Flying out solo from Glasgow and meeting everyone there was
a big bonus, and proved particularly useful coming back given the extra two
hours in bed I got, before turning up at the airport to be greeted by everyone
as their flight was delayed for almost three hours! Also if you look lonely you
get given the extra legroom seats on departing; though no such privileges on
the flight back!
La Thuile itself proved to be a quiet resort in terms of
nightlife and also on a more positive note on the slopes too which were great,
compared to the chaos of Bansko last year! The lifts were good and the slopes
having great cover and being pretty long, especially the steep black runs down
the gondola. The added bonus however was that the lift pass covered the other
side of the mountain, allowing you to ski down into La Rosière in France,
effectively doubling the amount of runs. Furthermore combined with a local bus
(and friendly driver) allowed you to ski two days in another resort in the Aosta
valley; Coumeyer being one €4.20 and half hour away. We utilised this, spending
effectively 2 days in each resort keeping it interesting and covering loads of
runs from steep blacks in all three resorts to good powder, to in parts
flat-ish blues and deceptive soft off-piste powder and routes; though I guess
that should be expected off piste in trees!
The weather was a mixed bag over the week, improving as the
week went on but with so many aspects and resorts visibility wasn’t an issue
and by the sounds of it where we chose to go each day played perfectly into the
best weather. It was a great trip though the best bits were:
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| Mont Blanc bottom from Coumeyer |
- John providing a live ‘You’ve Been Framed’ lift
entrance (loosing a ski) and dismount (failing to get off, being helped by the
lift guy, standing up again and getting stuck back in the chairlift as it went
round, being removed again by the lift guy, standing up again then being pushed
back down by the lift guy as the next chair would have taken him out and
incidentally only narrowly avoiding taking himself out in the process, and the
fallen ski coming up on a chair and almost not been taken off the lift) – would
have been a great video
- Going fast down some very steep blacks and reds
- Covering three different venues with some
excellent runs
- Dean not ‘snoring like a train’ as I was advised
to expect (except that one time I slept outside for 3 hours despite it being at
least minus ten!)
- Good food in France and Coumeyer food portions (Italy minus one restaurant in the old town by the church disappointed, but the cheese made up for it)
-
Winning big on the arcade machines
- Setting off the hotel fire alarm at 08:30 making a great bacon sandwich
Didn't take many photos as it was so cold the first few days I didn't brave taking the camera out the bag! Video may follow pending Kelly’s movie skills!
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| Danger!!! |
