A snowy, snowy start to the Winter!

We've already had more snowfall this winter than we did all last season, and it's not even 2012 yet!

The arrival of the first winter snow was timed to perfection with between 1 and 2 metres of snow falling early season and providing the best Christmas conditions in the Alps for over a decade. A short spell of warmer weather and a little rain helped to consolidate the now well established base.

It would be foolish to get complacent about the long term conditions, but the forecasters are predicting a further half metre of snow, in the next 2 days, to help us welcome in the New Year.

In Les Gets and Morzine, where the underlying terrain is mainly grassy pastureland, the current quantity of snow should be sufficient to see us through the entire winter season - as a worst case scenario and barring long periods of warm, wet weather!

The more likely, better case scenario is that we'll continue to receive regular snowfalls throughout the winter resulting in fabulous ski conditions early and late season.

It's shaping up to be a cracker!

Autumn in Les Gets & Morzine

What a beautiful Autumn in the Alps with barely a drop of rain to be seen. It's also been very mild but thankfully we're now getting hard frosts most nights.

After a summer of road biking I was persuaded yesterday, by colleague Tim Jackson (pictured here at Chavannes, Les Gets), to get the old mountain bike out for a change.

Having not ridden off-road for ages I was a little reluctant at first, but some of the old magic soon started to flood back. It was fantastic to ride some of the local trails again and with the ground bone dry, the more technical rooty sections were less treacherous than I remembered.

The air was crystal clear and the views superb and it was hard to imagine the green slopes soon being transformed for the winter......we need them to turn white in precisely one month's time.

Other fitness training at the moment (in preparation for the forthcoming winter) includes speed walking/jogging up and down Mont Chéry in Les Gets.....it's great fun but I'd rather be skiing....bring on the winter!

The ups and downs of ski resort life

Many people ask me "what's it like living in a ski resort all year round"? My normal reply is "it has its ups and downs".

No, really, it does have its ups and downs, so I'll try and give you a potted insight into my life in the mountains....

'Up' number 1: Les Gets is where I've lived for the last 20 years and clearly there's the obvious advantage of having winter sports on the doorstep - a two minute drive and I can be booted and heading up the Perrieres Express chairlift. Skiing was the first and most important attraction for me, but what else do I get up to?

'Down' number 1: Cycling, that's my other passion. As soon as there's a bit of warmth in the air I like to put my bike in the back of the car and drive down to the valley floor to start getting some early summer miles in the legs. Nothing too challenging for the first few weeks but it's amazing how different cycling and skiing are and how long it takes to wake up the biking muscles!

'Up' number 2: As some cycling fitness starts to return it's time to stop cheating and leave the car at home. Yep, the bike rides are going to have to start including that long slog back up from the valley at the end of most rides.

'Down' number 2: The snow's long gone and I'm getting into my summer job which includes a lot of gardening. As you can imagine, there aren't many flat gardens around Les Gets (although I do look after a few lovely English style lawns) so most grass cutting involves scrabbling around like a mountain goat strimming steep banks. Some even require the use of crampons to prevent me from falling down.

'Up' number 3: True, the weather in the mountains can be variable but what I don't miss about living in the UK is that kind of non-descript gloomy weather. Generally with us, the sun is either up with clear blue skies, or it's chucking it down with rain/hail/snow with some cracking thunder storms thrown in to help clear the air. That said, it is a little gloomy today!

'Down' number 3: Great to head down to Lake Geneva for a waterski, sail or swim. A bunch of us had our (now annual) camping trip to the shores of Lac Leman this August which was a great laugh. Early morning waterskiing when the water's like a millpond is just awesome!

'Up' number 4: I love that first early winter snowfall - usually when you're least expecting it - the child like excitement has stayed with me and I hope it always will! The first snow normally arrives well before any lifts start to turn so it's a great time to do some ski touring to propel us up the mountains - boosting fitness levels and enjoying some early season turns.

'Down' number 4: We receive enquiries and bookings for ski and board lessons throughout the year but up until Sept/Oct it tends to be just a steady trickle. After the schools go back at the end of the summer, enquiries step up a gear and it's now time to get down to more office work.

There you go, that's some of my ups and downs of ski resort life. It's not everyone's tasse de thé but I love it. Bring on the winter.....and a whole season of ups and downs!

Tough Italian climbs...

For the last few years I've tried to spend up to a week each summer challenging myself with a different cycling tour. This year has been no different and last week I participated in an 'Italian Alps and Dolomites' biking holiday. Having a challenge like this marked in the diary is a great incentive at the end of a busy winter to get out on your bike and put some training miles in.....knowing that the more time spent in the saddle will ultimately mean less pain on the big climbs!

From Les Gets I drove to Milan, where I met up with our guide and my fellow riders for the week. We started riding on Sunday along the busy shoreline roads of Lake Como but soon headed into the hillls, with an 8km climb up the Ghisallo (the patron saint of cyclists).

Day 2 (Mon) was going to present the steepest climb of the week and it didn't disappoint - Lance Armstrong described the Mortirolo as 'the toughest in the world'. It climbs 1300m in just 12km and hits a leg-busting 18% gradient in places.

Day 3 (Tues) and still in the Alps, with two legendary climbs Gavia and Stelvio, the latter rises 1500m over 22km and then descends via 48 hairpins!

Day 4 (Wed) and a transfer to the Dolomites and a slightly easier day - a 70km tour of the spectacular Sella Ronda via four cols - taking in Val Gardena (site of the famous ski downhill).

Day 5 (Thur) and my man-flu which started on day 3, had now really got a hold. Still, a sore throat, streaming nose and lack of energy wasn't going to stop me now but I did struggle up the last couple of climbs of the day.

Day 6 (Fri) and the last day of riding, which included an impressive 27km long climb up the fortified Mount Grappa where over 100,000 soldiers lost their lives in WW1. An impressive fast descent into the finish town of Bassano del Grappa.

In total 600km of spectacular riding, taking in 13500m of tough Italian climbs!

Finishing the winter on a high...

You have hopefully realized, from my distinct lack of blogging recently, that it's been a busy winter....a poor excuse I hear you shout!

Despite predictions in my last blog, mid-February to mid-March (this photo was taken at the very end of Feb in Les Gets) saw the best conditions in a well 'below-average' season in terms of snowfall.

Even with the snow drought, we continued skiing in Les Gets and Morzine to the start of April, when we decided it was time to relocate lessons to nearby Lindarets/Avoriaz.

So, teaching work stopped about 10 days ago and last week I headed to Gressoney in Italy to do some ski touring. Feeling fit after skinning (technical term for walking uphill on touring skis) to the top of Piramide Vincent at 4200m, we decided to head to Chamonix the following morning and tackle Mont Blanc 4800m.

A fairly straight-forward first day to reach the Refuge Grands Mulets at 3000m, and our stop for the night. After what seemed like just an hour's sleep, we set off the following morning at 2.30am, head-torches showing us the route slowly towards the summit. At 4000m the altitude sickness kicked in, but with the help of some pills, I managed to plod on and reach the top at 10.30am.

Freezing winds stopped us from hanging around to admire the view even though the legs were crying for a decent rest. Skis back on at 4500m and time for the good bit.....needless to say, the descent was quicker than the climb!

Now that's what I call finishing the season on a high!

A strange old winter!

As you may have seen from previous blog (yes I know, back in early December) the 2010/11 season started in style with 1.5 metres on snow falling by the end of November. Back then, as we skied champagne powder in freezing cold temperatures, it was hard to imagine this Winter being anything other than memorable.

Warm temperatures and heavy rainfalls in December washed away about 75% of the early snow but left us with a good base ready for the next big snowfalls.......which never really came! Sure, we've had the odd snowfall and it even snowed on Christmas Day. A couple of warm weeks in the New Year, which felt more like Spring than Winter, ate into the base and transformed the little snow we had into 'hardpack' and ice.

In the last couple of weeks however the temperatures have plumetted again, allowing the snow canon in Les Gets and Morzine to run full tilt and produce large quantities of 'man-made' snow. The piste bashers have done a fantastic job moving snow around and keeping most slopes open. Most pistes are complete and the snow quality currently varies from 'hard and grippy' to 'hard and slippy'. Temperatures are staying sub-zero and the snow is therefore being preserved.

Most holidaymakers in the last couple of weeks have been pleasantly surprised by the ski conditions and the blue skies and sunshine have enhanced their ski holidays. In the run up to the busy half-term break, many people are understandably concerned about the conditions. The old locals in Les Gets assure me that snow will arrive with the new moon in mid-February and, that in 1970 no snow fell till February when we had 16 metres......who am I to argue!

Here's a photo taken at Chavannes in Les Gets on 27 Jan where the snow is in excellent condition. See more on our photo gallery:
www.skischool.co.uk/photo.asp