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Up at 0510 for transfer back to Grenoble. Slept all the way, took about 2.5 hours. Grenoble check-in queueing a complete mess again, place seems unable to organise that amount of people turning up for flights. At least got bags away in reasonable time. Security was seemingly going very well until some stupid Frenchman decided to ask everyone in the queue if they were on one of the next flights, which they obviously were and so a complete bundle to get through ensued. Ridiculous.

Notes: used 170 skis all week even though looking back at last years notes I thought 175s may not have been long enough. Didn’t really have any problems though. Tooks some cereal bars in the case which was good given the weak pound meant food was very expensive.

Crystal seemed to have been skimping on the amounts of food available to hosts for cooking, again possibly due to weak exchange rate.

Given runs were quite hard this year wondered whether how conditions might be earlier in the season.

Home time :'(

TC, JW and I up reasonably early and out on piste by 0930 to make the most of the last day. Some nice runs around Colorado, from Les Verdons and La Grande Rochette in the morning. Met the others at Bellecote at 1300 to get some lunch. Took the Colosses draglift to Le Dou Du Praz restaurant, HE quite literally dragged most of the way up before bailing out in to snowdrift! Lunch took a while but was very nice. Finished off the skiing on our favourite runs round Colorado and Les Verdons. TC and I stayed out as late as we dared before heading back and dropping skis off at Boudu Sport.

Final couple of drinks in Le Mine after dinner to cap off great holiday.

Plagne Villages from nr. Le Dou Du Praz Restaurant

Action shot

TC, Plagne 1800

Plagne 1800

Made it all in one piece

Decided to use the day available on our Discovery ski pass to head over to Les Arcs. Everyone managed to get up early (with help from a fire alarm going off) given the need to get over to the Vanoise Express. Were in Plan Peisey by 1020. Traversed across the resort to the Transarc Gondola at Arc 1800. This took us up to the Aiguille Grive from where we could drop down to Arc 2000 at the far end of area. Did some nice runs down around the Varet lift before in lunch at Arc 2000. TC and JA took on a black run first thing in the afternoon. Runs down Arc 1800 side fast and wide. Nice red and black run below Derby chair. Back to Vanoise at about 1530. Needed to take Montchavin chairs to get back up over L’Arpette. Final run in Plagne Centre. Back to Chalet at about 1720 – huge day of skiing!

JA, JB, HE, JW felt the need for a beer or five in Le Mine – others too tired.

Lovely lunch spot, Les Arcs 2000

Everyone actually made it on...

The Vanoise Express lines from Les Arcs side

Decided to all head down to the Montchavin side of the area. Took long track called Route Des Bauches down to the Vanoise Express station. Bit narrow and flat for quite a while meant skating practice. Made a couple of trips up the three chairs to Dos Rond as the runs down were nice and had some artificial snow in places, a change from the hard runs elsewhere. Failed to get all six of us on the second chair! Tucked in to packed lunch at Monchavin. Few more runs including L’Esselet red in the afternoon. Back home via Colorado (surprise). Host’s night off so went up to Plagne Centre for dinner. Meal at La Grolle very nice. Went up to Scotty’s to watch Champions League.

Lunch at Montchavin

Vaniose Express station

Team photo