#Megeve Hot Air Balloons

I went over to Jaillet today to finish my restaurant guide.  I have to finish Mont D'Arbois and Rochebrune mountain restaurants, though I have done most of them.  I look to see if they have changed hands, gone up market and compare prices with last year's.   Most have increased slightly this year.  When I have finished it will go up on the website.  I have been side tracked this year by family and friends being out, so I have concentrated on skiing and not doing my job!  When I got out of the bubble there were 10 hot air balloons in the sky.  It was a beautiful sunny day, clear blue sky and no wind.  Ideal conditions.  They take off from Praz Sur Arly but as I have not taken a trip I do not know where they land.   Two years ago there was a race (I assume) from Flaine to Praz by balloon.   We first of all saw all the cars with the trailers to pack the balloons in.   Then we noticed them coming in to land.  One landed on a side road completely blocking it, but was obviously aiming for a field where 3 had already touched down,  It was very interesting to see with what skill the pilots landed them, all in a neat row by the side of the road.

Staff Lunch

We had our post Christmas Stanford Skiing staff lunch yesterday.   We had it at Ernestine's which is on the blue run, Clementines, down to the Croix de Christ chair.  Everyone made it, even little Emma who had not been on a blue run until this week.  It was a fun lunch and afterwards everyone skied together for a couple of runs before splitting up.   You can't see, but I have a very elegant scratched nose as a result of skiing off the edge of the piste in flat light.  Today we skied with Phil and Becks who have gone home today.  We had a hot chocolate at the Chalet des Grands Pres which is just off to the left of the Marmire run which goes down to the Mon Rosset chair.   It was one of the best hot chocolates I have had recently.  It is an old French farmhouse and nicely done up with a wood burning stove.  The menu is limited but if you like omelettes, fondue or salad you could do worse.

Snow-shoeing with Gordon

We had an offpiste day planned with Alex Perrinet (mountain guide in #Megeve) but it was cancelled as the snow was not good enough and it was dangerous.   Gordon and I decided to do something different - you can do that when you're here all  season! and got the snow shoes out.   John had a transfer in the morning so he couldn't come with us, but he drove us up to the beginning of the path.  We walked up towards Christomet on Jaillet, coming out at the Auberge Du Christomet.   That has had a face lift which I think is a disaster.  There is a new outside seating area and bar where the little swimming pool used to be.   It looks very expensive and very empty.  Just next door to it is a snack bar caravan where the sandwiches cost 5 euros.  There is seating there under a canopy.  We walked up under the chair that goes up to Combloux, eventually coming out at the top of the Jaillet cabin.  By that time we were both feeling tired (it seems much harder to walk in snow shoes) so got the cabin down.  It was a lovely tramp.  The paths are well sign posted and it is nice to try something different.

skiing with Gordon

What an exhausting day!   Rendezvous was 9 am at the Chamois lift, then over to Mont D'Arbois where we did 3 off piste runs and were met by Jonny (resort manager in  #Megeve) at Bettex.  By that time we had already forded streams (I had to take my skis off at one)  walked up a piste du fond track carrying skis and skied through the forest.   Our best run was down to St Nicholas to pick up the facilly bus.   When it didn't arrive we walked up hill in ski boots carrying skis for about a mile to the lift where we discovered we were a month too early.  It starts February 9th!   Tant pis comme le francais dit!  The consolation was that we met Phil and Becks (driver/handyman and chef for 2 seasons at the Rond Point 4-5 years ago) and had lunch at the Gouet.   We left Jonny and Gordon to ski home off piste.   John  and I were exhausted, the light had gone and the snow was heavy.
Elizabeth will be pleased to learn that I have now nearly finished all the dirty ski laundry that she left when she went home yesterday.  What are mothers for?

#Megeve Sunday skiing

John and I bumped into our grandchildren and their father on #Rochebrune (Elizabeth had offered to help with cleaning rooms).  So we had an hour's fun with them in the snow before they had to go to Geneva airport and home.  This is Emily and Tommy (10 and 6) coming down the Mouillettes variant with me behind.   Afterwards I met up with Gordon at Cote 2000 where we skied the off piste and then skied all the way down to the bottom of the Chamois lift.    It was a beautiful afternoon and not many people around as they had all had to return to work.   Lucky for some!  Can't wait to get out there tomorrow.  Off to the Rond Point for dinner tonight with the new guests who have just arrived.

#Megeve snow

It's dumping snow today.  I've got a lousy cold otherwise I would be out in it.   I love skiing in snow.  There's usually noone around, it's quiet and mysterious (mainly because you can't see where you're going).  I can always tell when it's snowing as the church bells are muffled.  Hopefully if I stay in today I'll be good to ski tomorrow in powder.   Because of all the skiers at New Year the pistes were looking a little worn so this will give them a huge boost.  Good news for those out on short breaks this weekend.

#Megeve New Year's Eve

This is the whole family outside the Forestiere restaurant on Rochebrune yesterday.   As you can see, brilliant sunshine and snow.  From the left. Tommy and Emily (Elizabeth and John's children) me, John, Anna and Lizzie in the front (Caroline and Steve's children) Steve, Caroline, John and Elizabeth.  We skied in the morning with Elizabeth and John and another couple, doing the black runs, Voltigeurs, Bridans and Black Princess on Mont D'Arbois.  They were in good condition and noone skiing them.  We picked up the children from ski school and then went for lunch which was good. In the afternoon we skied with all the family.  It was a brilliant day.  In the evening we went to watch the torchlight parade of the ski instructors in the main square of  #Megeve, then after dinner in the Sylvana we had a party.  A guest had an extremely good compilation of music for dancing and singing and it was a great evening.  As John and I walked down the hill to our apartment the sky was lit up with fireworks.  What a wonderful way to end 2013.
Happy New Year to you all and see you in Megeve in 2014.