http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2009/nov/07/skiing-beginners-course-morzine-france
A journalist reports on her new found love of skiing and why Morzine's a great place to learn!
"By the fourth day I understood why people become addicted to ski holidays. I loved going so fast you almost feel like you could take off; the crisp bright sunshine and clean air. I loved how ski clothes, while universally unflattering, make you feel as if you're still wrapped up in your duvet. I loved how you can suddenly turn a corner away from the crowd and find yourself totally alone, in muffled, snowy silence."
Saturday, 7 November 2009
Glorious sunshine, endless views & no stitches this time!
What a glorious week of weather we had for the October half term. Clear blue skies with a clarity that only comes when the temperature starts to drop (so pretty chilly at night). So we thought, lets head high and check out some views.
Glacier 3000 is a great day trip from our Morzine Alpine Apartment. It sounds far at 110km but the drive itself is truly stunning, where you can take in Lac Leman and a loop through Morgins and Chatel in Switzerland back to Morzine. We set off after brekkie and followed the Vallee Verde down to Thonon. The Green Valley usually but in Autumn, all shades of reds and orange.
We followed the lake east, to a town called Aigle in Switzerland (don't forget to take your passports) which took about an hour or so to reach. A fantastic little town with a pretty chateau, it's own tram system, stunning vineyards laying the lower slopes and steep and craggy mountains above. After a lazy lunch in the Aigle sunshine, it's up and up, to Diablerets, home to Glacier 3000, a glacier open for late spring and summer skiing as well as having a highly rated ski in cafe bar in the winter (Refuge l'Espace ) and a restaurant designed by top Swiss architect Mario Botta.
The 2 part cable car leaves every 20 mins and costs 58 SFr for an adult and 29 SFr for a child.
It's a mighty climb up to the top, Col du Pillon, and certainly gave the Aiguille de Midi in Chamonix, a run for it's money in terms of endless views and awesome glaciers. We exited at the top to reach the highest bobsleigh (come alpine rollercoaster) in the world! 6 SFr a go so we booked 10 rides. We took it in turns to take the kids down then let them have a go on their own. They both declared it's one of the best things they've ever done. I have to say, it was awesome fun and we laughed alot.
There's a few runs open, and as a pedestrian you can hop the chair lift down to the hiking and cross country skiing tracks. We walked over the glacier (sticking to the well marked path - crevasses are hidden and it's highly dangerous to leave the path) to Quille du Diable to see magnificent views of Mont Blanc, Matterhorn and Jungfrau. You certainly start to feel envigorated stomping in the snow at such altitude!
We headed back on the last lift at 4.15pm and drove back down to Aigle, where you have a choice to return the route you came, or follow the mountain roads up to Morgins and then across to Morzine from Chatel in the Abondance Valley. Probably one of the most scenic trips we've ever taken round the Alps.
Glacier 3000 is a great day trip from our Morzine Alpine Apartment. It sounds far at 110km but the drive itself is truly stunning, where you can take in Lac Leman and a loop through Morgins and Chatel in Switzerland back to Morzine. We set off after brekkie and followed the Vallee Verde down to Thonon. The Green Valley usually but in Autumn, all shades of reds and orange.
We followed the lake east, to a town called Aigle in Switzerland (don't forget to take your passports) which took about an hour or so to reach. A fantastic little town with a pretty chateau, it's own tram system, stunning vineyards laying the lower slopes and steep and craggy mountains above. After a lazy lunch in the Aigle sunshine, it's up and up, to Diablerets, home to Glacier 3000, a glacier open for late spring and summer skiing as well as having a highly rated ski in cafe bar in the winter (Refuge l'Espace ) and a restaurant designed by top Swiss architect Mario Botta.
The 2 part cable car leaves every 20 mins and costs 58 SFr for an adult and 29 SFr for a child.
It's a mighty climb up to the top, Col du Pillon, and certainly gave the Aiguille de Midi in Chamonix, a run for it's money in terms of endless views and awesome glaciers. We exited at the top to reach the highest bobsleigh (come alpine rollercoaster) in the world! 6 SFr a go so we booked 10 rides. We took it in turns to take the kids down then let them have a go on their own. They both declared it's one of the best things they've ever done. I have to say, it was awesome fun and we laughed alot.
There's a few runs open, and as a pedestrian you can hop the chair lift down to the hiking and cross country skiing tracks. We walked over the glacier (sticking to the well marked path - crevasses are hidden and it's highly dangerous to leave the path) to Quille du Diable to see magnificent views of Mont Blanc, Matterhorn and Jungfrau. You certainly start to feel envigorated stomping in the snow at such altitude!
We headed back on the last lift at 4.15pm and drove back down to Aigle, where you have a choice to return the route you came, or follow the mountain roads up to Morgins and then across to Morzine from Chatel in the Abondance Valley. Probably one of the most scenic trips we've ever taken round the Alps.
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