 |
After a mild/dry autumn we had some reasonable snow early in December. So with snow on the bike trails, it was time to get the touring kit out and start work on the ski legs.
After skinning up to the Col du Balme at Le Tour a couple of times, I headed up to Les Houches with Karl. |
 |
Looking back up the valley towards Chamonix - the snow cover is looking ok and the cold temperature meant we were in optimistic mood for the winter...
|
 |
Middle of nowhere? The replacement Prarion telecabine is just off to the left of shot. The Aiguille du Midi is above Karl and Mont Blanc up the right corner of the shot. |
 |
Glad I enjoyed the skin up - 'cos the skiing was interesting to say the least! More ploughing than floating. But with the Christmas holidays approaching, we just needed a little more snow and the season would be off to a decent start. |
 |
Jump forward a little under three weeks. With conditions still cool, but with no more snow and Chamonix busy it was time to escape for a couple of days. So just before New Year I headed to the southern Alps to visit Phil, Emma and Ollie. With snow pickings thin down there too, I threw my bike rather than skis in the car - a great decision.
Phil took me out on a trail we had ridden when I was down there in the early summer. A lot of the trail follows sections of small irrigation canals that traverse the hillsides and supply water to fields and some gardens - including Phil's. With the summer vegetation gone some sections feel much more exposed - adding a real edge to some great cruisey riding. The icy sections on some of the climb were fun too...
With a vin chaud and Emma's great dinner to look forward to - it was a great end to the year. |
 |
Two weeks later and the season is almost in free fall - warm temperatures and lots of rain at altitude have taken their toll. Its possible to ski - sunny days are fun - real March skiing; but otherwise its better to do something else... Joe and Jim have never used skins before, and rather than launch off on some exposed route, teaching them all the little tricks while they're more worried about the drop, we headed off into the Berrard valley and a play between the snow patches. |
 |
Jim soon picks up trick number one - catching a breather under the pretence of a/ taking in the view, or b/ checking the terrain for dangers! |
 |
After lunch and a play with avalanche transceivers, we headed back to the car across La Poya beginners' area - normally there would be plenty of school groups heading here... Shame the camera can't do justice to the fantastic sunsets we get in the winter - Les Drus and the Aiguille Verte glowing behind Jim. Not long after Jim left we finally got some snow - but really need plenty more. |
