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Published: March 24th 2007
Mad Hatter
Enjoying the last day on the slopes, with a lovely background of the mountains and down to the resort HOORAY for snow, and mountains, and friends! Julia Knight, Pete Hind, Johannes Pietrus and myself have just spent a brilliant week at Alpe D'Huez, in France. It was a brilliant week of catching snow flakes on eyelashes for the first time (for some), learning to ski (Jules) and snowboard (JP); visiting the longest black run in Europe (16km), where the air was so thin we all felt lightheaded, and giggled watching the brave and stouthearted plummet off the edge at the beginning of the slope; and just generally have an awesome week! I dont think i've ever been so cold at a tropical temperature of -18 degrees!
Four of us stayed in a tiny single room, but actually called an apartment as it contained a small stove and fridge, but in reality the boys slept on the couches and the girls had a tiny little bunkbed cabin, but it was great! We were up early every day to be some of the first to go charging down the newly graded pistes and through the fresh off piste powder snow from the night before, and would ski until the last lift closed. Some of the slopes were rather hectic and
View of the resort
Beautiful sceneray of Alpe D'Huez, taken from the early morning ride in the bucket lift more then once i felt i'd bitten off a piece slightly larger then i could chew, but in the end, we all made it to the end of the week with no broken bones. Fortunately early on in the week we had 4 days worth of blizzards with NO visibility, but at least there was snow, and a softish cushion for the emergency stops!
The little resort was beautiful, particularly after fresh snowfall, where heavy chunks of soft powder snow were found balancing precariously on fir tree branches, or on rooves, reading to dump themselves over some unsuspecting passer - by. Every evening ended with a swim in the heated (or so they said) outdoor pool, to prevent any stiffness the following day - and this seemed to actually work! On thursday evening we used our ski passes to use the outdoor ice skating rink, where being only 4 of us, we dominated it! Final goodbyes were said with a typical french cheese fondue.... although pete did look a little green after that... speaking of green, what would a trip to france be without frogs legs, so at 15 euro's for about 6, the boys shared a plate of
The team
In the Gonadala lift, heading up to a restaurant at the top of the mountains for lunch legs.. never in my life!! But guess that what travel is all about!
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Craig
non-member comment
Well it sounds like you had a ball again, skiing/snowboarding rules!! I am sure you were quite the pro this year and showed the others how it is done. Glad I was there the 1st time you ever saw snow:-) Cheers Craig