Ski mountaineering in the Southern Alps in November is not what I had expected to be doing last weekend but exceptional snow conditions gave us the chance to go, so off we went.
The snow falls this year have been very favourable so far and a number of ski resorts are already open in the northern Alps, such as Tignes and Val d’Isere, but the southern Alps have also received a fair covering allowing Auron and Isola 2000 to open for the weekend.
The big surprise was that conditions were good enough for us to undertake a ski mountaineering expedition close to La Colmiane, a small ski resort in the southern French Alps about an hour and a half from Nice.
It was my first time on a Ski Mountaineering trip and I didn’t really know what to expect, I ski reasonably well, dabble with off-piste skiing, enjoy snow shoe outings as well as undertaking day walks up to 3,000 metres every now and again.
We set off early on a gorgeous Saturday morning, blue sky, sunshine and a forecast of pending snow late afternoon. Equipment was hired from Choulanka in Antibes (the best outdoor equipment shop I’ve ever come across) which included skis (with skins) and boots (specially adapted) and avalanche equipment (all essential).
Our qualified guides led a group of eight of us up to 2000 metres, which involved a grueling progression, relentlessly up the mountain with barely a pause. A snow storm and very cold conditions hit (much earlier than forecast) as we reached the top from where we skied down initially in knee deep powder then eventually gained a snow covered track back to the waiting cars.
Six hours of practically non stop, full on action left me feeling quite stunned, exhausted and very satisfied with the day. To walk up a mountain awash with virgin snow, with no-one in sight at all, on skis, carrying a pack, which leaves you with legs turning to jelly at the top, then immediately rip off skins in freezing cold conditions, adjust fittings and get skies back on whilst up to your knees in powder, then set off down the mountain in a white out with not a piste for miles, felt crazy but amazing.
I’m not sure I would recommend Ski Mountaineering to anyone but its there if you want to try it and the snow conditions are looking great for this winter season for "normal" skiing.
Author - Peter Horrocks
To view the Villas du Monde - Villas Worldwide Isola selection of ski chalets see the Isola 2000 chalets range on our website, then call our holiday advisors who know the chalets and the resort very well and they will help you finalize your holiday planning, just call (freephone) or email.