Mountain Adventure Holidays
Winter Paradise
The great snow conditions continue here in the Alps giving us a fabulous start to the New Year. The view from the office window this morning offers another blue sky day with the sun sparkling on the mountain tops. Ski conditions on the downhill pistes in Chamonix are excellent and the town is buzzing ! Off piste a lot of the terrain is ‘skied out’ but offering good descents in what are ‘stable’ snow pack conditions. For the French avalanche bulletin check here and if you are in Switzerland this provides a good service and an App called White Risk, which I would recommend. One of the best snow forecasts is from snow-forecast.com
Cross country ski tracks are also offering really great ski conditions just now right across the Alps. In Chamonix there are no icy patches to catch you out and good snow with great grip for those glides! We have been looking at France’s most famous long distance cross country race the Transjurassiene which this year is the 9 and 10 February. Last year Lindsay took part in the 30km skate and won her category, and was 21st woman overall. She reckons that if she can do it, then you can! An event coming up before too long is the Fox Trail at Col des Mosses, in Switzerland where many champions have trained over the years. You can check out the details and enter here. Julia also did well last year coming 2nd overall in a two person team in the popular Run and Skate event in Chamonix. It was great to see her on the podium for Tracks and Trails! This year the event is the 24 February and you can register here.
Higher up the mountain we have been very busy with snowshoeing and have introduced quite a few people over the last week to this winter activity. It’s an ideal way to escape the crowds and enjoy the solitude of the mountains in winter. A world of silent forests and sparking snow crystals, blue skies and views of the glaciers. The group yesterday were pleasantly surprised at how snowshoes have developed into high-tech pieces of kit. I think they were expecting ‘tennis racquets’ and instead got very efficient, lightweight gear. We use TSL who are the main manufacturers in France and offer a wide range of snowshoes for all levels of snowshoeing, from a quiet wander along the valley bottom, to more adventurous mountaineering on much steeper ground. They even have a snowshoe for running in the winter months.
So, for us 2013 is off to a good start with bookings coming in and excellent snow. Hopefully we will see you this winter?
PS do let us know if you decide to enter for either of the above races!