T&T Blogs

A great week exploring the Vercors in France with the excellent company of Jo, Margaret and George and a very large hip flash !!!

Great times to be had in Val Ferret near Courmayeur. This is our base for Italian Cross Country Ski Weekends where you can enjoy some action, plus the best coffee and chocolate cake you are likely to taste!

Following a warm spring like feeling across many parts of the Alps I am pleased to report excellent snow conditions in Italy. We currently have our Italian Ski weekend running based in Val Ferret, in the the Aosta Valley. The depth of the pressed ski tracks is over a metre and the very COLD temperatures of -23 at night are making sure it stays around. During the morning it was still -16 so we enjoyed immaculate, cold, soft snow to slide and glide across. Prepped with enough layers, warm coffee stops, good gloves(!), blue skies & sunshine we enjoyed another great day beneath the breath taking peaks of the Mont Blanc massif. Tomorrow we'll be in Cogne in the Gran Paradiso National Park for more of the same.

A great week had in the French and Swiss Alps with two newcomers to snowshoeing Aline and Jose from Mexico City. Thanks guys for a fab week I really enjoyed spending time with you. Lindsay

Read Harriet Gordon's article on the walks every American should try. Well rather than keeping it just for our friends in the US take a look at Harriet's article for some worldwide hiking ideas this year.

Whether you are looking for have an adventurous weekend or cross something off of your bucket list, nature is, and probably should be, involved. One of the best ways to get back to it is to go on a hike. With literally thousands of trails taking anywhere from hours to months to complete, it can all be somewhat to very confusing. With little money and less time at stake for most hikers, what is the best way to get the biggest bang for your buck/minute?

Before I really get into the season I have been trying to do a little ski mountaineering for myself, and on New Year's Day celebrated my birthday with a great trip to Col San Carlo in Italy. It was also a chance to check out the area for snowshoeing and given the tracks to one of the summits in that area there is ample opportunity to snowshoe as well as ski! I hope you enjoy the film of a great day out on the 1st of January. A very Happy New Year to you all. Hope to see you soon in the snowy mountains! Lindsay

A great day out playing off piste with Kath Murphy, and Charles Scott. Lindsay

Opening of the season at the world famous Grands Montets ski area in Chamonix Valley. Excellent powder and sunshine - what more do you need!

A great day working with Oliver Ensor from Chalet Savoy in Les Houches. We had a bunch of fun guests to take snowshoeing up to Chalets de Chailloux above Coupeau which is a fantastic spot for a winter wonderland experience and views of Mont Blanc. Oliver's wife Elaine prepares the best cake ever! Lindsay

After heavy snowfall these past two days the run up to Christmas is providing excellent skiing conditions - and what's best is the pistes are quiet! 15/20 km's of tracks are open in Val Ferret and the coffee and cake reccommended!

Merry Christmas and happy skiing & snowshoeing. Julia & Lindsay