Lots of snow!

That the Alps have seen lots of snow during December is probably not new news anymore. The snows came relatively late, with early December looking particularly bare. However, when it started, it forgot to stop.

The storm rages. Icicles on the roof of L'Androsace - and they just kept on getting bigger, and bigger!

Watching the rain beat against the windows with a hurricane force in the Scottish Highlands over the Festive period whilst reading blog reports of all the snow felt a bit cruel. However, as soon as January arrived we were off on our travels again, and another couple of weeks at the apartment in Argentiere.

L'Androsace apartments looking a little bit wintry.

We kept looking at the depth of snow on the garage and wondering just how deep it would get.
Jodie and Sam in front of our garage which is inlcuded with your stay at the apartment.

Keeping the driveway clear required an extra big shovel.

And it didn't disappoint. Snowing as we arrived, a clear first full day to settle in, and then another week of constant snowfall. In all, around a metre fell in the village in the first week of January alone.

What happens when you book an apartment without dedicated covered parking.

There's a van under there somewhere.

Digging out. Nothing like a ton of snow down your neck when you're filling up at the pumps.

The skiing was mostly very good as a result, although visibility did warrant a bit of Jedi skiing at times. However, heading for the trees above Plan Joran at the Grand Montets and playing in the powder in the steep gullies proved a big hit, even in the worst of the weather. Winds stopped play (first time I've seen this in the last 5 years of regular visits) and while many moaned about the queues for the Pierre a Ric, we found ourselves down at Flegere having one of the most fun days on skis we've had in years. Whilst there was only two sheltered chairlifts running, we didn't need anymore. Only a handful stayed to play in the bottomless powder between the trees. Yee har!

In the woods behind Argentiere.

When the legs got too tired we opted for a walk. Popped out for an hour, came back at dusk! I've always fancied having a go with snow shoes, and it's taken 44 years to make it happen. I've been missing out! More on that in due course.

At the Aire de Jeux

The depth of snow meant that the slide wasn't too exciting!

Off piste snow shoeing above Argentiere. Huge amounts of fun.

But soon enough high pressure arrived over the Haute Savoie, the clouds cleared and some big ski days came our way. 2 weeks flew past faster than ever, and now it's time to plan the next trip to Argentiere. Can't wait!

Evening view from the balcony. Temperatures dropped to -13 degrees overnight this last week.

2010 Ski Season

If you're anything like me then your thoughts will be firmly focussed on the coming summer season. With some warmth in the sunshine, long daylight hours, hills to be run, trails to be biked, there's little time for thinking about when I'll be skiing in 2010.

Already dreaming of 2010

However, with flight schedules for Easyjet and others now available perhaps its worth taking a few moments to secure the dates of your choice for the next winter season?

Prices and availability for our apartment in Argentiere are now available on our web site. There's good availability just now but we are receiving enquiries and some weeks are now committed.

Right, back to the biking...

Snow Still Falling

Plenty of snow still falling in Argentiere this week. Some great conditions on the mountains but if you're just starting out and want a bit of family fun then you're as well using the 'beginner slopes' at the foot of the hills.

Here's a photo of Les Chosalets, close to the foot of the Grand Montets ski lifts in Argentiere. Great for messing about on, though they don't take too kindly to sledges! Spot the apartment in the background - the large apex building in the middle right of the photo.

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?