. Only challenge was a steep (and very icy - because of the prior days
scraping) slope.
Into the bar for coffee and chips, to be joined by Bryon and Jenny after they
had completed another circuit. As it was now lunch time for the bus drivers we
"had" to return via the closed blue - Boulevard de Liaison. The new snow had
made this passable in the two places where lakes had formed across the track
from the previous few days rain.
Finally a walk back up to the apartment and the rest of a late lunch. Walking was better than going faster, and both were less impact than the rain of the previous two days.
