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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

Up late after debauchery of night before. Me, TC, and JW managed to get on slopes by 10 and headed for 1800 lift and Plagne centre via Golf lift. After few runs on and around Colorado met others for some dirty nosh at Croque le grille (croque le noir per JW). Made mistake of going to nearest restaurant off piste as coke 6 EURO a pop (no pun intended) and meagre portions.  After lunch took telecabin to La Grande Rochette and, at JA’s request, went down Kamikazi and long red into Champagny. Clouded over, and came back via colorado. Grilled chicken and dauphinoise spuds for dinner. Superb lemon cheesecake to finish. Played articulate in evening. Highlights were Robyn (acupuncture as ‘that thing women have done’), JB (“what a drum person does”), me (“grows on tress and thrives in clean air”), JA (faced with ‘despite’ and have already passed, giving up with a minute left).

From Aime La Plagne to Belle Plagne

From Aime La Plagne towards Mont Blanc

Yeah, I look good.... no one realises I am hungover and just left a present under a chairlift

Nice long sleep, up early and ready to hit slopes. Weather slightly warmer than previous thanks to clear blue skies. Decided to try the runs below 1800 down to the village of Montalbert. Runs well scatered through the trees but blues where very hard in places. Reds although steeper had bit more snow. Bottom was like an ice rink. Went towards Belleplagne for lunch. Runs around Plagne Centre were softer and very pleasant. Views from top of the cable car at La Grande Rochette were spectacular. After sandwiches took long trip to glacier. Bit more snow up top made the runs with sufficient width very good. Back to Plagne via Les Sources – excellent run. Final run from Colorado lift before home.

Bar crawl in the evening. Started at Le Mine in 1800, caught bus up to Centre. Igloo bar first then walk across snow/ice to Scottys. JA regretted wearing his dancing shoes as ended up on his arse once and needed shoving a lot of the way. Jagerbombs started taking their toll. Last bar was Plan JA. Bad music. JW and I just made last bus back. Rest managed to find a minibus coming back a bit later – wouldn’t have wanted to do the walk.

Towards Champagny from La Grande Rochette

View from the Glacier

Lunch at Belle Plagne

Blue from La Grande Rochette

Up for breakfast at 8 Sharp. Good spread. Got on to slopes just after 9. Headed towards Bellecote where there were plenty of blue runs to get back in to it. TC disappeared off on his own. Mostly very sunny but a cold wind near the top. Got about half way to Champagny before going back to Bellecote for lunch. Shambolic French waiter meant long wait for pizzas to arrive. Eventually back on the slopes just after two. Took gondola to Roche de Mio long tunnel run was nice. Made back to 1800 finished at about 1625 – great first days skiing! Tea Loaf waiting for our return. Had welcome meeting with rep Emma before dinner. Drank Chalet wine and beer with other guests, Robyn, Annette, Mark and Sally.

View from the balcony

TC on the piste

View across La Plagne

Left Harpenden at 0440. JB drove to Stansted. Arrived 0530 rush through check-in and security, but by the time the plane had boarded we had missed our slot. Eventually took off at about 0850. Grenoble airport manic. After much jostling finally got bags off belt. Transfer took about 3 hours including brief stop at Moûtiers, into resort at about 1430. Chalet Marmottes well situated, Spar supermarket and cash machine just outside top of building. Had cup of tea then got to the skiset shop (Boudu Sport) early to beat the queues. Very helpful and efficient, plus shop only 20 yards down the street from basement/boot room entrance. Put gear away and went to Le Mine for few beers in happy hour. Chalet host Wayne prepared beef stew for dinner. Sat around chatting with other guests till bed.

Surveying 1800 lift to Aime La Plagne

JA beer on arrival

View over Plagne 1800