Day 21-26 Six days on the (melting...)SNOW (1-6 January 2023)

1-7 January 2023

Dawn broke with a tingling excitement in the crisp mountain air. We were all looking forward to our first day on the snow. A little bit of nervous energy encourage everyone to get dressed quickly, but I was stuggling to work up an appatite. On ski-days I always have few butterflies in my tummy…I guess it’s just the expectation of being a bit out of my comfort zone, feet strapped onto two moving slides….which, by now (I tried out skiing nearly 25 years ago for the first time)I, guess, I should be quite familiar with….but still…

It was our first time in Saint Francois Longchamp (SFL),so we were still unsure of the lay-out of our resort. On the first morning, we decided to put all the ski’s in our rental car, and drive the few 100 meters down to the car park (we spotted it from your window). It was closer to the snow, but we found out, that it was still a long – uncomfortable walk down a hill, before, we could eventually click on our ski’s. (On day two, we knew better and walked from our little flatlet!!!)

Each person had a six-day lift pass in a jacket pocket, helmet, gloves, slope-map. We were good to go!! With ski’s secured to our boots, and one foot strapped onto the snowboards for Arno and Alana, we slid causiosly towards the ski-lifts. Once the sensor of the access boom picked up my lift pass, I could schuffle through. Be aware – this boom just lifts up for a few seconds…if you are not careful and maybe got your one ski stuck on one side of the post and the other on the other side, it is a whole palava… (some experiences were gain the hard way!!)

Now, once you’ve managed to negotiate the access-boom safely, you schuffle onwards to the ‘flying-carpet’, which is a rolling rubber mat, designed to transport you into the correct position for ‘mounting’ the chairlift - the next obsticle. 

Let’s introduce you to the ‘Chair lift’. The point of access to all the fun you will hopefully experience on the mountain….if you are a conqueror of this evil-kenivil. Now,some of these contraptions have a bench for 6, others for 4 and the small ones for two people. It is always a balancing act, to get yourself AND your lift-companions safely on and ultimately safely off the chair…without tangling your ski’s, or poles with another’s equipment or loosing your balance on the dismount.(Again, I’ve seen it and done that!!) Stressfull for many, but unavoidable if you want to ski or board in the mountains. This skill is one of the first, very essential super-powers you will need to master. ….that is beside, balancing on a slippery slope; steering on a slippery slope; stopping on a slippery slope; and MOST importantly not crashing into other unbalanced participants. Jup!!!

We decided to take two lifts back-to-back. The plan was to get high up, getting away from all the first-day-on-the-mountain crowds. Similarly, we also had to find our skiing-legs. Usually a bit easier, if one does not have to dodge other skiiers at this early stage of the game!!

Unfortunately, we encounter a problem from the word: Go. For some reason, the ski-shop attendant has given Nina very tall ski’s. We thought it would be ok, but once she pushed herself away, we realised….the getting-the-ski-legs-going, might not be going at all for one member of the crew. Numerous tumbles, tears and a loss in confidence tainted the first-day-of-the-year-family-outing a bit. With great love and patience (excellent parenting resilliance from Arno) we all skiied safely down to our lunch in SFL. Arno and Nina visited the ski-shop again, got her smaller ski’s and went for a quick test run. Pfeew, paradise returned to our 

midsts.

A very fun afternoon follwed as Arno and Thomas went for a few red runs(even attempting a a black ice wall) and us girls bought a bum-slide, building snow ramps and having snowball fights. 

The clean fresh stingy mountain air, is just the best promise to lead us into the new year.

 The rest of the week included…well….. skiing!!

Mornings fell into a little pattern of hitting the slopes as soon as the chairlifts open (9am to 4:30pm). We returned home for warm fresh Frence breads, cold meats and soup. Then a little rest before doing a few last runs, before the last chairlift goes up the mountain. 

Some afternoons I just went for a lovely walk with one of my girls. Arno and Thomas went out to the snow most afternoons, but the body does get tired towards the end of the week, though. 

A few thoughts at the back of one’s mind, always there to motivate the tired muscles: ‘It is a huge privilege to be here; it costs a lot; I do not know when we will be able to do this again…let’s make the most of this moment!!”

What is great about having all these people with the same size feet, but different equipment…everybody can get a shot at trying skiing or snowboarding. So alternative afternoon activities included, ’swapping gear’, snow-walking, reading, doing the laundry, while eating crepes, reading and more skiing. 

 

Arno and I also celebrated our 24 anniversary on the 2^nd of Jan, by going to a sweet little Alpine restaurant for a local cheese(Beaufort Formage) fondue and Kirsch(Cherry snapps). Yes, that’s the joy of travelling with older children…the parents can actually go out on their own!!!!

The start of 2023 saw Europe being hit with the worst warm weather known. Obviously we did not expect that, when making the bookings. We were amongst the chaos of melting snow, ski-runs closing due to lack of snow and equipment getting damaged because of rocks(and tar-roads) poking through the snow/ice blanket. 

Towards the end of the week, conditions got realy schetchy. The snow turned to suger-slush. That means that it might freeze during the nights, just to crystalize, then melting quickly on the sun-kissed side of the slope in the morning. On the shadowy side of the slop the fluffy snow melts and then freeze again to ice. So when you do your ski-turn across the slope, you are mostlikely to stuck your ski in some slush (which will defo throw you off balance) AND then on the other side (still in the shade of the mountain) you will do well to hang on, due to the ice….quite tricky!! 

Once Nina got her confidence back, it was just the best to ski as a family together. Yes, we do fall and yes, you do get tired and annoyed, but it also provide the best of dinner conversations, the best of laughs and the most beautiful forever memories.

Eating at one of the slope-side restaurants is very expensive, so we always keep that as a little last day treat. We marked a great spot early on, but on our last day, we were not sure if those runs might have been closed due to the melting snow. Great was out delight, when we found it still open. We induldge in the best hot chocolate and mulled wine, the sun was shining and the French Alps stretched out as far as we could see. 

Now THIS, is what it is all about! 

It was time to greet the mountains, slopes, slush…and time to start saving up again for our next skiing week…however long that may take!!

 

 

Costs

Ski-lift passes             200EUR  pp

Ski-equipment            70-140 EUR pp

Ski-gear                     gloves, goggles, socks, thermal underwear(leggings and long sleeve tops),              

                                    salopette (ski-trousers) and ski-jacket

                                    pre-order to deliver at accommodation from Decathlon      

                                  

Accommodation        R9000 (7 nights,for 6 people, Booking.com)