Start 'em young

Have you got a favourite ski run? Well, if pushed, I think I'd have to have Les Chamois up on the Grand Montets somewhere near the top of my list. A long, large meandering black run down a natural bowl that's provided some challenging and excellent terrain for many years. I was probably in my mid/late 20's before I discovered the run (only having learnt to ski a couple of years before that). So, sickening then when your 6 year old daughter in only her second season manages to ski the run with grace and ease!


And compared to 3 year old Sam, that's nothing! At the beginning of the trip he was merrily being dragged around between my legs. 2 days later and he's not just skiing the slopes, he's looking for jumps. Needless to add, progression during the holiday was significant, with the crowning glory being his descent of the Herse, the red run under the 6 man chair at Grand Montets. He turned an eye or 2 on his way down!

Don't you just wish you'd learnt to ski when you were 3 years old!

Here's another one of Jodie and Sam heading off with the entire Chamonix valley ahead of them and Mont Blanc in the middle distance... Cool, huh?

On the buses

Do we hire a car or do we rely on public transport? Being a 2 car family living in an area where public transport is next to non-existent, the natural choice is always to opt for the convenience of hiring a car. However, one of the key deciding factors in the long decision making process which resulted in deciding to stay in Argentière was based on the ease of access to the slopes. And so surely the right thing to do was save some money and opt for no car. Fine, when it comes to the short walk over the road to the Grand Montets, but what about when it comes to skiing down the valley at Le Brevent, especially with 2 young children plus skis in tow?


We actually set off with a day at La Flegere in mind. The bus stop is a short walk up the village street from L'Androsace but Sam (3) and Jodie (6) manage the walk easily in their ski boots, though it helps that dad attaches both sets of skis to his rucksack. We used the bus regularly over a fortnight and never waited more than about 10 minutes for one to arrive. The trip down the valley to the Flegere stop only takes a few minutes but, due to high winds or other reasons unknown, the telepherique was closed, so we stayed on the bus into town and the Chamonix Sud 'bus station'. Once there, we had to wait about 20 minutes for the bus to take us up to Le Brevent which wasn't ideal - but such are the joys of public transport I guess!


Once at Le Brevent, the longer than expected journey was soon forgotten. Excellent snow conditions, stunning views, big sunshine and deserted pistes all help! The lower runs were easy and yet challenging and long enough to keep Sam occupied for the day and the Haagen Daz ice cream in the restaurant proved to be the staple diet of the young skier. Another cracking family ski day.


As for the journey home again... We waited less than 5 minutes for the bus back into town and then were straight onto the bus up to Argentière. Back in the apartment in no time. Cars? Who needs 'em!