Crikey, I had to set the alarm for this morning as the plan was to get the 9.01am bus up the valley to Bonneval Sur Arc to try the skiing there. I was up at 7.40am and after a quick breakfast I got my packed lunch made, then washed and shaved and got all my ski kit sorted. Phew, tired already.
I walked to the bus stop and there were a few folk already there, a real mixed bunch of walkers, ski de fond (cross country) and downhill skiers like me. The bus arrived a few minutes late and we all squeezed on, with ski boots on and a pair of skis & sticks this was no mean feat!
Bonneval is as far as you can go in winter as the Col D'Iseran which connects it to Val D'Isere is most definitely under snow. I have ridden my motorbike over this a few times and it is wonderful. Once above Lanslevillard the road is not gritted or salted, today sections were still snow covered but the bus didn't hesitate at all - hang on!
It was a 10 min walk uphill to the bottom lift, pass bought up I went. It was very, very quiet with hardly anybody on the lifts or pistes - brilliant. The snow was hardpacked but very skiable and very good in places. The views were breathtaking.
empty piste
another great view
downhill hairpin - great fun!
There are 8 lifts, 5 of them are draglifts with 3 of them "tres difficile" as sections of them are 60%. Certainly gives the old gluts a work out. :-)
beginners slope by bus stop
The bus back was packed and very hot. We passed a Brit motorhome on the road, he was taking it very slowly - wonder if he had winter tyres? As we approached Bessans on both sides of the road were numerous cross country ski trails with lots of people out on them in the sunshine. They were mostly of the "older generation" which was great to see. There is also a biathlon stadium, I would love to see one live. The final descent back to Lanlesvillard involved some hairpins, the bus driver obviously relished them as he didn't really slow down, bit of a hang on tight job.
A great day out on mainly deserted pistes, bit of a difference from the bigger resorts during the school holidays.
No comments:
Post a Comment