WINTER 22-23:
The Social Season
After a relaxing summer in the Med, we return to our winter retreat: but it has all changed! Having bought our neighbour’s apartment and converted the two into a single chalet, we find ourselves with a huge home, and no shortage of friends and family keen to join us. Even before the start of the skiing, we have friends with us for all of December, January and March. As I write this, February is the only month that may be quiet. Of course, that can change…
The Blog posts (click on the pictures to read and see more)
25th April 2023
Our Spring hut to hut tour in Valgrisenche: challenging conditions, steep and technical ascents, but worth the rewards! Beautiful scenery, great food, cosy huts and the company of friends.
11th April 2023
Time to get fit for our forthcoming ski tour: ascents of new peaks, some lovely powder descents, lots of skinning and even a bit of time on the turbo trainer!
20th March 2023
Cate returns from a week in London with some of her college friends of almost 40 years. Helen, Sally, Rigby and Sarah head out to the slopes with us whilst Jono acts as chef, driver and ski guide!
11th March 2023
Jono heads off to Andermatt for the traditional off-piste week, with friends David, Martin, Chris, Nick and our guide, Dave. Conditions were challenging – no fresh snow and lots of ice and crust. However, with a little skinning, we found some great routes.
3rd March 2023
The Savoie has recorded one of it’s lowest snowfalls ever – and the French are predicting droughts this Summer! Our favourite skinning routes are largely bare earth and tarmac, and on-piste conditions are icy. Still, we have enjoyed the company of more friends, tried to keep fit and finally have been rewarded with fresh snow and a chance for first tracks in the powder below Col des Fours.
17th February 2023
We desperately need some fresh snow! A month has passed since it last snowed, so we have abandoned the resorts and taken to skinning in the back country. Lots of lovely tours, culminating in an overnight tour with a stay in the Femma hut on a crystal clear night.
5th February 2023
Our friends Gary and Kris join us for some great days of on and off-piste skiing. It has been bitterly cold, but the upside of that has been to keep the snow in good condition, to the extent that we have found fresh powder well over a week after the last snowfall
19th January 2023
It has snowed! We have been up in Ste Foy enjoying the fabulous powder, and skiing an off-piste route from the top of the Aiguille chair down through the old village of Le Monal and back to the resort – and all captured on video (at least, until the battery ran out!).
15th January 2023
We have kept busy: a trip back to England for Christmas and New Year with family and friends, then back in Ste Foy where we have had more friends and family staying and skiing with us ever since!
22nd December 2022
Our social life goes up a notch: we have joined friends and enjoyed a week in Val d’Isère, including our first off-piste trip of the season. Plenty of time for partying too!
2nd December 2022
Our first post of the winter, and we have been busy: moving house, decorating, and preparing our chalet for the season ahead