How time flies

Its been a while without much snow so we were pleased to have a top-up for new year's eve. Big party and fireworks in St Martin de Belleville tonight!

Off piste on la masse with Rich

First snow for about a week - so off to the top of la Masse to do the classic descent to lac du lou. The top half was great - but the lower sections missed some snow cover.

First day of Les Menuires and Meribel

Les Menuires opened today so we took a 3 valley pass and did a bit of a tour with Christelle and Rich. It was a nice sunny day and very cold.

Grab it while you can

Colin and Caroline (who worked with us for the first 2 seasons) dropped in today. We went up to Val Thorens again. Here is Colin off piste (I don't know how he does it but he always looks like he is riding a wave)

Out with Robin, Luke and Servanne

We spent the last few days setting up Chalet Broski ready for the season. Luke and Servanne came out with us today so we thought we would show them around the valley.

Looks like another magic season

Another big dump :-) Three amazing seasons in a row... Too much to ask!

Off Piste in November!

Rich and I took advantage of some nice powder up at Val Thorens. He is over helping me with the construction of the apartment at Les Menuires. let's hope the conditions deteriorate and we can get some work done.

First Day of Season

17 November and we are out at Val T. There is good snow and the resort opened a week early because of it. There are only a handful of runs open - but its great to go skiing before even thinking of Christmas shopping. I think next year we will offer an early week at the Chalet Broski with free transport up to Les Menuires or Val Thorens

New Apartment in Les Menuires

We are adding a self catering apartment in Les Menuires to our portfolio next season. It sleeps 4. Les Menuires is a family orientated resort with good skiing in the beginner intermediate range. You can see more info at www.ski-lesmenuires.co.uk

It's cool too in Summer

This is primarily a ski blog - and St Martin de Belleville is primarily a ski resort - but it's great fun in summer too. We went up to chalet broski mid June for long weekend and it was a blast. During the day we did some VTT (velo tout terrain - or mountain biking in english) and part of the group did a Via Ferrata not far from the Chalet. In the evening we had a monster BBQ on the terrace complete with cote de boeuf. We did two of the best VTT circuits in the valley so I will document them here in case you get the urge :-)

The first is the easier of the two. Start from the large plateau below Les Menuires. (while i think of it i have a self catering ski apartment sleeping 4 here coming up next season - in the same style as Chalet Broski). Take the path on the far bank of the river. Its mostly down hill and there are some really fast sections with lots of twists and turns. There is an optional climb about half way - but in any case you arive in St Martin de Belleville with a big grin about 15km later.

The second starts about Residence Le Brelin - the lager black and white 1970's building in Les Menuires housing the aformentioned apartment. Its directly opposite the sports center - you can drive up to the parking - its about the last turning on the right as you leave les menuires for St Martin de Belleille. From behind le Brelin you pick up a path called sentier du Balcon. Follow this to the top of the St Martin de Belleville gondola. Its about 10k of superb track - with a couple of boulder fields, some narrow bridges, some stream crossings. Sometimes its narrow with a bit of a drop - but the difficulties are always avoidable by getting off and walking.

At the gondola follow the track down towards St Martin de Belleville - ariving at les Granges just about the village. Cycle down through st Martin and just before you get to the main road (to les menuires) take the steep descent on the left. After about 100m there is a right fork which takes you most of the way back to Chalet Broki avoiding the main road.

We will be back in August for some more VTT - there is a 50km and a 100km chalenge that are only possible using the lifts (open in July and August)

Bon Route

Couloir de la Becca

This is short and sweet - but carries medium avalanche risk. Its a great way to make a 3 valleys liason off piste. From the top of the Becca chair (les menuires) climb the slope dead ahead moving diagonally up to the right. About 5 mins later you will gain the ridge and look straight down the couloir into Meribel. The first 30m are a bit steep, but after that it opens out into a massive flank which allows a lot of traffic before its tracked out. At the bottom you can pick up the mount vallon chair which gives access to some other nice options.

Powder in Orelle

We had wonderful end of season skiing this week. Fresh powder on several days. To make the most of it we went to the highest point in the 3 Valleys - Orelle. There are 2 superb descents from the top of the second lift. Either traverse right until the valley opens out on your left - almost any line goes from here. Just follow the valley until you end up back at the bottom lift. Alternately traverse left until you cross the ridge and drop (steeply) into a gully. This is more challenging but a superb mountain line. We went round several times until it was all tracked out and our smiles could not fit into our helmets any more :-) and it was time to head back to St Martin de Belleville for a beer

Planchette

This is an easy descent with realatively low avalanche risk - its a bit of an outing so allow a complete day. From the top of la masse follow the ridge to the south towards Pointe du Collet Blanc. There is a bit of exposure but its ok if you stick to the crest. When the angle allows leave the ridge to the south west and head for the Col des Encombes. We crossed the ridge to the east of the col - but next time I think i would go down to the col. Once on the south side there is an huge valley where there are loads of possible lines. Head for La Planchette where there is a little Gite serving lunch.

Follow the road from la Planchette (its a bit flat - you have to pole with ski's and walk most of it with a board) down to the village of Beaune. From here you need a taxi back the Orelle (cost 45€). Book in advance as on a busy day they are over subscribed. 0660201486

Combe Cure

I have been wanting to try this route for a while, so I met up with Trevor and we took the lift from St Martin de Belleville to the top of the ridge. From here a quick descent down chocas (my favourite blue in the 3 vallyes) leads to the olympic express lift. From the top there are several excellent descents. We turned north and followed the ridge for 2km to Col St Jean (above). There are a few tricky bits but they can be easily bypassed on the west side. 

From the col we continued north, skirting round the east flank of croix st Jean, until we dropped into Combe Cure. There were hardly any tracks despite it being a week since the last snow. Its a really pretty valley with a bunch of small woods. The terrain is quite undulating and it was great fun dropping down through the trees.

Lower down we came to a small chalet where we picked up another trail through the woods that eventually led down the a piste. We followed this for about 1km until we came to Les Allues

From here you cross the road and pick up the gondola that goes back up to Meribel. It takes about 20 minutes. Despite the snow being a bit heavy this was one of the most enjoyable routes of the season. Grade easy/intermediate Avalanche risk low (if you dont track under the cliffs of Croix St Jean

Chateau Philibert

It was a lovely sunny day so Trevor and I set off to try another route on La Masse (see previous post). From the top of the lac noir chairlift we went down to col de la bache. From here we traversed to the north east to gain a small col by lac crianltallia - just possible without getting off the board. Another traverse to the north leads to the col that separates le Teurre and the main ridge. From here it opens out into an wide valley which is just superb skiing - you can pick your route wherever you like to avoid the tracks.

The valley narrows slightly and you pass several gites on the way down to the bottom of the valley at le Bettaix. From here there is a chair lift back to les menuires. Highly reccomended med/low risk of avalanche and grade easy/intermedate.

Geffriand

The Geffriand is in the Belleville valley north of La Masse. There is superb off piste potential - most of it easy and not prone to avalanche. The route I did today was a beauty; From the top of the chairlift lac noir (la masse) there is a short descent to the north to reach col du la Bache.

From here put your snow shoes on and hike up the ridge (20 mins) to the summit of la Gratte (photo).  There is a fine 360 panorama from here. To the north there are several entrances to the Geffriand Vally - which runs down the middle of the following photo:

At the end of the valley it narrows into a deep gully - traverse left here by the chalet and exit onto a large shoulder which leads down to the ski de fond piste into St Martin de Belleville. There are many variants possible if you follow the ridge beyond La Gratte to the north - I will be back :-)

19a the couloir, Saulire, 3 valleys

On Satuday I met up with my ski instructor friend Gaspard and his cousin and we went to play in the couloirs by Saulire. This one is called 19a - and is just by the top of the massive Saulire gondola. Turn right when you get out of the gondola at the top - walk past the signs saying "danger" and you will see the drop in. Its steep and narrow - but opens out about 100m down into some lovely slopes.

This is also the starting point for a great Via Ferrata (summertime only). It runs along the ridge to the highest point -taking in some rather airy towers. Grade D+

These boots were made for walking...

I always thought snow-shoeing or "raquettes" as the French call it was something I would save for later in life. However that time has come early... not becuase I suddenly got old, but becuase I have a thirst for going further and further off piste.

There are many suberb back country runs in the 3 valleys. Some of the descents take combes or valleys that are a bit of a journey from the top of the nearest lift. If you ski its not so bad - but if you snowboard you soon get tired (physically and mentally) of plowing throught knee deep snow.

So pop your raquettes out of the pack and prance off across the surface with your board under your arm :-) You can pick up a set for about €100 in any decent sports shop - and open up a whole new world of experience.

Ski de Fond - or cross country skiing

Its was a lovely sunny day but i was not in the mood for the piste so i thought why not try ski de fond. Olivier at Twinners sorted me out with the kit efficiently as usual. Nice comfy shoes - superlight skis. He looked a little bemused when i asked him how to do it! his advice was: "lean forward - there are no edges so you can't brake"

I thought I had better find somewhere not too steep so I went up to Les Menuires where there are several blue circuits at plan du lac specifically made for ski de fond. In fact - although i had not been on skis for about 15 years it was quite easy to get the hang of it. Its more aerobic than downhill - so the layers soon came off. You can build up a rythm which was pleasingly meditative - its the same kind of buzz as going for a run. I did 3 circuits (about 11km) which was enough for the first outing - it took about 1h30.

What a buzz - I will do it again! :-)

a bit of powder - but not enough

Since it snowed last night i went off the top of la masse - down to lac du lou. Not many tracks but not really enought powder to cover the crud. There was some lovely light on the way down - and i didn't see a soul.

I've been so busy skiing....

What a season! The snow has been so good I have been totally neglectful of this blog. This was last week just above St Martin de Belleville - having fun in the powder :-)