The first three weeks of January gave us yet more settled weather. In an effort to shake off the overindulgence of Christmas, we spent many days walking uphill, interspersed with downhill days in La Rosière, La Thuille, Les Arcs and Ste Foy.
The Dôme de Vaugelas treated us to a 910m climb on a scorching January day. In the Beaufortain, well away from all the ski resorts, the rounded peak offers stunning views of the region. Sadly, the initial promised descent of soft powder soon materialised into icy rubble – no fun on touring skis, with the I-pod (icy path of doom) to follow. Still the scenery and isolation were reward enough.
It took us three attempts to find the right path to skin through the forest from Le Pré to Le Pré Saint Esprit, just a 2 hour, 500m ascent, but with stunning views as the track winds around the hillside looking over towards Ste Foy, Le Masure, La Rosière and then Les Arcs.
We also perfected the Col de la Tourne trip the second time around, taking the correct route via Col de Grassaz and enjoying two magnificent descents in untouched powder.
For a little extra exercise we skipped the lift pass and skinned up to the top of the Marquise lift in Ste Foy, an ascent from 1515m to 2425m, initially through the forest on a ski randonnée path, and then along the edge of the piste. The reward was a beautiful descent from the Col Grainier with no one else around.
Col des Fours is another gem. We used Fat Map to discover trails just hidden in the shadows of the resort. This took us from Le Fornet down the valley towards Les Arcs des Bonneville where we started the climb to the col. Once over, a beautiful descent to refuge des Fours where we walked last summer with marmots scampering and chamois grazing.
One more little tour to discover – a gentle trip from the bottom of Les Leisses chair, down the valley, across the lake and on to the Refuge de la Leisse where we stayed in March 2017 on a hut to hut Grande Casse tour.
After a brief trip back to Blighty, I’ve returned to heavy snow – high winds, many lifts closed for two days, booms of avalanche bombs echoing across the valley and slightly hazier views than of late. The reports are for up to a metre of snow followed by less wind and more sun. Happy days!!
